Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1901-12-24

eight on this particular Christmas eve and
she had not yet discovered the hiding-place
of to-morrows gift.
"He must know that / want diamonds
this time," she unused. "Why, have crit
ieized the vulgar display Mrs. Jonesmith
makes of them, and talked of the waste of
money their purchase implies until he
must have been impelled to buy me some
out of sheer contrariety. But where did
he hide them? That"
A knock at the door interrupted her
train of thought, and particularly unin-
viting chap asked for old clothes in a robust
whine. The influence of the season was
upon Mrs. Davidson, however, and she gave
him an old overeoat which her husband
thought he might sometime wear when he
went hunting. He never did go hunting,
but, he lived as if he always expected to
start early the next morning.
''No, L just can't think where he has put
that gift;" she said, returning to her chair
and her thoughts. "Well, one comfort. he
hasn't seen the cuff links and the meer-
schaum pipe l have for him. I've moved
their hidingplace twice week, so he has
had no chance to find them while rum
maging in the waste paper basket for his
clean collars or searching in the china closet
for his necktie, which are always kept in
the upper left-hand bureau drawer. What's
thatl''
The front door had opened cautiously and
a stealthy step went up the stairs and stole
across the floor of the room above. Mrs.
Davidson turned pale, then softly clapped
her hands. Its Tom going to take peep
at my present! III keep quiet and find out
where it is"
She heard the steps about the room, and
held her breath until they paused before
the chiffonier.
"Ah, it is in the drawer that Tom said
had stuck and would not open Why did
/ never think of that beforeg"
She listened until the cautious footsteps
came down the stairs and the front door
softly opened and shut. Then she rose in her
triumph.
aha, he has slipped out to come in few
moments later, thinking that L did not
hear him. III slip up now, have peep at
my diamonds and good joke on him in the
morning."
She went upstairs and lit the gas; it
hared up and a scream burst from her. The
room was in confusion; drawers were upset
and their contents scattered on the floor.
As she screamed, the front door opened
and her husband came running upstairs.
''Well, Tom Davidson, If you think this is
Joke, 0un Sl0 10 sup IN tQ1S
way and play a trick on your wife is"
What on earth do you mean by joke !"
Tom Davidson, you don't mean to say
that / didn't hear you come upstairs 15
minutes ago to look at my present and"
You certainly did not. Hellol" He strobe
across the room and lifted a drawer Of the
chiffonier which was upside down on the
bed. "As / came up the block, met the
ugliest tramp i ever saw, and / could have
sworn that he wore my old coat. You simply
sat there while ne riAed the place and car
ried of the diamond pin had gotten for
your Christmas giftl''
When she had quieted down little and
Mr.. Davidson was telephoning for the police,
his wife suddenly remembered that the last
hiding place for the cuff links and the meer-
schaum pipe was the breast pocket OF that
old coat.
ELISA ARMSTRONG BENGoUGH.
-Kodaks for Chrit tmas and New
Years gifts. BUFFHAM,
d7d Maryland Avenue