The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1901-12-21

eight on this particular Christmas eve and
she had not vet discovered the hi~ding-place
of to-morrow's gift.
Gle must know that | want diamonds
this time" she unused. "Why, / have crit
icized 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 a 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 overcoat which her husband
thought he might sometime wear when he
went hunting. He never did 60 hunting,
but he lived as if he always expected to
start early the next morning.
mo, | 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 | have for him. I've moved
their h~iding-place twice a 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
that!"
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 Ton going to take a 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 die
l never think of that before?"
She listened until the cautious footsteps
came down the stairs and tie front dool
softly opened and shut. Then sherose in hei
triumph.
"Aha, he has slipped ont to come in a few
moments later, thinking that | did moi
hear him. III slip up now, have a peep al
my diamonds and a good joke on him in thu
morning."
She went upstairs and lit the gas; il
fared up and a scream burst from her. Iht
room was in confusion; drawers were upse'
and their contents scattered on the floor
As she screamed, the front door opened
and her husband anne running upstairs.
"Well, Tom Davidson, if you think this i
a joke, | don'tl" she cried. 'To slip in thi
way and play a trick on your wife is
What on earth do you mean by a joker
"Tom Davidson, you don't mean to sa!
that / didn't hear you come upstairs l.
minutes ago to look at my present and
you certainly did not. Hello!" He strod'
across the room ard lifted a drawer of tn
chilfonier which was upside down on tn
bed. CAS- l came up the block, | met tn
ugliest tramp / ever saw, and could hav
sworn that he wore my old coat. You simpl,
sat there while he riaed the place and car
ried off the diamond pin had gotten TO
your Christmas gift" .
When she had quieted down a little an
Mr.. Davidson was telephoning for the police
his wife suddenly remembered that the las
~hiding-place for the cuff links and the meel
schaum pipe was the breast pocket of tina
old coat.
ELISA ARMSTRONG BENGOUGH.