Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-08-03
The Daily Short Story
TACT
TACT.
By BARRY PAIN.


he came out into the world. his con
versation on the subject OF tact made
some men dislike him. but 1t won him
the respect OF others-Ernest Taggs,
for instance
One evening he happened to say that
Packer was his idea OF the typical
ladies' man. Nonsense. my boy" said
Packer. But. all the same, a few min
utes later Tags was seated ia Pack
er's club. and Packer was ordering two
glasses or sherry as IL IL were OF no
Importance.
Coming back again. said Packer
with a pleased smile. Ito what you
We're saying just now. it's not the
case OF course: but. if might put the
question. I should like TO ask you what
made YOU say l was a typical ladies'
mani"
We'll. Mr.. Packer" said TaGGs, II
don't know how To put it in different
words. There is a style. Some have
/ Il: some. on the other hand, have not.
You've got IL. and | think the ladies
mostly know
| AS Ia there being a style said
| Packer, there is an art in making one
| self agreeab BILE 10 the female sex and in
| conducting oneself in society in the cor
fect way. So far as that goes. perhaps
| take rather more trouble than most
men To avoid mistakes. II may he that
| | have had more opportunities for prac-
tice and rather more experience than
some. But | should he very sorry 10
be vain enough To think there was any
more in II than that
There's good deal more" said
| Taggs. with conviction. MANY a time
when with ladies I've wished you were
| there To give me Il hint or two. Now,
| last Saturday was a case in point.
should very much like to know what
you would have done in a similar case"
We'll. my advice is quite At your dis
posal if you really want it. ! have
sometimes been able TO get out of Il lit
tie difficulty in a way that people have
I spoken kindly Of
Then Ill tell you. On Saturday aft
ernoon l took lady friend. who for
reasons shall be nameless. TO the thea
ter. paying. OF course.
| ''Of course" said Packer slipping his
| fire water.
nit me 10 offer you some refreshment'
That's the usual thing. / think"
well. yes" said Packer critically.
| Not absolutely essential
Not essential? l rather wish I'd
known that. l knew l was pretty
short. but il was only after she'd ac-
| cepted that 1 found / was down to ten
pence. However. l took her to the
| nearest teashOp and hoped for the best.
The place was full, and we found two
seats at table where there was an old
gent sitting and reading the evening
paper. He'd got nothing but a cup OF
TEA. and l thought he would be going
| directly. As a matter Of fact. he sat
| us out. and we were there some time
| too. ! said l didn't want anything. |
thought it best 10 he on the safe side.
But that was no good. The lady i'm
question is what would he called a fine
woman. and she explained that she had
cut her dinner rather short in order to
| be in plenty of time at-welI. Mt the
place where we were To meet. AS
rule. like to see girl have IA healthy
appetite. But this timc-I don't want
| to go into any details. hut when she
had had all she wanted and the wait
ress put the slip down ON the table it
was nearer IS pence than a shilling. l
kept mp the conversation as well is
could. seeing that all the time | was
thinking what the deuce | was to do.
Now, what would you have done?"
Il can't say il would have embarrass-
ed me at ALL" said Packer Il should
simply have said: My dear Miss So
and-so. l have been so entranced with
your charming society that | have ac-
tualIy forgotten to send off an impor-
tant telegram. Would you kindly eN-
cuse me for two minutesT She would
make some polite answer, and l should
raise my hat and go OUT
Il see. And then you'd do a bunkT'
Mr.. Packer was panied by the sug-
gestiOn. Il don't think that would be
the gentlemanly thing 10 do. What
would it lead to when you met the girl
again? No; | should go off at once TO
the nearest pawnbroker and make some
little arranGement-in fact. pawn my
watch"
THAT had occurred to me. 1 couldn't
have put it in that well chosen way TO
the girl. but / might have made some
sort of excuse
Then why didn't you do it? 1t was
obviously the right thing
You see. l had parted with my
watch temporarily to get the theater /
tickets"
well. man OF the world should be
never at loss. You might have put
your hand in your pocket aud eXclaim-
ell that you had had your purse stolen
in leaving the theater. You could then
borrow the money from the girl and re-
turn it on the following day"
I'm afraid l couldn't carry a thing |
of that kind off as You would. Then |
the old gent was listening. Besides, l |
don't think she had any money with |
her"
Then what did you do?"
cit wasn't right. But the old gent |