The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-04-26
TIE BEST MANS COAT
BY " e. GUILE

opportunity OF working cut her ven
geance.
This was at supper when Peter sat
facing her When he address, 4-iler- -she
aHsW cred coidly and without interest. il
he glanced in her direction he met a look
OF adherence and contempt which even
"a scientist could scarcely have mistaken
Barron watched the play, at first in fear.
but afterward in surprise 1t appeared
TO him that Peter did not suffer as he
should have suffered. He certainly be-
came more silent, but the glances he re-
turned 10 the enemy were entirely free
from confusion.
You don't seem to hurt him. said
Barron az last what Is wr0ngg
There's nothing wrong" was the sharp
retoft. He Is unusually stupid. that is
ali."
Barron laughed. Nothing Of the kind"
he said. "He Is looking at you continual
ly, and perhaps you notice that his In
tcrest Is Visibly increasing Don't fiatter
yourself, Pattiei please don't He is
simply studying the formation OF your
head. for anthropOlogical purposes. Peter
has mania for skulls
After that blow Barron retreated with
honor and bore the gr0omsman wlal him.
They spent an hour before sleep I'm going
over the duties Of the morning Peter
making further notes iu his book with
face OF unexpected interest and earnest
ness. when this was done he said
Thar young woman. Miss patiic. has
hfe pair 81 eyes John
Yes said Barron. eNpectantly.
yes J saw her looking az this old coat
81 mine. 10 o. certainly faded. though 1
have never noticed IL before and perhaps
she thought inten led TO wear % to-mor-
n.w. am glad that have brought my
blue one-l am sure She mean you-will
like it.e
What was comire 20 Peier2 Barron
g8zed a. his pleased and conteutcd face in
growing amazement Could u De possible
fhat Miss Pattie had worked this sudden
changer Here was retrlbution, indeed
John said the anthrop0ioglsl, lhtle
mire hesitatngiy lltle nervousiy. "a
believe there r. an old Gust 1m~a gr0oms
mans nrlvilege-to-t0-h 10 kiss the
idfsmai1f
"Ehg' cried Barron. "the bride. you
mean. not the bridesmaid You kiss the
bride
"Oh." said Peter. "the bride L. it-not
the bridesmaid / see.H and Il seemed TO
Barron that his face had fallen a little
But his own amazemcnt Was 10 great that
he COuld scarcely take notce. He tried TO
imagine how Pattie would look II Peter
tried 90 carry out his mistaken idea OF the
old custom, and be wished with an his
heart that he had left the thing alone.
Then he said Good night TO Peter, and
haEtened away TO his own room 10 laugh
in peace
ln ihc morning Peter appeared IN the
dreaded coat II was dark blue. and be
WAS SO pleased with the effect that Bar
ron. who had prepared another coat for
him. could not find courage 20 destroy his
illusions "After ALL he thought, peter
looks very neat ID is 10 be a very quiet
wedding. and everything will Doe over in
half an hour 50 be actually congratu.
lated him upon hls appearance and
nerNed himself 10 meet the consequences.
The carriage took them 20 the church.
+ where they prepared 20 wait IN the vcstry
until the bridal party should arrive.
Z There Barron spent a Few anxious mo-
menis rs reminding Peter Of his various
duties II wac az This point that a sud-
den and startling thought occurred 20
Z him
Peter. Dc exclaimed have you the
ring7
what rings' cried Peter. astounded.
eNo~upon my word-i haven't.
The bridegroom said something under
his breath he had not given the ring
7 into Peters charge on the previous night.
fearing that ne might leave & behind
him. and up % the present moment that
horrid coat had 80 troubled his mind that
! The matter had quite escaped him. The
. ring had been forgotten,
NIN INMMN "a NNNIA ANlEMNNAiNNNs AAAr ANAa"
was not FAR on. and the missing article
3 could set be Obtained II WAS true that
the bride would arrive directly, but u
Peter made an effort he might return
Z with the ring by the time Il would be
needed
I Rum ho said-"run' You know where
i it is-in my writing desk Rum"
Peter ala not wait for further instruc-
tious lie caught up the nearest hat
N d nT NIlFHUU' nd
rushed out hy a side door. There was
I no vehicle within call, and he could not
eo iu search of one. Clapping Barron s
hat over his hrows. he tore away through
E ihe Quiet churchyard. the tails OF his
blue coat flying behind him.
When ne reached the house he knocked
twice without effect Then ne perceived
that every one must have gone TO the
( church. and turned iu despair and help
lessness As he turned he saw that one
1 of the drawing room windows had peef
. ien unhAsped and slightly open.
There was only one thing Co be done
+ Tfe gave a furfiNe giauce un and doWr
! the silent. sunny street and then pushed
me sash higher There WAS an awkward
| scramble and the hat was crushed
arainst the top of the window. 10 9
/ moment more he was safely inside.
The desk was found. but it was locked
/ d, hfa agitation Barron had never thought
: of giving the keys. Peter looked about
him once more. picked up poker. and
with one or two blows destroyed the lock
There was a ring. an ready IN its case
| There also was harron's rocketbook
which had been forgotten like the ring
/ Peter eraspod the articles. and was turn
/ ing 20 iiy when he found himself face %
I face with a policeman.
ft was "A painful meeting The officer
had observed Peters furtlve entry, and
I haa quietly followed - looked 20 him 3
clear case Of daylisht burglary. and hf
WAS enc Of those Obtuse policemen whose
convictions ii is impossible 20 move. fe-
ter tried 20 explain.
"Ifs a welding De cried. 'and this is
the ring 3 came back 90 get it, and .hes
are am uaitinS at the church I am th'
eroomsman.
Then came The tragedy ef the coat Thu
nolfeeman knew an about weddings, foi
- had often attended at the church ioor'
rs ~ official capacity He had observed
~. rosfuriee worn on such occasions. ani
had never seel q Eroomsman in a blui
coat 4Ie shook IFS head stubbonig
,.That's an very we'll be said but
can't take a. sir. iou must walk 60 thl
station With me It's close by
Vot n saw that arEument was vain. th'
/ antrr hv the window, the tneken lock
ihc rocketbo0k. and although he did no
know Il. the blue coat were en- aaalns
Rim. Bv this time the ceremony mus
have begun. ano perhaps they were wait