The Wilmington daily Republican., 1902-01-11
THE LOST PURSE,

results obtained theretrom, they starte
home in happy frame of mind and dul
alghted at the thoroughfare on which tn
Jlmson f-aparment is situated.
| Jllnson was about to insert the key i
the keyhole when Mrs. Jimson said, con
fdently, but with feminine foresight:
| You have my purse, OF course Jim
mie?"
| Il suppose so, said Jimson, struggln
with the key and knowing that he alway
| had the purse when there was nothing il
| it,
| Because if YEN haven't it, haven't,
continued Mrs. Jimson, sweetly.
Great Scott cried .Iinl,on, droppinI
the key, twas there anything in it?
haven't got it,
Let's see" said Mis-. Jimson; ether,
was the recipe for the grape and gras
salad; there was the advertisement iron
Blanks; there was the bill from the butch
er's, two nickels for carGa'c. the cards fol
Alce's wedding. the"
Money, money!" said .Jimson, hoarse
", was there any money in that purse
Consain the salad rccipe'
Money replied Mrs. Jimson. None
but that ten dollars you gave me this morn
ing"
Well" said Jimson, modified by this
tribute to his generosity, although he
knew exactly what it meant What are
We going to do? OF course, don mind the
ten dollars, but the salad recipe. so in.
structive, don't you know. Reminds one of
Nebuchadnezzar. Hadn't ] better get
itf just throw your massive mind back
over the events Of the evening and try
to remember. We were at the theater,
yon know" he added, encouragingly.
'Well,' Mrs. Jimson unused, reflective.
ly, entirely obivious OF the cold they might
get standing in the chill air, "at the thcater
we sat in row j, didn't me-"
WHAT'S that got to do with your purse?
How do ! know where we sat? On the
whole added Jimson, 81 guess we did sit
in the Jay row-at least you did
"llow could | sit where you didn't"
asked Mrs. Jimson, innocently. "Jimson.
land ,1imson quailedI think your poor wit
is out of place on such an occasion. l know
] was born in Srhoharie county. but that
doesn't mean that I'm a hayseed or a jay,
either. II you were a man you wonldn al.
way, be casting il up al me. Ill buy the
theater tickets after this, and you'll find
yourself back in L, where you can see ths
ballet"
'l'll be nearer the between the acts door
anyway SAID Jimmie TO himself, and then
aloud: Il know I'm an ass, so forgive me,
and tel me what row j has to do with the
purse"
Just this. The Wigwags, You re.
member, sat right behind us, and Mrs.
NlgWay was complaining because they
were IN ~. Then when we came out |
shook hands with her and had to change
something from my right hand TO my
left in order to do it. That must have
been my purse. There" she exclaimed, trl.
umphantIv, now don't You see the connec-
ton between row j and the PURSE
'Certalnly,' said Jimson. Il always did.
| just wanted to hear you explain it in your
lucid way. My dear, you ought to be in a
school OF logic. Now will you further shed
lIgat on the present whereabouts of the
pur,r.'
'il"w silly You mon are said Mrs Jim
son. flushed with pride. Cant you see?
In the restaurant, Of course All you'y got
to do is 10 go down there and that nice,
smootA'shaycn waiter vino served lis will
give II to yUu.'
My dear" said Jim,on, II know that
waiter. lie does not come from Srhoharie
lie comes from Tcndeloin county. He has
that ten dollars now in the inncrmost
pockct, and is preparing to spend it tomor.
row for toys for the chiidreu-or other
thiuE,,'
"Inats the way with You men" replied
Mrs l!mson. Always considering other
mcn dishonest. jimmie, please"go down
and do as | say. lon'll find the purse,
surely"
Jmson went, and Mrs .Jmson climbed
to their il-apartmcnt. When he reached
the restaurant he went to the head
waiter.
''WIiI you kindly give me my purse" lie
said.
what purse" said that functonary,
with some surprise.
'Why the purse my wife LETT here an
hour ago, when we had finished supper"
'Nhat sort OF purse was it," asked the
head waiter.
. "Why, laiy's purse" said Jimson, i'm.
patiently. Don't you know a lady ) purse
when You see il? Well. this was a ady's
purse Give it to me, please"
My dear sir, said the waiter, "we have
many ladies purses left here. What was
this like? Black, blue, green? Did it have
any initials on IT,
"On," cried Jim-on, with satisfaction,
"InitiaI-? Thousands -er, three, anyway
", w. and then for the life of him Jim.
son couldn't remember his own name. The
head waiter eyed him susliciously, and lit.
tie crowd Of helated guests gathered around.
"les,' said the head waiter. suavcy;
X. y: What is the other-eh ?"
"llang the initials shouted Jimson:
"thc purse was lost here, and some raScaIly
water has il. There's the man now WHO
waited on me. Ask HIM"
The head waiter summoned the man.
Il found no purse" he said I'm not
even sure that ! served the gentleman.
What did the gentleman have"
''l.oh-tcr>, sad ,jImson.
Il thought 50, said the head waiter, "but
we aren't"
1t didn't occur to .JImaon', mind what
he meant until the next day. But a dire.
iul thing Ior Jm,on happened right then
and there. lie was getting into tight place,
and everybody was enjoying his discom-
future. Rracng himself for an effort, he
pulled hi, hat down. iammed his hand into
his oyercoat pocket and struck the pulse.
1t cost jjm>on all OF the ten dollars 10
get oul Of the place, but on the way home
he planned mean revenge.
"Dd You find the purse, dear" his wife
asked ~leepily.
eyes," said JmSon
81 knew you would, D:l You have to tip
the waiter much"
''What WAITER
"Why, the one in the restaurant"
Mrs. ,Iimson," said Jimmie. II found
that purse under seat I3 in the Magnificent
theatvr, and | was obliged to rouse and
bribe four watchman TO get in. Now how
about your logic"
But Mr., jm,on only sn-red gently as