Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1903-11-27
HOW 1 GOT THE
BEST OF DANIELS

fool or myself. But TX made fool
OF myself, Daniels made an ass Of
himself Daniels and entered school
the same year. joined different frats.
and went In for different things. Dam
iels took up oratory seriously with kid
gloved society for q diversion. Sounds
mighty well on paper; but called
Daniels q prude. l went in for ath-
letics and good college fellowship seri-
ously and divertingly. Daniels called
me q bum.
But on one point we agreed-that
was that Maggie Goodwin was the
SWEETEST girl that ever struck our col
lege town, and with Maggie's first APP
pearance in chapel began our four
years rivalry.
But take 1t all In all It was about
an even thing until the time Of the
senior class play. That was where |
fell under. Daniels, owing to good
work in oratory, was cast for the hero.
pursued by fate and the villain for
three acts, you know but dead sure to
win out in the last, and making love
to the heroine (Maggie) In all four.
And IL was the villain with black,
silken mustachios, but a red-headed.
brazen-mouthed rascal. All. those re-
hearsals we're too much for me! 1t
seemed as though Daniels was a little
more in earnest than was needed for
rehearsal work and that Maggie ex-
hibited an uncalled for gayety. At
any rate l pulled out of the race.
Women are all hero-worshipers; and /
was at least a philosophical villain.
The class play took place on Mon
day night. Commencement came on
Friday. In the meanwhile l took a
run home to make arrangements for a
little trip / was to take in honor of
my parchment-to recuperate. l told
mother, and mother told father On
Wednesday morning | received two
letters. The first | opened was from
Art Dunlap, 1t was brief note tell
ing me OF the engagement Of Maggie
Goodwin to a DR.. Taylor, OF Chicago
He said that he thought / would like
to know. Art was always such
thoughtful friend. But poor Daniels!
How ptied himl might have known
that she was only playing with him.
How could any girl care for Danielsi
But understand. the news didn't affect
me any Hadn't steered clear of the
maiden for weeks? Only l wished
that | had used those theatre tickets
on some other girl.
But the second letter aoored me.
This is what It said:
my Dear Dlck--It will be a sur
prise to you to learn of the engage
ment of Maggie Goodwin to DR.. 1ry-
lor, of Chicago / call 1t a shameful
trick. to say the least, after all you
have done for her. AS. a friend of both
parties, l had hoped you would have
1t all fixed up before commencement.
But I'm glad 1t wasn't. She's not
worthy Of you. So never mini, old
man. Your friend,
BENJAMIN Il. DANIEL s.
What do you think of that Tor nerve!
/ was raving mad for few moments,
and was about to tear up the thing,
when the happy thought came. had
opened one end of the envelope with
~
put the letter back and pasted the
ends together. l then wrote the fol
lowing note to Daniels, which l mail
ed that morning:
Dear Benz just received letter
from Dunlap informing me OF Maggie
Goodwin's engagement. She has play
ed you a dirty trick all the way
through. I've known all along that
she treated me cordially only because
| was your friend, and | thought that
it was all settled between you two, as
did every one else. But brace up, old
man, and don't take 1t hard. She's
not worth it. OF course people will
forget It. SO will you, Ben, and never
be the worse for little college firta-
ton. Sincerely yours, DICK.
took the evening train back, and
about o'clock the next morning
knocked on Daniels door. He greet
ed me with little grin which he evil
IDENTIFY intended to be sympathetic.
saw that he had been writing, and told
him to go on with his work, l would
wait.
"All right, If you don't mind. I'll be
through in a few minutes"
"That reminds me-" said. II have
some mail to read that came just be-
fore left. Thought l would read 1t
on the train, but rode down with
Happy Robsons sister and have been
carrying It ever since. That girl can
have me-" That wasn't just what
said, but some such stuff, you know.
Daniels glanced at me neryously. I
pulled letter from my pocket and
tore off the end (the cut end. then
turned 1t over and looked at the adj
dress.
Halo, Ben! Isn't this your writ
mgr
Daniels looked foolish. His face
grew a moist red. why. yes, be-
lieve it is" | was pulling out the
folded letter sheet.
Hold on, Dickr' Daniels cried.
"wait--If you don't Mindful take the
letter. It would seem foolish to read it
now that you're here"
"Why certainly, Ben, II you say so"
and | handed him the letter. He
clutched it and tore 1t into bits.
"But what was IL aboutT
s.xxyh~, La M oaa-whaf waQ n