The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-12-16
Mr.. DAvIDsoN's COAT.
A Christmas Episode With an Unex-
pectedly Dismal Endina.

peCScOIy OlSmat CnQIn9.
Christmas was a great tine in the
Davidson family, an event prepared for
| in secrecy for months 1t was the de-
sire OF Mr.. Davidson's heart TO succeed
in surprising his wife in the matter OF
his selection OF Christmas gift for
her. and 1t was his wife's pride in all
the twenty years OF their married lite
he had never yet gained his wish.
| In consequence Of this, 1t was some
what exasperating that the clock had
struck on this particular Christmas
eve and she had not yet discovered
the hiding place of tomorrow's gift.
He must know that l want
diamonds this time" she unused. Why,
| have criticised the vulgar display
Mrs. Jonesmith makes of them, and
talked OF the vast of money their pur
chase implies until he must have been
impclled to buy me some out of sheer
contrarety. But where did he hide
them? That"
A knock at the door interrupted her
train OF thought. and particularly un-
| inviting chap asked for old clothes In
robust whine The influence of the
season was upon Mrs. Davidson. how
ever, and she gave him an old overcoat
which her husband thought he might
sometime wear when he went hunting.
He never did go hunting, but he lived
as IL he always expected to start early
| the next morning.
No. l just can't think where he has
put that gift" she said returning to
her chair and her thoughts. We'll, one
comfort, he hasn't seen the cuff links
and the meerschaum pipe have for
him. I've moved their hiding place
twice a week, so he has had no chance
to find them while rummaging in the
waste paper basket for his clean coll
lars or searching in the china closet for
his necktfe. which are always kept in
the upper left-hand bureau drawer
What's that
The front door had cncned caHtiously
and stealthy step went up the stairs
and stole across the floor of the room
above. Mrs Davidson turned pale,
then softly clapped her hands. It's.
Tom going to take peep at my pres
ent! TN keep quiet and find out where
1t is
She heard the steps about the room
and held her breath until they paused
before the chiffonier.
"Ah, 1t is the drawer that Tom said
had stuck and would not open. Why
did I never think of that before?'
She listened until the cautious foot
steps came down the stairs and the
front door softly opened and shat Then
she rose 10 her triumph.
Aha he has Slipped out to come In
/, a few moments later. thinking that /
did not hear him. I'll slip up now, have
/ q peep at my diamonds ana a good joke
In the morning'
| She went upstairs and lit the gas; It
Jared up and q scream burst from her,
! The room was in confusion: drawers
We're upset and their contents scattered
on the floor. AS she screamed, the
4 front door opened and her husband
came running upstairs.
We'll, Tom Davidson, If you think
this is joke, l don't!" she cried .uTo
slip in this way and play trick on
your wife is"
What on earth do you mean by a
| joke?"
Tom Davidson, you don't mean to
say that | didn't hear you come upstairs
fifteen minutes ago to look at my pres
/ ent and"
You certainly did not. Hello!, He
strobe across the room and lifted a
drawer of the chiffonier which was up
side down on the bed "As came up
the block, l met the ugliest tramp /
i ever saw and l could have sworn that
he wore my old coat. You simply sat
there while he riflcd the place and car
ried off the diamond pin had gotten
for your Christmas gift!"
When she had quieted down little
and Mr.. Davidson wcs telephoning for
the police, his wife suddenly remen-
bered that the last hiding place for the
cuff links and the nnterschauin pipe was
the breast pocket of that old coat