The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-30
Our Daily $bcrt Story

results which might follow such a contingency were awful to contem. plate. It sobered him up more pow erfully than the antidote he had just duaffed He dropped a dime on the counter, blinked under the stare of the clerk, and sought refuge beneath the gas
 lamp on the corner. where he finger ed to consider what was best to do. An examination of the wonderful
 plaid trousers brought to light a
 bulging pocketbook. from which the
 victim drew eighty-four dollars in bills and eighty-eight cents in loose change.
 "Aahar' sneered wixum with a des-
 perate show of satisfaction, it was l considerably thoughtful in the fellow to leave me the wherewithal to begin proceedings"
 When he got back to the house | there was light uptsairs. and Mrs. Wixum. fully dressed. met him at the top landing.
 This is a pretty hour for you to
 show up. must say" she began. You are getting worse and worse" Past matters in the art of decep- ton are women" thought Wixum. as he brushed past his wife and entered l the apartment.
 As Mrs. wixum turned she caught
 sisth of the trousers, and their vocif-
 ousness was fully equaled by her
 faminine shriek. 'kieorge. deari--what on earth have you been doing?" But George was busily rumaglng about the room in search of the miss
 ing bifurcation. During his brief ab.
 sence the other fellow must have l skipped in the garment: and. what
 was worse. as Wixum was treasurer Of the Heisse Luft Club, and had brought home with him that night one hundred and twenty-four doliars' of the clubs funds. a rapid calculation | showed that he was out just thirty nine dollars and two cents. George. dear! What are you look. ing forT persisted his wife, folIowins him up and shaking him by the shoul der.
 What have you done with my trousers?" he retorted angrily. How should know anything about them? They're surely not around here. Where did you take them off?'' Right here in this room!" thunder. ed Wixum. growing ugly under his disquieting suspicious.
 In every calamity overtaking the
 masculine sort some woman must be blamed. and poor Mrs. wixum now
 came in for her full share. She liss tened half distracted to her husbans s
 strange mumbling, when suddenly a
 light dawned on her darkened under.
 standing. It sometimes requires a woman's wit to lead a blundering man
 out of his difficulties.
 Step out in the light. and let mo
 nave aonther look at those things
 she demanded.
 As she again critically surveyed the crumpled monstrosities on her hus-
 bands legs she broke out into a laugh. Do you know what you are guilty
 of, sir? It comes of Iiving on a block
 where all the houses look alike. You
 have stolen into the house next door.
 I remember those plaid things now ] I've seen them on Mir. Crobie, the
 fat Scotchman. who lives in seventy
 seven"
 i MT. Wixum wilted in his chair. Good Heavens. Ella, what am I to
 dor' he asked helplessly. | Exchange confidences-and trous-
 ers-with your neighbor in the morn.
 ins'" replied his wife drily. When the fat MT. Crombie awoke | and found that some one had been | tampering with his ideals, beoueath-
 ing him pair of plain block pants in 1 lieu of his own gaudy habiliment, he
 was very much surprised man. still
 more surprised was he to find one
 hundred and twenty-four dollars tuck
 ed away in one of the pockets. He re-
 gretted the loss of his leg-wear. it is
 true. especially as the sample left was too small to entertain him: but, as
 he figured that he was thirty-nine dollars and two cents to the good, his feelings were somewhat moliNed. Mr. Crombie whose family had gone
 away Tor the summer. was tfying to the basement bell sounded / GtannInR