The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1905-11-16
REFORMING
4 HUSBAND
Bv hLMtD HURRY.

HERRIDEw 10 a practical Joker. II
Ivl Is a mania with him. He has been
assaulted, had his windows broken.
been -ducked In a horse pond and
threatened with legal proceedings. But
nothing has cured him and nothing
ever will. am convinced that II he
saw a good opening for q practical
joke ON his sorrowing relatives round
his deathbed he would play It.
The joke that he worked on Hennes-
sy was conceived aud executed on the
spur Of the moment. II lacked the m
ish and polish Of his thought-out mas
terpieces. but II served. Hennessy's
front garden. which. with its trim
flower beds and graceful shrubs, was
once the pride of the terrace and the
apple OF Hennessy's eye r. transformed
into a bowling wilderness. Hennessy
used to be fond of telling us that II
took him ten ycars to make that front
garden. Less than ten minutes suf-
deed to unmake 1t. II happened thus:
Mrs. Hennessy and the children had
gone to the seaside. Hennessy's busi-
meas engagements unfortunately pre-
vented him from accompanying them.
To cheer Mrs. Hennessy he wrote her
that he felt like a hermit In his lone
~ cell In the silent house every night"
Merridew heard OF this and said he
would come round 90 the hermitage
any night Hennessy liked and play
him chess.
Mrs. Hennessy's a good little wo-
man." he said TO the rest OF M. It'll
do Hennessy more good to play chess
than to lose his money trying 10 learn
billiards or swelling the refreshment
contractors thkIngs at music halls
He's fond OF a game OF chess and he'll
swallow the bait and never know that
he's hooked"
Hennessy "fancied"' himself al
chess, as he did at all games OF skill
from tossing for shilllngs to spottine
derby winners. He accepted Merridew'f
challenge with enthusiasm and offered
TO bet Merridew ten shillings that he
(Hennessy) won In less than 20 moves
II was arranged that Merridew should
come round with his half-soverclgn the
following evening.
The best laid schemes gang aft aslsy
however. sharp TO time Merridew. In
his smoking cap and slippers, RAM
Hennessy's bell.
He was rather disguised 10 md thai
Hennessy was not yet home. He mad,
himself comfortable In the room thai
Hennessy called his study and read
Hennessy came not and when ter
o'clock struck It was plain TO Merrldev
that his scheme for keeping the grass
wldowsr from dissipation had failed.
At ~ o'clock he decided to wait nc
: longer. The servant had gone TO BED
and instead of leaving a note he left
"booby trap" over the door OF the din
ing room, rightly conjecturing tina
when Hennessy found his hat driver
down over his eyes by Webstsr's die
tlonary he would remember his en-
gagement.
Merridew felt rather ASHAMED OF tn
booby trap, as being a stale and some
what puerile Joke, but for the nomen
he was too sleepy and annoyed 10 plal
a better Inspiration comes when leas
sought, however When he opened IN
front door a much better idea for get
ding even occurred to him, A heavy
measured tread was approaching alcnl
the pavement which there was no mis-
taxing. Merrjdew left the door opel
and strolled down 10 the gate, az II h
were taking q breath Of fresh air be
fore going to bed
He gave the policeman good-evenin
and. after chatting with him for FEY
minutes. asked him II he would min
keeping special watch on the house
as he (Merridew) had noticed . rough
looking man proving about earlier 4
the evening. The policeman said tina
any burglar who might try the hous
was already as good as in custody
Merrldew, 20 keep him up 60 the mari
gave him a glass OF Hennessy's whisky
extra atih,