Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-08-10
MIXED LOVE LETTERS

that any trouble had arisen between
him and Mabel, and he could not quite
grasp 1t.
"You needn't come up this evening""
the letter ran. Il don't want ever to see
you again. l supposed that you were
manly and honest and true. l never
supposed you were deceiving another
girl just as you have been deceiving
me. shall keep the candy and the let
ter too. 1 suppose she has the candy
Intended for me. and you can easily
write another letter. You seem to be
quite apt at writing letters"
There was no signature, though it
needed no name to tell Jimmie from
whom the letter came. There was only
one girl to whom he sent candy and
wrote letters, and he had been antici-
pating such a pleasant evening with
her. He always sent Mabel chocolates
on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and a
letter was always inclosed He could
not understand why the letter should
have made her so angry. 1t had only
contained a few tender messages and
the announcement that he would be up
Thursday evening as usual. He had
hoped on this very evening to ask her
the question that had been trembling
upon his lips eve since he had been
given that last raise in salary. Now he
was forbidden to come, and he did not
even know why!
Somehow he Numbered along until
lunch time, and when that relief came
he wandered along the street trying to
puzzle out the mystery. So engrossed
had be become in his thoughts that he
was ten minutes late in getting back
to the office.
The moment he appeared Jim Tucker
caught him by the throat and backed
him up against the wall. The other
clerks We're out.
What do you meal by writing a let
ter like that?" Tucker shouted as he
fourished a paper under the astpnished
Dudley's nose.
where did you see Mabel?" demand
Ell lne under man.
"Mabel!"" yelled the irate Tucker.
"What have 1 to do with Mabel?"
Nothing, 1 hope" said Jimmie Dud-
ley fervently, "but you seem to have
taken the matter up"
Taken it up" repeated Tucker.
"Why shouldn't l take it up when it
may cost me the sweetest girl in all
the world?"
II thought you were engaged to Belle
Winchell:" spluttered Dudley, who
was beginning to find the pressure
upon his throat decidedly
lent.
81 was" Kissed Tucker, tightening
his grip Upon his victims throat, "un-
til you. with your asinine ideas Of com
edy, broke it Off"
"Then what about Mabel?" gasped
Jimmie.
"That," said Tucker, releasing his
hold and spreading the paper before
Jimmie's eyes.
why shouldn't I write like that to
Mabel?" demanded Dudley as his eye
fell upon his own handwriting.
"Why should you send it to BELIEF"
counterquestioned Tucker.
Jimmie's glance fell upon Dave Bow
en-, who had entered. Dave was dou-
bled up with laughter. Light dawned
upon Jimmie's understanding. Ibid
you send Belle some candy yester-
day." he asked Tucker eagerly.
Gas though you didn't know" sheer
ed Tucker. "Didn't you put this note
in?"
Did YOU get it at Croft's?' pursued
Jimmie.
Didn't you see the name on the
boxT asked Tucker.
Pound box?" continued Jimmie.
"You know it was" said Tucker.
with a howl Jimmie precipitated
himself upon Bowen and, taking him
off his guard, promptly tripped him
up and sat upon his chest.
Ibid you get a letter accusing you of
writing love letters to two girls2' de-
manded Dudley of Tucker.
"She said 1 was trying to disguise
my handwriting, as if l ever would
write as badly as you do"
"Dave, did you mix those boxes?" de
manded Dudley.
81 cave" admitted Dave inelegantly
"You see, the two boxes We're just
alike, and 1 knew they each held a let.
ter. 1t was easy to mix things up"
you did," said Jim Dudley and Jim
Tucker feelingly, and Tucker added
his weight to Dudley's.
They stopped just short Of murder
and then made Dave write elaborate
explanations to both Mabel and Belle
detailing how be had seen that there
were twin boxes Of candy on the two
desks and how he had changed them.
/, He was let off only after it was
found that the explanations were &C
cepted, but Dave declares that If he
ever falls in love he is going to change
his position to avoid misunderstood.
ings. And Dudley and Tucker assure
him feelingly that 1t would be the
wiser course.-Georgiana Griswo4d.
Sayings From Disraeli.