The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1905-09-02
A Borrow ed
Dress Suit
By J. A. HAMMOND


Vi d. Z af4
HT EGRET quite impossible to let
you have suit for this even
Ing"
For the fourth time smithers read the
telegram through, He felt that his posi-
ton Was critical, 1t was already past
ave D clock. Atsseyen he ought to be
entering the diniug-room at Duiwich
with he hoped It would not be with
Mrs. Rogers, though he regarded her
with the tender interest due 10 the
mother OF Miss Emily. For the past
week he had dared to dream that per-
haps Emily's arm might be allowed to
rest within his own. He had gone fur
tier. He had even hoped that during
the evening he might feel emboldened
TO ask for more than the lady's arm
for something far more intimate and
tender-in fact, for Ernily's heart. Now
all these enhancing visions were help
lessly dashed to the ground. Why had
heDeenBuch acredulous fool as to believe
Iii a tailor's promises? How he cursed
the day when he had been attracted by
the advertisement, why wear old
clothes, when they can be made as good
al new BY William the Conquering Tail
or" True, the waistcoat had failed 70
lseep pace with his waist and the one
time silk4rolled collar had begun to re-
veal secrets that even the skilled appli-
cation Of Ink could not hide. Still. uu-
=, der the kindly gaslight 1t might have
done duty once more.
smithers stared gloomily out Of the
window. There was nothing to see bus
the house opposite. but suddenly from
that opposite house came an idea
Iohnaon had gone to Margate for
weeks holiday. He was not likely to
hayei taken his dress clothes with him,
aud. he and Johnson were more or less
ia Size. II would not take long to
run across to Johnsons rooms He
could easily smuggle the clothes out
without the landlady's notice, AID II
sheitoOk them back early the next morn
'DE who would be the wiser?
fen minutes later Smithers, rather
nale and q little out Of breath. was back
In his rooms disgorging the dress suit
from under his overcoat AFTER, ALL"
he reflected, as he shook the clothes
carefully out Fate has not served me
badly II hardly dared hope to get it
out unseen" He surveyed himself In
the glass anxiously. They're bit
large, but theysmight be worse" he said
~ he took d flower from OH his sponge
and placed It In his buttonhole.
Such was his. anxiety not to be late
that he was at Rosa villa fully half an
hour too soon.
Perhaps 1t would hardly be good
rnanners To arrive Quite SO early" he
OBSERVED. as he looked at his watch.
va better walk UP an down few times. "
Precisely at three and one-half min
utes to seven he unobtrusively pulled
the bell. 1t occurred to him after some
minutes Of patient waiting that perhaps
AFTER NIL he had not made himself
heard. This surmise was probably
correct, for the second time his hand
was. still on the bell when the door
sprang open.
Mrs. Rogers was delighted that Mr.
smithers had been able to come. Tn,
Misses Rogers were equally delighted
And Smithers, catching sight OF hi:
clothes In q mirror, felt that he. too
had every reason to be glad that be wa,
there.
The clock had already struck IN.
QnArter and q general air Of expectanc,
ptrysded the room. Mrs. Rogers, WI
dsqtly getting fidgety. rose and held ,
whispered consultation with her daugh
terA Conversation, which had beer
3erlsy. iagsed and finally stopped alto
sSthsr, whsn Mr.. Rogers appetite. get
IN f 4gpcr hand Of etiquette. ex
sA I'M - ". Y