The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-08-31
a Borrowed
Dress Suit
ID EGRET quite impossible to let
IN you have suit for this even
By J. A. HAMMOND
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ssn EGRET quite impossible to let
IN 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
i've o'clock. At seven he ought to be
entering the dining-room at Dulwich
with-he hoped it would not be with
Mrs. Rogers, though he regarded her
with the tender interest duo to 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
Their. He had even hoped that during
the evening he might feel emboldened
tc ask for more than the lady's arm
for something far more intimate and
tender-in fact, for Emily's heart. Now
all these enhancing visions were help
lessly dashed to the ground. Why had
hebeen such credulous fool as to believe
in 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
as new by William the ConQuering Tai
OFT" True. the waistcoat had failed TO
keep pace with his waist and the one
time silk-rolled collar had begun to re-
veal secrets that even the skilled appli-
cation of ink could not hide. Still. un-
der the kindly gaslight it might have
done duty once more.
smithers stared gloomily out Of the
window. There was nothing to see but
the house opposite. but suddenly from
that opposite house came an idea.
johnson had gone to Margate for q
weeks holiday. He was not likely to
have taken his dress clothes with him,
and he and johnson were more or less
OF a size. 1t would not take long to
run across to Johnsons rooms. He
could easily smuggle the clothes out
without the landlady's notice, and If
he took them back early the next MORN
ing who would he the wiser?
Ten minutes later Smithers. rather
pale and a 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. hardly dared hope to get it
out unseen. . He surveyed himself in
the glass anxiously. They're a. bit
large, but they might be worse" he said
as he took flower from of 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 it would hardly be good
manners to arrive quite SO early" he
observed. as he looked at his watch:
idbetter walk up an down few times"
Precisely at three and one-half min
utes to seven he unobtrusively pulled
the bell. 1t occurred toshim after some
minutes of patient waiting that perhaps
after all he's 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.
emithers had been able to come. The
Misses Rogers were equally delighted.
And Smithers. catching sight of his
clothes in mirror. felt that he, too.
had every reason to be glad that he was
there.
The clock had already struck the
quarter and general air of expectancy
pervaded the room. Mrs. Rogers. EVIL
IDENTIFY getting fidgety. rose and held a
whispered consultation with her daugh-
ters Conversation. which had been
9erky. Jagged and finally stopped Alto
gether. when Mr.. Rogers appetite. get
ting the upper hand of etiquette, ex-
claimed:
my dear, don't think It's any good
waiting any longerfo for Johnson"
johnson! But surely he's at Mar
gate stammered Smithers. thinking
hescould not possibly have heard Alright.
30 he was, but he's due back this
Alternoon. and he promised he wouldn' t
faH to turn up to dinner. eh, Ethel?".
Ehe younger Miss Rogers blushed
ana looked coy.
A. they went into dinner Smithers'
dream was realized and Miss Emily fell
TOMS lot, but the haunting thought that
peEhaps at this very moment johnson
might be searching for his clothes COM
pletely robbed him Of his anticipated
pleasure.
On reentering the draw!ag-room the
b tlemen found Miss Emily engaged in
Ill., 81; Il Al. 81 80 ~
s sss8g