Middletown transcript., 1907-01-12

we toss up?
As you please. Heads, she's
yours tails. mine.
George spun the coin; each
an4iously awaited the result.
Confound The exclamation
came from Dicks lips. He had
won!
Don't seem keen on it, remark
ed the other, laeonically.
| No-moodily. Look here: you
marry her, old chap; well divide
the spoil afterward.
| take the responsibility. you
the cash That's cool. If you'll
do the needful, I'll be content
with a third.
I'll be hanged first Sup
pose
Are you dreadful boys quar-
j reling?
Elsie, fascinating os ever, had
put in an appearance. The men
looked up.
Fair firt, murmured George,
you've to marry one of US. Which
shall it be
Oh, bother The girl grasped
an arm of each and led them off.
If you'll promise not to give me
away, I'll do my best for both.
Your uncle thinks I'm such an
artless thing. Absurd, isn't it?
Dick!
George!
The men glanced first at the
uniform figures of the quondam
nurses who emerged from a door
nearby and then at one another.
The same thought occurred to
both; the other was on cordial
terms with his protege! But
Matthew's voice calling cut the
scene shorI; with contemptuous
glances the women swept by.
At dinner, Mr.. Dumball proved
in great form. Elsie was entirely
engrossed in the men, and the
nurses had no thought or look
but for their robust if gouty /
patient. The air seemed charged
with electricity.
At length the climax came
Uncle Matthew, casually com.
pairing his watch with the clock,
Dick pulled out his own watch
for confirmation. A small, golden
hoop rolled from his pocket to
the floor. The man blushed vio-.
lently; Miss Greene trembled.
Usually carry wedding rings
with you? queried old Dunn ball,
grimly. This isn't Saltsea!
W-what ! stammered Dick,
while a sudden thought occurred
to George. His brother had been
masquerading too
Matthew pushed lis plate aside.
The comedy's ended, he OBJ
served, in hard, judicial voice
quite unrecognizable. His words
came slowly. 1t shows the fraity
and sordidness of human nature
I'm quite aware neither of my
nepheWs are in a state Of single
blessedness.
All, save Elsie, jumped to their
feet.
Don t be alarmed, continued the
old man, sternly. I repeat, you {
are bottle married. Returning {
from Europe, it was my intention
to ascertain whether my relatives
were men or fortune-hunters. J
At Saltsea last week on-er- i
I accidentally learned q
you were there too-on your c
honeymoon. The idea then oc- q
Cured to me to send the letters
did. And the result ? Instead h
Of frankly telling the truth, and u
sending me piece of wedding :
cake =
Matthew S indignation and sor-
row choked his words Elsie gave
, cry.
Don't be too hard on the poor
boys, she said, siding up to him. R
Et was the impulse Of the mo- b
nent, I'm sure. They're so nice; a
[ love them both. The ladies i
shuddered. And your beautiful L
aren't you proud of them! p
The ladies recovered. "
George and Dick stared dumb n,
'ounded at the girls eloquent
while Dumball himself N
proved visibly affected, espec- q
ally when she threw her arms y y
lround his neck and kissed him. Il
fhe action was irresistible. N,
You're a jewel, he observed. u
As you say, perhaps I'm a bit :, !,
lard. What do you advise I? Il II
ely so on your judgment, dear.
Why, don't let this make any
to their prospects. For
ny sake.