New-York tribune., 1908-07-26

and the dining room all done in Flemish oak
with those heavy beams across the ceiling and such
a sidebOard and stained glass windows. Well our
sixty-dOllar fiat looked Ike mouse trap when l
remembered number three hundred and eleven
After she had gone out | hurried to the tele-
phone and then home to give the number to Nora
and the van driver and then haStened down town.
MET Madge all right, took her to luncheon, and
L managed to keep her down town so that Il was
nearly six when we reached home. On the way
casually mentioned that we had been moving As
we drew near | glanced up at the windows OF our
flat No curtains My heart sank Al ornmous
silence seemed to pervade the whole world as We
asCended the stairs. | flung the door open WITH
forced, Welcome to our happy home
a bare, solitary eXpanse OF rooms greeted US !
gasped. Not a stick OF furniture, not shred OF
carpet; only a destitute. melancholy blankneSs-
Madge looked politely surprised and ln4urlng
Visions of e1openents and forsaken wives must
have fitted through her mind
80 Johnl' | called. No answer.
There must be some mistake, | Iatered You
see. we've just moved IN this morning III SPEAK
to the janitOr.
Down | went to the vestibule and rang the
janitOrs bell.
didn't come l thought you was gon to get II
to-day; but l amt seen nothing
''Madge stood at the window of the bare Parof
and turned inquiring eyes as | approached.
II don't know Just what Is wrong, L Va
vered but l guess We'll have TO 60 TO hoteI ll
dinner and to spend the night
'Madge looked at me pitylngly. | turned "a!
head away and nv glance fell the W1ndo"
directly opposite 1t was brightly illuminated ior
the day was dark Mrs. Sheldon Stewart must nave
moved in sooner than she had expected Ihen INC
curtains parted and Johns face looked out
T RUBBED my eyes in amazenent and stared
L Madge followed my gaze and stared also: WY
isn't that your husband? she asked IN aStonlSnIleH
collapsed the window sill as the ruth daT9sl me-
on me | must have got my number ana M N.
Sheldon Stewards mixed both flats were seeGnl
floor east, and had telephoned the wrong num- rea
to IOhn and given the same to Nora and the van
driver. What should / do. On the monnenI
bright thought struck me. tic
L laughed nervouSly. Why, We have eVldT7II.E
come to the wrong number cried bIthely HoS
absurd of me to make such a mistake wen >
We did John met us at the door, oyertoHIhs
with enthusiasm and self cOmplaCencF FoSllI.es F.-s
everything was settled Bertha rugs lald. phclu33'I
and portieres hung books in the bookcases anu
could smell dinner cooking. l felt faint . .ts
''As soon as possible | showed Madge INTO -
prettiest bed room. and walked back 20 the P@ .;s
with the air of tragedy queen o'n didh ~ he
the air-he was too full of enthusiasm oNeI -
gorgeous habitation TO have eyes Tor alrS .s-
Jeanie, he exclaimed you're a regular - - !,
ure! How did you ever manage % Stl-Ae % S~'s So
wonderful bargain? Why it's worth twentY-i''
dollars more than we pay 1t 5 a perfect .tau
Not another word, John groaned- or l 'iI1-
screaml'
Then told him Just how II happened M ~
Sheldon Stewart mixed me up on numbers an s-s
the reSt.-and then l prepared TO % INTO ~ ~
Bertha, YOU never IN your life 81" SJch a. a.
preston on a mans face And this Su ON L. -
he gaSped; but Just then we heard N1dge eo---S e-5y
- Not wordt' | whispered. We II have % 80, -
here for the night. She need not know" II }0@
much as give a hint Ill-I'll drown UESeA- .,s
John followed us 20 the dining roonl Ihe y .bs
of amazed bewildernent and protest out - y 30
time the roast came he began % shake "l'-- S~F
pressed hilarity, in spite of my indignation