The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-12-21
A Boomerang.


wife, II have note this morning from
Jim Attefburg asking an invitation for
bis especial friend, the Hen. Donald
Cbesserton. younger son or some
thing Of Brltlsh lord. Please send
him a bid"
DONALD Chestertonl never heard
Nc. Atterbury speak Of having friends
among the British aristocracy."
The junction referred to was a large
dinner and cotillon to be given by
Mrs. Weston Atterbury was Mr.. fSes-
toms bosom friend and was privileged
to ask OF the Westons FOR what he
chose. The invitation was sent. and
when the evening came round Alter
bury brought his friend to the dinner.
Chesterton had mild blue eyes, soft
iiaxen hair parted in the middle and
cameo cut smooth shaved face. He
wore the usual British monOcle.
"My friend Chesterton," said Alter
bury, introducing hiT v1i at the same
time slapplng him on the back famil-
ihrly, doesn't consider himself q la
dies man. He loves to roam, now
hunting In Chicngo-beg pardon,
mean Africa-and now doing battle
with the clubbers of Philadelphia
mean the pirates Of the Malay archi-
n9lago."
3'whats the matter with your
tongue, Jim?" asked Weston "Dld
yOn drop IN ut the club FOR refresh
ment on your way overT"
Nothing the matter, | assure you.
/ only wish to say that, Chesterton
being more at home In the open than
shut up, even In u fine house, Mrs.
Weston had better take him under her
wing at dinner He doesn't fiy for
young ladies'"
There was considerable disappOlnt-
nlent among the women guests that
the Hon. MIR Chestefton should have
been retained by the hostess. But that
lady gave out that, like many men OF
the British nobility, the young man
was u sportsman aud a mans man
rather than woman's man. He said
little aud seemed to be keeping his
eye on his introducer as though he
didn't feel at ease on American ground
Rnd among American customs.
Wake up, Chesterton," said After
bury from across the table. 1--WE
Americans, OF course, are Americans.
but we're not so dreadfully different
from your London smart set"
Chesterton forced smile, but looked
as II he would prefer shooting lions
to being oggled by women. When
the dinner was over aud the guests
were forming for the cotillon After
bury took pity on his protege.
"Chesterton," he said TO Mrs. yes-
ton, "hates the cotillon. You see, when
at home he's obliged TO do things he
doesn't like. He's danced 80 much
az balls In London that he doesn't
Sant any Of 1t in Amerlca I'm going
toltake him up into the den and let
him smoke"
The two men went upstairs. Later
Atterbury went down ana asked II
Chestcrton was dancing. Chesterton,
he was told, had not come down. At
terbury said Chesterton had left him
for moment some time before and
had not returned. The missing man
was not to be found. Atterbury seem
cd worried. He finally told Mrs. Wes-
ton that Chesterton, bored as he was
by social functions, had probably tax
en- French leave. When the guests
were gone Atterbury took Weston
aside and said:
DO you remember our talk some
months ago about the effect OF dress
on peoples appearanceT
yes"
'And i bet you 4 hundred dollars
that before the winter was over I'd
palm of ON you Jail blrd?"
Yes"
well. I've done IT,"
"Howl Wheng"
"This fellow Chestcrton .s no British
swell at ali. His mug Is IN the rogues
gallery l brought him here expecting
TO keep an eye on him Somehow Of
another he mannged 10 give me th,
slip and
-Tom." called Mrs. Weston. "com,
up here nj once. We've been robbed
The two men looked at each other
Atierbnry turned pale. Weston's fac,
changed from interest IN the story {,
Interest IN what Mrs Weston wa.
suying, then lac ran upstairs
When he came down he found hi,
friend walking the noor. You've wor
your bet, old man. but at considerable
cost. All the Jewelry that was In 1
box on my wlfe's bureau drawer hal
disappeared. II couldn't be replaced
for $1,000"
There was a constrained pause
well" said Atterbury as soon as hi
could recover from the shock. "we'l
telephone the police. IN mail you
CHECK tonight for $1,000 n the stug i
foand you can return the amount"
The police were teIephoned and sool
got on the track OF the Hon. Afr. Ches
terton alias Foxy Pete. alias Zeb Mn
per and number of other aliases
He was eventually caught and til
lewelry restored. Mr. and Mrs. Wcs
toa went TO see him In prison earl
gDl for some time wculd not believ
that he WAS the same man who iooke'
90 asistoeratic IN Atterburys cast OF
1weaAlne- dr,aca