The Prescott daily news., 1908-12-19
A Boomerang.

ICopyright, 1908, by American Press Asso-
 ciation.l
 "My dear," said Tom Weston to his wife. q have note this morning from Jim Atterbury asking an invitation for his especial friend, the Hon. Donald Chesterton, a younger son or some thing of British lord. Please send him a bid
 "Donald Chesterton! 1 nevel heard MT. Atterbury speak of having friends among the British aristocracy."
 The function referred to was large dinner and cotillon to be given by Mrs. Weston. Atterbury was Mir. Wes- tons 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 flaxen hair parted in the middle and cameo cut smooth shaved face. He wore the usual British monocle.
 My friend Chesterton," said Alter bury, introducing him and at the same time skipping him on the back famil- iarly. doesn't consider himself a la- dies man. He loves to roam, now lnting in Chlcago-beg pardon, can Africa-and now doing battle ith the clubbers of Fhiladelphia-I mean the pirates of the Malay archi- pelago."
 Whats the matter with your tongue, Jim?" asked Weston, Did you drop in at the club for refresh ment on your way over?"
 Nothing the matter, l assure you. l only wish to say that, Chesterton being more at home in the open than shut up, even in fine house. Mrs. Weston had better take him under her wing at dinner. He doesn't fly for young ladies'"
 There was considerable disappoint- ment among the women guests that the Hon. Mir. Chesterton should have been retained by the hostess. But that lady gave out that, like many men of the British nobility, the young man was a sportsman and mans man rather than a woman's man. He said little and seemed to be keeping his eye on his introducer as though he didn't feel at ease on American ground and among American customs.
 Wake up, Chesterton," said Alter bury from across the table "We Americans, of course, are Americans, but we're not so dreadfully different from your London smart set"
 Chesterton forced a smile, but looked as if he would prefer shooting lions to being oggled by women. When the dinner was over and the guests were forming for the cotillon Alter bury took pity on his protege.
 "Chesterton," he said to Mrs. Wes- ton, mates the cotillon. You see, when at home he's obliged to do things he doesn't like. He's danced so much at balls in London that he doesn't want any of it ill America. I'm going to take him up into the den and let him smoke"
 The two men went upstairs. Later Atterbury went down and asked if Chesterton was dancing Chesterton, he was told, had not come down. At terbury said Chesterton had left him for a moment some time before and had not returned. The missing man was not to be found. Atterbury seem ed worried He finally told Mrs. Wes- ton that Chesterton, bored as he was by social functions, had probably talk 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 appearanceY
 Yes"
 And l bet you hundred dollars that before the winter was over I'd palm off on you jail bird?"
 Yes"
 Well, I've done it."
 How? When?"
 "This fellow Chesterton is no British swell at all. His mug is in the rogues' gallery. I brought him here expecting to keep an eye on him. Somehow or another he managed to give me the slip and"-
 Tom" called Mrs. Weston, "come up here at once. We've been robbed"
 The two men looked at each other