The Ordway new era., 1909-06-25
WATSON TELLS
A STORY
Py J. l.. HARBOUR
by J. b. Lippincott Coz


,copyright. by J. b. Lippincott Coz
WATSON likes to tell a story. and he
aware OF the fact that he tells one
Commonly well when he can tell
in his own way. But this privilege
not always accorded him when
rs Watson is around. and she was
m him at a delightful little dinner
rty the Rayburns were giving the
her evening. Watson was in his
!. STORYTELLING mood and he had
rital new story to tell. He was sure
a, no one at the table but Mrs. Wat
N had heard II. He awaited his
rortunity, and during lull in the
neral conversation he began with:
ron. by the way. heard capital
HE story at the club the other eve
rg It is new Hebrew story
harley Dwight told me. He said
at"
"WEy, Mr.. Watson. l thought 1t
is Harry Ross who told you that
pry?" interrupted Mrs. Watson.
"No. my dear, 1t was Dwight who
ID me. lie said"
II am quite sure that you said It
ls Harry Ross who told you the
pry when you told me. Is 1t the
by about the two Jews at dinner
rty, and one of them"
"Ycs. yes, 1t is that story. and
irht said that"
n remember very distinctly that
u said ii was Mr.. Ross. You know
,u said that he"
"Well. well. perhaps did say Ross
ben | meant Dwight. Ross was
resent. But 1t don't matter which
Ie told the story"
"0f course not. only It is best to be
scurate."
dwight said that"
You mean Ross"
We'll. Ross said that n couple OF
heenys we're"
Don't say 'Sheenys.' dear, It sounds
disrespectful"
n don't mean any disrespect.
Id"
1t Is always best to say what one
pans. and 'Sheeny' is not only dis
kpectful but II Is vulgar"
Well, these two Jews. Goldstein
Rosenbaum. were ut dinner
Arty and
You said their names were Schloss
Strauss when you told me the
bry.'
Oh. the names don't matter
suppose not, but, as | say. It is
(st to be accurate
Dwight said that these Jews were
dinner'party. and"
thought 1t was n public banquet,
arr said Mrs. Watson, gently.
oh, well, what's the difference?
hyhow-"
There is n good deal of difference
tween dinner.party and public
nQuet."
Very well, call 1t a banquet. then"
wouldn't II It wasn't n banquet"
Ahhow. there were solid silver
oons on the table. and"
lhen 1t must have been n dinner
fty One never sees solid silver at
public banquet"
l didn't say 1t was a public ban.
het"
didn't say that you did. my dear
BY"
well' the point of the story is that
s the progress of the dinner
p'uS'ein took one of the solid silver
Poons and slipped 1t into his shoe,
! aont see how he could have done
At uhobserved." remarked Mrs. Wat
ne did, according to the way the
|ory goes. and"
II don't seem reasonable"
Lots OF good stories are uureason.
We. Rosenbaum saw Goldstein put
eoI spoon into his shoe. and"
W.. vn' II wasn't that way. You are
!, lung y ahead Of the story. When you
~ y, II to me you said"
am telling It Just as Dwight told
W me. He said"
ION you remember that you said
sn' said-only 1t was Ross-that
us.elh-only I'm quite confident
sa,d the name was Strauss-that
'a'a before putting the spoon into
a, shoe: Ladies and gentle.
No' no, no! II was Rosenbaum
NJ. nv said that when he got n spoon
m a'. 'ater. He said"
aoh seem to me that that was
was OF 1t. | am quite sure that"
n"' she was quite sure" OF re.
"s ~. mystery to this day. for at
,aoment the hostess gave the sig
n,,, 'or .he guests to rise, and the
watson had privately re.
"a aea ~ In his room was never told.
plv. "ls Is no place in which to di.
~ 1hat Watson said to his wife
"e'r homeward way.