Okolona messenger., 1909-07-28
Stung Both Ways
Thompson Proved to Be
the Goat" First and Last

1On0neSS TO the eAlenl vi ioui hho
Khivas. each of which Is treasure In
itself and a source of delight In the
Thompson household.
1t is, however, a wellknown fact
that 1t is possible to get too much OF
a good thing, and Thompson had this
truth brought home to him forcibly
one evening, not long ago, upon ar
irving home breathless with expec-
fancy at the pleasure his wife was ex-
periencing in the possession Of a new
Khiva rug he had that day sent out
to her.
Instead of shouts of approval and
little "yips" of delight, he came upon
a much nonplused little woman who
inquired: Say, Leonard, why In the
world did you buy another Khiya?
We've got four already Why didn't
you get some other kind Of rug?'
Thompson told her that he had
bought the rug at bargain. That
Tom Seward, a friend of his, a rug
buyer, had picked 1t up cheap in New
York and, knowing his (Thompson's)
weakness for Khivas, had brought it
along and had given it to him at actu-
al cost.
How much did it cost you, dear?
asked Mrs. Thompson resignedly, and
Thompson, trying to make the best Of
a bad slip, told her without tremor
only $50, dear"
In reality he had paid 800 for the
rug, which was one that would retail
for about $160.
Sixty dollars" echoed his wife.
"Sixty dollars! Why, Leonard ThOmp-
son, do you mean to tell me that you
paid $50 for that rug? Why, goodness
me, the rug l saw down town is much
handsomer than this, and do you know
what they ask for It? Only $50, Only
$50," she repeated, "and | would soon
besides, the pattern of this one is not
pretty at all; it's too shallow and 1t
looks out of place alongside the rich
colors of our other Khivas. / do wish
you had said something to me about
1t before you went and paid out $50 for
a rug l wouldn't give $40 for"
Thus matters stood, and Thompson
felt so bad about it that he told "the
bunch" the whole story next day at
lunch.
When he got home that night his
wife was at the door waiting for him,
and she danced him gleefully into the
parlor and joyfully pointed to the
place where, on the previous evening,
the disappointing Khiva lay.
There was no rug there, and Thomp-
son stammered out: "Wh-where-what
did you do with It? Where has 1t
gomez"
For answer his wife shook a bun
die Of bills in front of him and then
smuggling up closely to him cooed:
kiss your little wifey, Lennie dear,
because she certainly is a bright lit
tie business woman"
Thompson did as he was bid and
then he inquired what 1t was all about
This afternoon, about FIVE o'clock,
q man who said he was a dealer in
new and secondhand rugs, called here
and wanted to know il | wanted to
buy nice new rug, or II l had any
rugs l wanted to exchange or SELL
Il thought this might be a good
chance to get rid of that Khiva you
got from Tom Seward, so showed 1t
TO the man.
He looked at II rather doubtfully
for a minute or two, then asked me
how much wanted for 1t.
Il told him SIS, but he gave an
amused laugh, and, with shake OF his
head, said: I'll give you $50 for It,
lady, and that's about $40 more than
ie is worth finally got your $50
back. and here 1t is.
Now, don't you think that was rath-
er a clever piece of business for your
little wife to do, all by herself?"
Thompson admitted feebly that she
certainly was clever little trader,
but inwardly he groaned as he thought
OF the 80 good, hard-earned dollars he
had lost on the transaction, and then
to cap it all, his wife added And now
Leonard, l am going down to buy that
perfect love Of rug saw for $50 and
with the other $40 I'm going to buy a
nice little everyday hat for myself,
mayn't II" And Thompson dazedly
said she might.
Next day at luncheon Barlow said
to the bunch: Say, fellows, to-mor-
rows my birthday and propose that
you all help me celebrate"
Next night they met and the dinner
was a great success. Barlow, as host,
insisted that every man must ''sing n
song or tell story"
Thompson's turn to do stunt came,
and as he was feeling happy as re-
suit of a few warming drinks, he de-
cided that the best story he could tell
would be the joke on himself about
the way his wife sold the rug, and he
told It,
There never was an after dinner
story told in this gay old world that
was received with the tumultuous ap
plause that greeted Thompson's. He
couldn't understand why 1t did go 81
well. although, of course, he realizet
that it was good Joke on him.