Arizona republican., 1909-05-13
4 PRACTICAL JOKE
 THAT WENT WRONG
How Fake Lady was Talked By His Own Conspiracy at a Fake Wedding

Ray Kane, alias Miss Gerty Smith, is one of the sort of practical jokers who are not as good judges of human nature as they think they are. They are too trustful, conspire with ire sponsible forgetting to take mutual oaths in blood and usually, as in this case, get the double cross and are led surreptitiously to banquet on their own poisoned meat. It was that kind of a conspiracy that almost cost Mir Kane a night in jail on the charge of not being a woman when he really ought to have been.
 For some time he has harbored the suspicion that Johnny Long, jr. an intimate friend, was contemplating matrimony. So certain was he that he told the other boys of their set about it and they told MT. Long, The conspiracy by which MT. Kane jobbed himself was thereupon begun. MT. Long advertised by window card for a hired girl. A co-conspirator ad Vised Kane, whereupon the latter's doubts as to Longs approaching we'd ding were dissipated and he began to plan. He asked the boys to leave it all to him. He said he would answer the ad by letter and did so, giving the name of Miss Smith. MT. Long by letter advised him that he was employed and that he should report for duty Thursday evening at certain apartments on Van Buren street where he and his bride expected to live, these apartments being the home of another of Longs friends.
 Kane thereupon told the boys that things were working famously and he would keep them posted and after the wedding they could report as a charivGri party and he, attired as Miss Smith would serve them with all the good things in the house. But to show that they did not want to be mean he suggested that they should give the newly married some handsome presents and he forthwith began to circulate a subscription list among all the boys, who Cknowing it would never be collected) subscribed liberally. Then he went to all the furniture and other stores and priced lot of fine presents that were to be delivered as soon as the money was collected. incidentally ordering a liberal supply of ice cream at his own expense with which to regale the bride and groom, to be delivered at the apartments last night
 Last evening MT Kane went to local theater and rented a fine femi- nine costume, such as the swellest hired girl in town would want on such an occasion and reported at the apartments. MT. Long was there to receive him and immediately put him, Miss Smith at work sprucing things up, refusing to recognize him in his makeup, notwithstanding the young mans powdered cheeks were begin ming to streak with perspiration. The game was working nicely when the charivari crowd appeared on the scene, even sooner than the hired girl had expected, but they were anxious and knowing there was to be no bride they did not want to wait long enough for the hired girl to get nervous. MT. Long welcomed them all and received their congratu- lations after which he directed Miss Smith" to serve the ice cream, and all regaled themselves
 Finally Miss Smith" became anxious to see her new mistress and asked MT. Long where his bride was He replied that she was down at the American kitchen. when Miss Smith suggested that they all should walk down and get her The arrangement was agreeable and the party started, MT. Long hanging back to the rear with Miss Smith," in the dignified manner of newly married man, while some of the boys hurried on ahead. They returned to meet Mir. Lsng with the information that his wife had gone to one of the local theaters, to which the party should all repair Miss Smith was nervous. but he was game. At the theater the vanguard put Officer Sullivan wise to the play. All filed in to the front seats and witnessed a part of the performance when MT. Long an nounced that he was worried at not finding his wife, so he and Miss Smith withdrew, followed by the wedding guests the party taking a short cut down an alley. It was no use. Three minutes later Officer Sul- livan laid his hands rudely on Miss Smith's' shoulder and told him that his villainy had been exposed and that a night in jail was the only process by which the law could be vindicated. Then came the pleadings and the prayers. Ray said he could not afford to go to jail and anyhow it was only a joke. To prove that he was not really and truly trying to pose as girl he elevated his skirts