Holbrook argus., 1910-07-19
THE BEST LAID PLANS

ieved in doing them well. As soon as he found he could be back in town Friday night he wired Edith to keep that evening free. Then he wired a theater ticket broker to be sure to get the best seats for the occasion.
 Occasion is the proper word, for Meggs believed in avoiding common places and surrounding the ordinary things of life, when possible. with just enough glamour and importance to raise them out of the habitual and the usual.
 On arriving in town Meggs called Edith on the telephone and informed her that he would see her at 7:30, deli cately letting drop hint of the taxi cab and supper afterward with which he intended to emhellish and round out the evenings entertainment
 Edith was very gracious. She said it was just the one play she was dying to see, and wasn't he clever to wire ahead for the seats and she would surely be ready on the minute.
 The next thing Meggs did was to visit the broker and secure the tickets be had ordered. Then he dropped in at a fashionable florists. The violets he ordered were the finest and largest and the orchid in the heart of them gave just the touch necessary to make the whole gift particularly worthy. Later in the afternoon Meggs ordered his dress suit pressed and had a con- fortable shave.
 AS he whirled in the taxicab out to ESith's, Meggs couldn't refrain from congratulating himself on his way of doing things. Now, another fellow would have waited until he got into town to secure the tickets. Then, however, there wouldn't have been a decent seat to be had. Or that same other fellow, if he did get the tickets, would have gone down in his business clothes, making the thing common place, or would have omitted the little floral offering, or would have econo- mixed by leaving out the taxicab or the supper. In defense of the other fel- low, however, Meggs admitted that it wasn't every fellow who had the knack of doing things just right or who had the finesse and all the other qualities that fellow must have to attain to the Meggs pinnacle.
 Edith was radiant and appreciative as Meggs helped her on with her opera coat.
 I'm so glad you thought to wire me- Edith confided to Meggs as they sped downtown. From Pierce invited me to go right after your telegram came and was so glad your invitation came first"
 Meggs felt his head swim little as he realized how near the other fellow came to being Edith's escort.
 As Edith and Meggs stepped out of the taXicab in front of the theater they saw Tom Pierce alighting from his ma chine with a party of friends. Meggs allowed his smile of recognition to be almost grin. Taking Ediths arm possessively, he ushered her into the theater under Toms envious nose.
 Tt was hard getting tickets for to- night, wasn't it?" remarked Tom, as he stood back of them, waiting to en- ter the foyer.
 q had no trouble at all," replied Meggs. nonchalantly handing his tick cts to the man at the door.
 The man at the door looked at the little red slips and then handed them back. For tomorrow night" he jerked out. Next, please!"
 "Oh, and it's the last chance I have to see this play!" cried Edith, almost ready to weep.
 'T have an extra ticket" put in Tom Pierce, eagerly. "One of our party dis appointed us at the last minute. I'd be very glad to have Edith come in with us.'
 With no special reluctance on her part, with polite insistence on the part of Meggs and with urgings from the man at the door to please clear the way. Edith was added to Toms party
 "I'll get the seats all right" declared Meggs, glaring defiantly at Tom.
 For once in his life he forgot to be courteous, for he dashed out of the theater without even thanking the other man for the dubious favor of separating Edith from him.
 With blood in his eye Meggs sought the offending broker. His volcanic pre-. sentation of the situation elicited only polite regret from the man, who point. ed to the large sign requesting patrons to look at their tickets before leaving the office.
 Isn't there any kind of seat left?4 stormed Meggs.
 Not one in town" returned the bro ker. Sorry I can't fix you out Meggs rushed out of the place. Then in the cool night air grim joke struck him.
 How we'll do things!" he said tc fimself, tauntingly. 'T have such 8 knack of looking after the essentials raising things out of the commonplace and all the rest! Oh, I'm wonder all right"