The Tupelo journal., 1911-07-14
Il beg thy pardon" Medders said,
cnptritaIy .T Ala foroa+ pycoJp

Come in out of the night air, gen.
tlemen." suggested Harry, who came
to the door just then. The trio, smil-
Ing over the unconscious way in which
Medders had shaken the Count, start
ed In, when a messenger boy arrived.
He carried a large hat box. The
Count tried to intercept him, but Har-
ry was as anxious as the Count to get
that hat.
She turned 1t out quick enough"
Harry murmured to himself, paying
the boy the se~venty-ive dollars that
was called for or delivery. When the
boy had left, Harry CHANGED to look
at the address and read:
Count Herman Won Fitz. Why, this
hat isn't for me, after ALL"
NO." the Count said. Il ordered 1t,
but 1t isn't for me-"
Medders turned and said:
us there some mistake, Harry"
Harry looked at the Count, but that
gentleman vas pretty well satisfied
with the situation and made no move
to correct matters.
mo, there isn't any mistake" Har-
ry said.
did l understand Alright" Medders
asked. that thee are paying seventy
five dollars for that hat?'
Il did-without taking chloroform.
too" Harry ruefully acknowledged.
Some hats are worth that much"
the Count remarked.
"Sure!" doomed the General. my
wife often spends more than that for
8 hat"
rs it for thy sister, Harry?" Med
ders asked, casually.
Il don't know if it will fit her." Har-
ry answered, non-committally.
"Wouldst thee let us see it?" Med
ders asked. Truly, a hat worth that
much must be a wonderful thing"
Here the Count nervousty inter-
posed, afraid that the General would
become aroused if he saw the hat.
mo, no. Der night air might spoil
it,"
II confess I am curious to see It"
Medders said. "Ah, what forms the
vanity OF women and the foolishness
of man do take!"
From the house came the lank form
of Socrates Primmer. In his hand he
carried the hatboX which all day he
had beer ~endeavoring to open in the
presence of Lucy.
What is the trouble?" be asked.
mo trouble at all-until you came"
Harry replied, drily.
Harry has simply been doing what
have often done" General Blazes
explained "He has bought a hat"
Primmer glanced at the hat box
Harry held, and then looked at his
own.
This then, is for his wife," he in
CURED, sadly.
WHAT" the General said, misun-
Outstanding Primmer. Another man
buy a hat for my wife? How dare
you!"
Primmer shrank away from him.
Nay" Medders soothed. THE hat
Harry has is for his sister, Carolyn.
NO." Harry corrected him, fearing
some further complication. The fact
is, l was going to give the hat to
Lucy-with your permission, Mr.. Med
ders. But I didn't like to ask your
permission before all the others here.
Bully for you, Harry" the General
beamed. You couldn't do a inner
thing"
Primmer Iapsed into a fit Of dejec-
ton.
"Alas." he sobbed. Homer was
right when he said:
ALIAS, faint hope | leaned upon!
Alas, thou too art dead and gone!"
Cheer him up" General Blazes
suggested. Let him see your pres
ent for Lucy"
Il, too. have a present for Lucy"
Primmer said.
"Thee hast?" Medders asked. What
is it, Socrates?"
"A hat" Primmer announced.
Harry leaped to a conclusion. IN
| stantly he coupled Primmer with the
mysterious lIdi VIM OOHSAS
duplicate hat at Mile. Daphnes.
Lets see it," he said.
He opened Primmer's hat box, ana
one glance was enough to confirm his
suspicion. He dropped the lid quick
Iy. took the box from Primers unre-
sisting hold, and said:
"IHl take your hat to Lucy. Shell
be-"
NO. I shall present 1t to her my
self" Primmer declared, taking the
box from Harry.
"All right" Harry said. Don't lei
any one profane that hat by seeing II
until it gets to the one for whom 1t Is
intended. And neither will ! with
mine. You won't let any n see IT.
Surely not" Primmer agreed.
All right. That's a sacred compact.
Let's all go in now"
And as he ushered them Into the
house Harry said things to himself be-
cause of his foolishness In paving
seventy-ive dollars for q hat when the
d,n1ioa{a noc in the house all the