The Tupelo journal., 1913-03-21
GOT EVEN WITH HIM
BY ELLEN SMITH.

Lannigan had al aisle seat in the
front row of the balcony and was en-
joying the opera very much. The mu-
sic did not bore him and, moreover,
Daisy Hiltson was with him, and he
was enjoying Daisy's society even
more than the opera. He reflected
that he had simply wasted his time
taking other girls to the opera, when
he might have engaged Daisy for the
entire season IL he had had his wits
about him. Lannigan, however, felt
complacent and at peace with the
world.
At the first intermission a hand
tapped L~anigan's shoulder. LET me
see your checks, please" quietly said
a voice accompanying the hand. Lam
nigan stiffened Indignantly. Then,
fishing in his pockets for his checks,
he frostily passed them back over his
shoulder.
Wrong Seats" murmured the voice.
Sorry, but you belong on the other
side of the house"
"The dickens I do" Lannigan e
ploded. These are season tickets, I'd
have you know. I've sat here all win
ter"
Sorry" said the imperturbable
voice, "but the people who these
seats are waiting for IN, and you'll
have to move"
Lannigan absolutely choked with
rage. That this should happen of all
nights on the night when Daisy was
with him! He controlled himself with
an effort and spoke out of the side OF
his mouth over his shoulder: Il
shan't novel"
Sorry" said the memorable voice.
~ hope you won't make a scene. If
you don't go I'll have to put you
out"
Lannigan boiled over. It'll take a
bigger man than you are to do that"
he said very audibly. "You confound-
ed"
ooh, I'm big enough" drawled the
voice, insultingly.
Lannigan, whirling around with blood
in his eyes, confronted the grinning
face of Phillips, one Of his best
friends.
Daisy giggled audibly. II thought
I'd die!" she gasped. hopping her
eyes with a whisp Of handkerchief.
Really, 1 never saw anything done
more %cleverly. Mr.. Phillips. / didn't
recognize you at first myself; this
light Is so dim. / never saw anything
so funny in my life. Mr.. Lannigan
was $3.50 perfectly belligerent!"
phillips never will know how near
he was to going over the railing" de-
clared L%annigan, grimly, still weak
from the shock.
1t quite spoiled the opera for him.
Besides upsetting his calmness Of
mind and his dissatisfaction, he had
an additional worry. He did not at
all like Daisy's open admiration OF
Phillips brightness. Lannigan was
at the nervous stage in his courtship
where the blowing of straws pointed
the way. Then he had an inspiration.
Phillips is so frightfully careless"
Lannigan told Daisy a week later,
when again he was taking her to the
opera. He'll never nee look at the
dates. Oh, 1 wrote him the incest sort
of note. told him that thought l
owed it to him and hoped he could use
my opera seats tonight as l could not
and I SEN him tickets for a month
ago that I didn't use. l know him
he'll ask some girl and when the man
at the door turns him down he'll have
to buy seats-and I hope everything's
gone but the dearest ones. Thatll
serve him right"
How aw-fully FUNNY" giggled Daisy
Hiltson. Really, that's terribly bright,
Mr.. Lannigan. How clever 1t was OF
you to think of that"
Lannigan beamed. He felt comfor-
table again and fully reinstated in
Daisy's admiring opinion.
Almost obstreperously he presented
his tickets to the man at the door.
There was a %colloquy. Then taking
Daisy by the arm, Lannigan led her
out of the crush and, with a muttered
Excuse me just a moment, please"
he vanished.
whats the matter?" Daisy asked,
bewilderedly, when he returned from
the ticket Office.
Lannigan looked confused. ooh,
nothing" he said, heavily. "Only-er
well. you see, 1 made a mistake and
sent Phillips the tickets for tonight.
I brought along the old ones myself