The San Francisco call., 1913-10-23


woman wanted to bluff you into pay
ing $50 for that hat"
I didn't give her much encourage
ment," laughed Helen I'D never
have gone back there If 1t hadn't been
for you"
.sWhy. did he want TO pay $50 for
hat?" demanded Mrs. Stevens.
Not much" emphatically- But
told Helen IL she wanted the hat I'd
call that woman's bluff-and get II
for $25."
And did your breathlessly- do
tell US about it?s
Warren never hesitated to tell
stories which attested to his shrewd-
ness, and now he told how he had
taken Helen back to the millinery
shop, gave the woman his card. and
said IL she wanted to have the hat at
the hotel by s o'clock with a C. o. d.
bill for s25-that she'd get the money.
And how they had walked out leaving
her spluttering with Indignation.
but she didn't send the hat." in
credulously
THE hat was there at o'clock all
right. That old lady was too shrewd
not to nail the twenty-five"
oh. do let's see It," pleaded Mrs.
Stevens.
Yes, trot 1t out. Helen Let's see
what she asked $50 for,-
IT'S only a simple street hat"
Ii a.
because it matched my blue treveling
suit"
We'll. she DID have nerve to ask
$50 for that.s exclaimed Mr.. Stevens
when Helen returned with the hat.
why, DEAR" expostulated Mrs.
Stevens.
.'oh, Mrs Curtis knows what I
mean apologeticaily. IF a man
pays $50 for a hat he expects some
thing that will make big noise
lots of droopy plumes and things
that looks like money
That shows how little men know
about it," said Mrs Stevens deri-
sively. Nobody's wearing willow
plumes any more. It's the little,
smart, almost untrimmed hats that
you pay for this year"
And they wear them smashed
down over one eye and look like the
devil" commented Warren.
"Oh. while l think of it," Mrs. Ste
vens' face lit up with interest. Were
they wearing those ruffles around the
hips in Paris?"
Sort of bustle-in-fro arrange
ment?" supplemented Mr.. stevens
Not as extreme as you see them
in the papers, laughed Helen. But
where was it we saw that white
satin? Were they wearing those
rufies that stood out like they were
wired? At Maxim's, wasn't 1t, dear?'
Search me- shrugged Warren. Il
was looking at the women them
selves"
"And. oh, did you see any trains
in front?" asked Mrs. Stevens.
Yes. at the Folies- Bergere, one of
the show girls had
"Oh. remember that" interrupted
Warren Looked like she had her
dress on hindside before"
But the discussion OF the Paris
fashions was soon left to Helen and
Mrs. Stevens, while Mr.. Stevens and
Warren drifted on to a Sulzer and
Tammany argument.
1t was after eleven before Mrs.
Stevens made the move to go.
STAYED pretty late. didn't they?"
Warren glanced at his watch as they
came back from the elevator. Now
let's get to bed. I'm tired
But Helen had still to straighten
up her room, which was strewn with
the Paris purchases she had taken out
to show Mrs. Stevens. AS she put
them away she kept trying to think
what she could give Aunt Fannie
now that she had given away her
gloves.
If there was only something she
had bought for herself that would do,
But Aunt Fannie was so old maidish.
she never wore anything frilly.
Then she looked over the other pres
ents for his family. for they had not
been out to see his people yet. If
there was only some way she could
change them around-so she would |
not have to buy anything for Aunt
Fannie.
what in the Sam Hill are you do
ing now?' demanded Warren. appear
ing at the door in his bathrobe. Not
even started to undress?''
"Oh. won't be long, dear" hastily. |
Il was just looking over these things, |
trying to find something to give
Aunt Fannie"
Thought you got her something"
Yes, / did-a pair of long gloves,
but IL gave them to Mrs. Stevens.
Somehow, when l went to give her
that dresser scarf---it didn't seem
enough! Now I'll have to get Aunt
Fannie something here"
Well, you are chump? Haven't
you got those presents straight yet?
If you paw over them much longer,
they'll be worn out. Spent most of
your time in Paris buying them, and
you've been sorting 'em over ever
since Now, chuck it-and come to
bed