The Brinkley argus., 1914-12-11

| II -A z 66~<y This satisfactory state or | NSGRGx affairs did not come about | y3 N the first year of their & &3 welded life, nor even the NY second. The third Christ mas was almost at hand before MT.
 Smith discovered accidentally. but to
 his intense joy, that Mrs. Smith rel- ished his selection of furs, gloves. cur
 tains, rugs, and so on, no more than did he her choice of smoking-jackets' cravats, muflers, ct cetera. That their friends could not De l taken in on the combination was,
 however, a thorn in the flesh of eacn of them. "The worst has happened" said | Mrs. Smith, interrupting MT. Smiths perusal of the paper Christmas morn ing.
 "A messenger just brought pres ent from the Snivelys, and forgot to put them on my list. It's book and we've got to send them something" Well, what are we going to do
 about the Snivelys" growled MT. 1 Smith.
 "Jack," said she in moment. I've l had an inspiration. Why couldn't we
 send the Sniyelys the book that Cous- in Lucy sent us? Neither of them
 will ever know it."
 By George! We'll do it." said MT.
 Smith, after considering the propo- sition. Where is Cousin Lucys
 book?"
 "It's on the desk" said Mrs. Smith.
 "Just put our cards in the book and
 wrap it up neatly. I'll call . messen-
 ger boy"
 Half an hour later MT. Smith hand ed a package, addressed to MT. Snive- l ly, to messenger boy and saw him i depart with it. He was luxuriously stretched out on a davenport when
 Mrs. Smith came into the room 8 few
 minutes later.
 Jack" said Mrs. Smith. holding a
 book in her hand, T thought you
 were going to wrap this book up." Great Scott!" exclaimed MT. Smith. jumping to his feet. T did l wrap up some book. The messenger
 has already been here and gave 1t 1 to him."
 How long has the boy been gone?" demanded Mrs. Smith. About ten minutes"
 Get your things on. Be quick, and
 maybe you can reach the Snivelys'
 before the boy and get that dreadful
 book away from him! How could you have been so careless?
 Mrs. Smith was almost frantic.
 Down to the nearest street car tore Mr. Smith, fairly consumed with rage,
 He had arrived at the down town district when. with a thrill of joy, he spied the messenger boy. Without waiting for the car to stop, MT.
 Smith jumped off and started on a run for the boy.
 At the same moment the messenger
 boy. saw him. and. without knowing
 why he was being pursued. he obeyed
 his first impulse and ran too. In moment a dozen had joined in the chase. Down the street came
 the poor messenger boy. frautically
 straining every muscle to get away from the mob pursuing him. Sud-
 denly two men from cross street
 ran in front of the boy One threw his arms around the fugitive. hold ing his fast: the other man seized the package the boy was carrying. Why, Snively! This package is ad- dressed to you!" he exclaimed. "Why. so it" said the man who
 had caught the boy.
 In a moment they were surrounded by crowd. A policeman rushed up and took charge of the boy. "Eold on there. ofiicer. the boys all right" cried MT. Smith. who had
 arrived upon the scene by this time. What do you know about this af- fairT said the policeman respectfully, as he recognized MT. Smith. But MT. Smith was standing as one
 dazed. He had caught sight of MT.
 Snively with the book under his arm. Hello, Smith," said MT. Snively. q just now caught this boy. and found him carrying a package ad- ] dressed to me, so took charge of it. Do you know anything about it!"
 "Why-why-er-yes." stammered
 Mir Smith. trying to collect his wits. You see. I sent the package" Well. why were you chasing the boy" asked the policeman. a little inn patiently.
 The perspiratlon stood out on poor MT Smiths forehead. 'I--I was afraid hadn't given the
 boy the right address. and was trying to stop him to find out" he blurted in desperation.
 The policeman looked at MT. Smith curiously. He was convinced that he was lying, though with what object he
 could not imagine.
 The package has come to the right fellow anyway" said Snively. laugh ing. I'm going right home. SO I'll take 1t along with me-" "Oh, couldn't think of allowing you to do that, old man!" cried Mr Smith. Just give 1t back to the boy;
 he'll take it to the house for you" "Nonsense!" said MT. Snively. It's
 a light package and I don't mind
 carrying it a particle" MT. Smith ground his teeth with
 rage. How was he to get that book
 away from Snively?
 "Snively." saiS he. my office is only