The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-05-01
WhichWon?
By EDNA ELLIS

3 girl VIII lnliu Dlue eyes, through
which she saw very distinctly till an
oculist ordered her to wear glasses.
Sls, was troubled with headaches, and
the glasses were intended to correct
astigmatism.
One day while walking on the street
she met Bob Schofield. and at the mo-
ment of passing the light, striking on
her glasses. got In the way or her eye
sight, and she cut him dead. The next
time they were together he asked her
what he had done to offend her. She
was very much surprised and wished
to know what he meant, whereupon he
told her that she had passed him on
the street without speaking to him.
"That must have been when began
to wear glasses" she said. i've got
quite used to them now, and you will
have 10 further cause for complaint on
that score
Nevertheless the next time Miss Van
Wrinkle met Mr.. Schofield she cut him
again. Whether 1t was due to her
glasses or preoccupation or what it
was he did not know, but he was quite
sure it was unintentional.
A few evenings after this second cut
he called at the lady's house and was
received graciously. He made no ref
erence to her having ignored his pres
ence n second time. but during his cal!
asked her if she had got used to her
glasses.
''Quite So" she replied. II can see
better than without them, and l now
seldom have II headache"
do you think if you passed me on
the street you would recognize me?"
"Of course ! would"
~ doubt it,
"What do you mean? Do you know
my eyes better than II"
II don't believe you can see church
In the middle of the street"
"Well. l never. My eyesight is as
good as yours"
I'll bet you the next time I meet
you in the street you won't know me-"
I'D know you from your twin broth
er. If you had one."
Now. Mr. Schofield had no twin
brother, but he had a cousin, Ernest
Brown. for whom he had often been
mistaken. When Miss Van Wrinkle
spoke of a twin brother Bob thought
of his cousin. Ernest Brown, and
straightway began to lay for the young
lady in very mean. contemplate and
dishonest manner.
'I'll tell you what I'll do. You walk
down Hilton avenue tomorrow after
noon at o'clock. III meet you with
another fellow. I'll bet you a pound
Of candy you can't pick me out from
him."
II take the bet
81 mean I'll bet you a pound of
candy! l don't want any candy my
self; you must cover my stake with
something else"
"Cigars?"
mo. q kiss"
what impudencer'
Every well: withdraw the offer."
The scamp knew very well that she
would come to his terms in time and
she did. 1t was not that she coveted
the candy; we are all sensitive to any
physical imperfection in ourselves. and
he had ruf1led her as to her eyesight
She agreed to his terms. and q condi-
ton was added that when about TWEEN
ty feet distant she should bow to the
man she believed to be Bob. they
walking far enough apart to prevent
any doubt in the matter. The terms
having been ''signed. sealed and de-
livered." they separated.
Mr.. Schofeld went straight to his
cousin and told him Of his bet and ex-
planned the terms. asking Brown to
help him out. Brown agreed to do so,
and the next morning they met at a
tailoring establishment and bought
twin suits. Then they went to n barber
and had their hair and boards trimmed
exactly alike. When they had finished
their process Of making themselves
alike-hats. scarfs. suits, gloves and
boots were exactly similar-Bob hoped
that he had a chance Of winning.
though he feared the odds were
against him.
At exactly o'clock the two men
started from one end Of Hilton avenue,
while Miss Van Wrinkle was emerging
from her home near the other. She
was very confident Of being able to
tell Bob from his friend. though she
took every precaution. even cleaning
her glasses with compound Of alco-
hOl and ammonia. But she expected
to see them each dressed in his own
way and did not count on similarity
Of apparel. She had gone but a few
blocks. keeping her eyes fixed on
every approaching figure, when she
saw the two men coming. 1t did not
occur to her that either os them was
Bob until she came within the distance
that she was to make the decision.
Not being able to designate the true
and only Bob. she passed them with
out bowling to either. Then each party
turned
81 don't care" pouted Miss Van Win
kle: "that wasn't fair at all. You had
no right to dress alike"
"My cousin. Mr.. Brown. Miss Van
Winkle." said Bob. His double lifted
his hat deferentIally and asked If the
bet was to be paid there and then. AT
which Miss Van Wrinkle glared at him.
and he. leaving her with Bob, with
drew.