Putnam patriot., 1914-10-09

ClOlC A1au sQQ Ndu dDOul matters this afternoon. will you?" she asked, with a smile. Its his daugh- ter's wedding day. you know. and he seems to be more disseminated than usual. want to keep his nerves un. disturbed if l can"
 Quite right, Mrs Carr" roared Jamison into the trumpet
 Hello, Jamison," said Carr, as the door closed behind his wife and Nell "So you have come to the wedding. after all. You were afraid last night you couldn't 1 tell you what. Jamison. If it hadn't been for you last night that detective would have locked me up. do believe"
 "Oh. no You could have straighten. ed things out at headquarters easily enough You might have had to stay in cell all night, but you'd have been all right this morning."
 "In cell all night7 Good graciousl Wouldn't that be very unpleasant?'
 Not very What l want to see you about is that steel common stock you hold as security for the money you lent me some time ago"
 Steel common stock?" repeated MT. Carr vaguely, "I don't remember"
 You don't? Don't remember that borrowed some money of youY'
 ''Eh? Oh. yes. do remember now. And took some steel stock as collat. eral. The stock is in that safe"
 "GoodF' ejaeulated Jamison. rubbing biS hapds sNIatl hafora ina dav ia over l may be able to pay you back and redeem that stock. I'm very busy. That's why l cant accept your invita- ton to be present at the wedding. have a big deal on hand. and if put 1t through shall ask you for the stock"
 "I hope you will. Thatll be good for both you and me I'm a triie short just now. I've bought a pigeon blood ruby ring for my daughter as wed ding gift that cost a small fortune"
 "Ah, yes: daughters are expensive luxuries. Glad l haven't any" snort ed Jamison, steaming out of the room like a runaway locomotive.
 It was at this instant that MT. Carr became aware of the fact that he had in his hand piece of garden hose some seven or eight inches long. He was looking at it with a mystified frown as Mrs. Carr returned. carrying a cluster of long stemmed white roses. which she laid on the table while she looked wonderingly at the length of hose in her husbands hand
 "Motherr he cried. and she snapped the ear trumpet to her ear. Good newsl Jamison is going to redeem the stock lent him that money on"
 Its about time" was the good la dy's sober response, What on earth is that you're carrying in your hand. WilliamT
 This hosei Yes, I've just been try ing to think where got it" he an swered with distressed look Then his brow cleared 'Oh. of course, l recollect It's a piece of garden hose a remarkably fine piece of hose. I'm going to have 1t duplicated"
 William! What a thing to think of on such a dayP'
 "Such a day? What day is ft?''
 What day is it? Only your daugn- ter's wedding day. That's all"
 "Oh. yes. Madge's wedding day. And. mother, I've bought her ring"
 You haver
 "Yes, a pigeon blood ruby that l paid over a thousand dollars for. have 1t here" he went on, as he began to search his pockets. "l want you to see it. Now, what did do with itY'
 Mrs. Carr knew her husband. and It was in a worried voice that she ex- claimed. Now. don't tell me you've misaid 1t, William"
 She laid her ear trumpet on the table and arranged the flowers in a vase, while William Carr fumbled again ID his pockets. having put the piece Of hose on the table by the side Of the trumpet
 "Oh. l remember now. mother he said '"Tbe ring is in my overcoat in my room. Come with me. want you to see it. It is very beautiful"
 .'Very we'll"
 Mrs. Carr was already at the door with her husband. when be muttered. "I don't want to mislay that hose" and returned to the table.
 When one remembers that William Carr was perhaps the most absent minded gentleman in New York out side of a sanitarium, 1t Is not to De wondered at that be picked up his wife's ear trumpet in mistake for the hose and placed it carefully in the ta- ble drawer. At all events, that Is what he did, and immediately ran after her calling out as his custom was. Moth CT, mother. wait for meP
 .'Yes. dearr she responded. as she came back into the room. 'Go on- I'll be with you. I've forgotten my ear trumpet I'm getting as careless as you are"
 Hastily she snatehed up the piece or hose from the table without looking at il and boIted after her husband. holding the hose to her ear as be called back something to her on his way up stairs
 Thirty seconds later Madge's two SIS ters. Caroline and Joan burst into the room. both intent on one tmDg-the Ending of their mothers ear trumpet
 Where can il be?" exclaimed Joan "Mother says she left fl on the table she thinks. But she found that piece of garden hose iD her hand when she got upstairs. and now she doesn't know where the trumpet is Papa doesn't know, of eOursey
 ] Caroline shrugged her pretty shoui- xaa-s and laughed scornfuHy- I ~When did he ever know where any ehirg was. Joan; Whats the use or