The Tulsa star. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1913-1921, 1914-12-26

Ill mas present proposition.
IS<I9y This satisfactory state OF
| (S2SkESS affairs did not come about
~ ~ the first year of their
&,..t33 welded life, nor even the
W. second The third Christ
mas was almost at hand before Mr..
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 be
taken in on the combination was,
however, " thorn In the flesh Of each
OF them.
"The worst has happened" said
| Mrs. Smith, interrupting Mr.. Smiths
perusal of the paper Christmas morn
ing.
"a messenger just brought a 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 Mr..
Smith.
| Jack" said she in a moment, I've
had an inspiration. Why couldn't we
send the Snivelys the book that Cous-
in Lucy sent US? Neither OF them
will ever know It,"
"By George! Well do It," said Mr..
Smith, after considering the propo-
sition. Where Is Cousin Lucy's
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 Mr.. Smith hand
ed a package, addressed to Mr.. Snive-
depart with IT, He was luxuriously
stretched out on a davenport when
Mrs. Smith came into the room few
minutes later
Jack" said Mrs. Smith, holding a
book In her hand, 81 thought you
were going to wrap this book up"
Great Scott" exclaimed Mr..
Smith, jumping to his feet. 81 did
wrap up some book. The messenger
mas dlreduy ueeu uSio anu saw ~
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 towr
r district when, with thrill Of joy, hi
spied the messenger boy. Without
waiting for the car to stop, Mr.
Smith jumped off and started on a rur
for the boy.
At the same moment the messenge
boy saw him, and, without knowing
why he was being pursued, he obeyec
his first impulse and ran too.
In a moment a dozen had joine'
in the chase Down the street cam
the poor messenger boy, franticall,
= straining every muscle to get ava,
from the mob pursuing him. Sud
denly two men from cross stree
ran in front of the boy. One threy
his arms AROUND the fugitive, hold
ing his fast; the other man seized tn
package the boy was carrying.
"Why, Snively! This package Is at
dressed to you'll" he exclaimed.
"Why, so it," said the man VIII
had caught the boy.
In a moment they were surrounde
by a crowd. policeman rushed u
and took charge of the boy.
Hold on there, officer, the boy
all right" cried Mr. Smith, who ha
arrived upon the scene by this tim
what do you know about this a
tair?" said the policeman respectful.
as he recognized Mr. Smith.
But Mr.. Smith was standing as on
dazed. He had caught sight OF M
Snively with the book under his arm
Hello, Smith," said Mr.. Snivel
"I Just now caught this boy, an
found him carrying a package al
dressed to me, 30 took charge of
Do you know anything about it?"
Why-why-er-yes," stammere
Mr.. Smith. trying to collect his wit
"You see. l sent the package"
well. why were you chasing tt
boy?" asked the policeman, little In
patiently.
The perspirahon stood out on pot
Mr. Smiths forehead.