The Washburn leader., 1914-09-04
ATRlFLlNG
MISTAKE
BY THOMAS R. DUNN

Stepping to the instrument, l heard q
very sweet feminine voice say:
"Is that you, Mr.. Pemberton?"
"Yes, Pm Pemberton."
you're to be at the corner Of Eighth
and Walnut this evening at 8. Take
the cab you will find there and"-
who are you?" asked. not under
standing all this talk.
I'm Eftie Strong. You will be driv-
en- to the park entrance. Go to the
fountain, where you will find Edith.
,one is coming"
There was click and that was the
end Of these remarkable Instructions
1t was evident that there had been a
call for some one bearing my name,
and the telephone girl or the person
calling or some one had made q mis-.
take
Now. would not on any account
take advantage of such blunder to
crafty curiosity. pry into other peo-
ple's affairs or for any other purpose.
But felt 1t incumbent on me to cor
rect the error If possible. This other
Pemberton would not get the message
intended for him. the driver Of the
cab might wait all night on his box,
and Effie might grow so desperate as
to drown herself in the fountain. 1t
behuoved me to set matters right.
| called up the telephone Office and
asked who had given me the last CALL
might as we'll have asked the Op-
orator to tell me how many grains
there are on an ear Of corn. look
ed in the directory for the name Penn
berton. but mine was the only one
there.
There was nothing for it but that l
should go to the corner of Eighth and
Walnut streets. take the cab, proceed
to the fountain and tell Edith that she
needn't wait any longer because the
real-her real-Pemberton had not
been Informed of the meeting.
confess l was somewhat curious to
know why conveyance had been pro-
vided and what was to be the upshot
of the business. But l resolved sim
ply to state that a mistake had been
made and ask no questions. thought
| it necessary to carry a rose in order
that l should be recognized for the
other fellow or l might as we'll stay
away. So on my way to the place
where I should meet the carriage l
stopped at a flower shop and bought
one. The cab was in position. and l
opened the door, The driver asked If
was Mr.. Pemberton. and told him
| that l was. Then he drove me to the
walk to the fountain.
Two girls were standing looking at
the dripping water. and one of them
on seeing the rose in my hand left
her friend and made straight for me.
Il have come to tell you" said. rails
ing my hat that there has been
mistake
Good gracious! What's gone wrong?
Is it all OFF,"
"a telephone message came to me
this afternoon from lady whom
don't know"
Certainly you don't know her You
are not expected to know her,
"You see. I'm not-that is. there's
only one person Of my name in the
telephone book
you're Mr.. Pendleton. aren't your
Certainly I'm Pendleton. There's
no doubt about that. but
"Come! Let us hurry. Well be too
late. Maud told me that If failed her
it would break her all up; she wouldn't
be able to get through with it,
II this young woman had been a
scarecrow or suspicious looking I
might have attempted further explana-
ton. But she was as pretty as
peach. and If she wouldn't give me a
chance it seemed to me that l was
excusable for letting her have her way.
Putting her arm through mine. she
hurried me to the cab. We got in,
and the cabman drove away without
any instructions. presumed he had
been given them before.
Nov I'll explain" said my kidnap-
er You see, Maud Farnsworth and
Ned Bigles have been dead in love
with each other for a long while.
Maud's parents think they know bet
ter whom Maud wants to marry than
she does herself. She and Ned are to
be married secretly, and you and are
! to be the witnesses"
"Oh! That's ally'
That's all! Why. isn't that good
deal?"
But please tell me what have to
do with It."
"Why. Maud has made all the ar.
rangements. She asked me whom !
would like to take me to the parsonage.
and said it didn't matter to me; she
might find some one herself. She said
she would and made all the arrange
ments."
! / leaned back on the cushion and
chuckled.
what amuses your asked my com.
panion.
II tried to tell you that mistake
has been made, but you wouldn't listen
to me- am pleased to learn that no
harm has been done. On the contrary.
have made very pleasant ac-
quaintance."
told her the whole story. at which
Il