The Irish standard., 1914-01-17
BARNABY LOST MATCH
PERSUASIVE STRANGER WENT
AWAY WITH NEW HAT.
And the Loser Is Firmly Convinced
That the Aforesaid Stranger Had
No Real Regard for the
Strict Truth.

Barnaby bought new hat and paid
$3.50 for 1t. It was a black derby,
size 7h. and although it was not a
particularly fine hat, it was becoming,
and Barnaby expected to get a good
deal of wear out of it.
Two days later he lost it. The wind
blew it away just as the car on which
Barnaby was homeward bound passed
downtown street. Barnaby was rid.
Ing on the rear platform. He jumped
of the car, and gave chase with sur.
prising agility. The wind, however,
was brisker than he. and he ran halt
block, with the hat now out of sight,
now in, before catching up with it.
Finally he came within reaching dis.
tance and stopped to grab the rolling
derby, but before he could lay hands
on it another man ran up from the
opposite direction and caught it. The
other man also was bareheaded.
by Jove." he said, breathlessly, III
that wasn't a stif chase"
1T certainly was," Barnaby assent.
ed. I'm much obliged to you for run.
ming out and stopping the hat for me-"
The other man stepped back and
clapped the derby on his own head.
"Well," he said, IF you haven't
got nerve. I didn't stop it for you;
l stopped 1t for myself. The hat is
nine"
Barnaby followed him up threaten.
ingly.
"Now, see here" he growled, 81
am not in mood for any fooling.
I want my hat"
But it isn't yours" the other man
persisted.
1T is mine," said Barnaby. 1T
blew of my head from one of those
cars"
The other man kept his temper ad.
mirably.
"My dear sir" he said, II am sorry
to contradict you, but I can prove
that it blew of my head just as
came out of that building around the
corner"
Impossible said Barnaby. 1T is
mine. paid $3.50 for it."
The cold wind that rufHed Barnaby's
uncovered hair did not tend to allay
bis wrathful fever, and his reply made
up in vigor what 1t lacked in elegance.
The other man grew serious.
Say" he said, Il believe you really
do think this hat is yours. Unfortu.
nately, I am as firmly convinced that
It is mine, and since one of US has got
to give in and 60 home with his top.
knot exposed to the elements, let's
match pennies to find out which it
shall be-"
They matched for it, to the infinite
satisfaction Of several small boys, who
had been drawn thither by the noisy
argument. The other man won the
hat.
II hate like the mischief to see you
hang around here bareheaded," he
said sympathetically, "but your own
hat is surely somewhere in the neigh
borhood. Perhaps these boys can help
you find it,
Thanks" said Barnaby, "you are
very kind. suppose you are acting
On the level, but 1 could have sworn
hat hat belonged to me-"
A few minutes after the man had
gone on they found the other hat. A
messenger boy picked it up in door
way, where it had been lodged by the
wind.
Barnaby took the battered headgear
and looked it over sorrowfully. It
was a very dilapidated hat. The
crown was dented and rusty with age,
the rim was bent, but the size was
7A.
Il guess he lied to you, didn't he,
mfster?" the boy chuckled.
1T looks that way" said Barnaby.
But it is one way to get a new
hat" the boy pursued:
1T certainly is," said Barnaby.