The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1915-03-11
How They Became
Acquainted
By MAY c. ETHERIDCE


after business and either met him III
the hall OF called for him to come up
stairs for the connubial kiss. Today
she did neither. Mr.. Tinkham, hear
ing or seeing nothing Of her. went up
to her bedroom. She was sitting be-
fore the window with her back to him.
my DEAR" he said, and paused.
No reply.
whats the matter?"
Without turning she pointed to the
bureau. Her husband went to it, and
there lay an envelope, unaddressed.
He took from it a bit of tissue paper
neatly folded. Opening the paper, he
uncovered q strand of hair arranged
In circular form and fastened with
bit Of very narrow blue ribbon.
'Well." he said, "what about it?''
"What about itY' rising and facing
him. II found it in the pocket Of
your overcoat that you left for me to
put away for the season"
my overcoatT
Eyes, your overcoat"
"How did it get thereY'
"Don't ask me how 1t got there. You
doubtless know how 1t got there"
"Do you mean to tell me that You
found that In my overcoat pocket"
FL do"
"Where's the coatr'
There" pointing to closet
Mr.. Tinkham opened a closet door
IA - e
He had bought 1t at Stevenson's. ready
made. 1t was the same pattern as the
one he had purchased, and the max
er's name was on the back. He was
convinced that he had not exchanged
coats with any one And yet such an
exchange was possible. He had lunch
ed at a restaurant, and waiter had
hung his coat on a hook. Some one
who had bought a suit from Steven.
sons, made from the same goods,
might have got the Tinkham coat, and
Tinkham might have got the IN
known's coat Mr.. Tinkham gave this
explanation to his wife as a possible
solution.
1t did not work.
without making any reply Mrs. Tink-
ham put on her wraps and sailed down.
stairs and out of the house Her hus-
band called after her not to make
fool Of herself, but come back and
help him solve the mystery. She did
not heed him.
Mr.. Tinkham debated what he should
do, then sat down to dinner, hoping
that his wife would come back be-
fore he had finished She did not
come, and after vainly trying to make
out q dinner he arose from the table,
put on his hat and overcoat and went
out, intending to 60 to the restaurant
where he had lunched and try to dis
cover IL any one had exchanged coats
with him.
Mrs. Tinkham, nursing her wrath,
walked aimlessly about for awhile,
when she began to feel faint for want
Of sustenance. Too proud or too vim
dictive to return to her home. she
went to a restaurant to get q cup OF
tea. There was one best restaurant In
the town, where she had often been
with her husband, and thither she d.
rected her steps. While sitting at a
table a handsome young man stepped
up to her. bowed politely and said:
lis this Mrs. Tinkham?"
"It is"
'aThe proprietor has told me that he
has seen you here with your husband
I lunched here today, and when left
q waiter handed me my coat Happen
ing to put my hand in my pocket
felt q paper, and on examination 1t
proved to have Mr.. Tinkham's name
on it. This I discovered only half an
hour ago and came here to learn where
I could find Mr.. Tinkham."
The young man held up the counter.
part Of the coat from which Mrs. Tink- |
ham had taken the lock Of hair. Mrs.
Tinkham asked him few questions |
about the coat, and while she was do |
ing so the young man dropped into a
seat opposite her.
Meanwhile Mr.. Tinkham, who had |
been approaching. entered the restau-
rant at the same time as q young |
and pretty woman. The lady spied |
Mrs. Tinkham and the young man sit
ting at the same table and. with fire |
In her eye, approached them. Mr. Tnk-
ham, too, saw his wife and followed |
the lady.
This is the way you are detained
at business" said the latter, 'and break
your engagements! Please understand |
that all Is OF between u.s."
"And this is the way" cried voice
behind her, addressing Mrs. Tinkham,
that you contrive to meet q loverl A
clever device to put lock OF hair in
my pocket and then founce out of the
house to come here to keep an appoint
ment."
"a lock Of hairv' exclaimed Mrs.
companion. did I leave a
ock of hair In the coatY'
Whose hairY' cried the young lady
Vociferously.
yours" snapped the young man.
Excuse me. ladies and gentlemen"
,a1d the proprietor. who. hearing the
approached. Il can have no
luarreling in my restaurant"
After considerably more talk the
natter was finally explained, where
1pon Mr.. Tinkham proposed that they
Ill have dinner together. The young
nan introduced himself and his fiancee.
4 good dinner was served, and every