The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-26
How They Became
Acquainted
By MAY c ETHERIDcE

4usS OK beGluS uOGllnS O4 QSr, 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 natter?"
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 a strand OF hair arranged
In circular form and fastened with
bit OF very narrow blue ribbon.
WELL" he said, what about tt?''
What about it?' 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 overcoat?"
Yes. your overcoat"
"How did IT get thereT'
Don't ask me how It got there. You
doubtless know how It got there"
DO you mean to tell me that yon
found that in my overcoat pocket?''
~ do"
where's the coat?"
"There." pointing to a closet
Mr.. Ttnkham opened a closet door
and took from 1t his winter overcoat
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 restaurant and q waiter bad
hung his coat on n hook. Some one
who had bought suit from Steven
sons, made from the same goods.
might have got the Tinkham coat, and
Tinkham might have got the IN
krown'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 a
fool OF herself, but come back and
help him solve the mystery. She did
not heed him.
Mr.. Tinkhnm 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 dinner he arose from the table
put on his hat and overcoat and went
out, intending to go to the restaurant
where he had lunched and try TO dis
cover II any one had exchanged coats
with him.
Mrs. Tinkhart. 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 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 mt
table a handsome young man stepped
up to her. bowed politely and said:
lis this Mrs. Tinkham?"
at Is"
1.-THE proprietor has told me that he
has seen you here with your husband
l lunched here today. and when ! left
a waiter handed me my cont Happen.
ing to put my hand In my pocket |
felt a paper. and on examination 1t
proved to have Mr.. Tinkham's name
on it This l discovered only half an
could find Mr.. Tnkham."
The young man held up the counter
part of the coat from which Mrs. Tink-
ham had taken the lock OF hair Mrs.
T1nkham asked him few questions
about the coat. and while she was do
ing so the young man dropped into
seat opposite her.
Meanwhile Mfr. Ttnkham. who bad
been approaching. entered the restau
rant at the same time Us a young
and pretty woman. The lady spied
Mrs. Ttnkham and the young man sit.
ting at the same table and. with fire
in her eye, approached them. Mr.. Tink.
ham. too, So W his wife and followed
the lady.
This is tho way you are detained
at business" said the latter. land break
your engaEementsl Please understand
that all is or between u.s."
"And this is the way" cried voice
behind her. addressing Mrs. Tinkham,
that you contrive to meet lover! A
clever device to put lock of hair In
my pocket and then dounce out OF the
house to come here to keep an appoint.
ment."
"a lock OF hairr exclaimed Mrs.
Tinkham's companion. did 1 leave
lock OF hair in the coat?"
Whose hairy cried the young lady
vociferously.
yours" snapped the young man.
EXCUSE me. ladies' and gentlemen"
said the proprietor. who. hearing the
wangie. approached. 81 can have no
quarrellng in my restaurant"
After considerably more talk the
matter was finally explained. where
upon Mr.. Tlnkham proposed that they
all have dinner together. The young
man introduced himself and his dancee.
A good dinner was served, and every
one was happy. Later. when they