The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-02-16
How hey Became
Acquainted
By MAY c. ETHERIDGE

|
tired after a hard days work. Usually
his wife listened for him to come home
after business and either met him in
| the hall or 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 bit of tissue paper
neatly folded. Opening the paper, he
uncovered a strand of hair arranged
In circular form and fastened with a
bit of very narrow blue ribbon
WELL" he said, what about it?"
| What about it?'' rising and facing
him 81 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 1t get there?"
Don't ask me how it got there. You
| doubtless know how it got there"
| do you mean to tell me that you
found that in my overcoat pocket?"
81 do"
"Wheres the coat?''
There" pointing to a closet
MIR. Tinkham opened a closet door
| and took from it his winter overcOat
| He had bought 1t at Stevenson's, ready
| made. It 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 suit from Steven
| sons, made from the same goods
might have got the Tinkham coat, and
| Tinkham might have got the I'M
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 nus
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 tying 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 If 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 cup of
tea. There was one best restaurant III
the town, where she had often been
with her husband, and thither she di-
rected her steps. While sitting at a
table handsome young man stepped
up to her, bowed politely and said:
rs this Mrs. Tinkham?"
1T Isl
1.-THE proprietor has told me that he
has seen you here with your husband.
iunched here today, and when | left
waiter handed me my coat Happen
ing to put my hand in my pocket
felt a paper, and on examination it
proved to have Mr.. Tinkham's name
on it. This discovered only half an
hour ago and came here to learn where
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
seat opposite her.
Meanwhile Mr.. Tinkham, who had
been approaching, entered the restau
rant at the same time as 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. Tink
ham. too, saw his wife and followed
| the lady.
This is the way you are detained
at business" said the latter. land break
your engagements! Please understand
| that all is off bet ween 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 founce out of the
| house to come here to keep an appoint
| ment"
"a lock of hair" exclaimed Mrs.
Tinkham's companion. Did | leave
| lock of hair in the coat?'
Whose hair?" cried the young lady
vociferously.
Yours snapped the young man.
Excuse me- ladies and gentlemen.
| said the proprietor. who. hearing the
wrangle, approached. Il can have no
| quarreling in my restaurant"
After considerably more talk fhe
matter was finally explained. where
upon Mr.. Tinkham proposed that they
all have dinner together. The young
man introduced himself and his fancee.