Judsonia weekly advance., 1915-07-28
A PAIR OF SLIPPERS
By ALICE EDWARDS.

ing.
 He stood in the doorway and sniffed suspiciously; then he strode.- down the hall and captured his land lady at the head of the stairs.
 Beg pardon, ma'am," he said in a hearty voice. i've a suspicion that you don't like tobacco smoke"
 "Wh-h-at?" gasped Mrs. Wicks. q don't mind smoking bit. Why my husb~nd smokes like a regular chimney. What makes you think don't like your smoking?"
 Because I thought you'd been sprinkling perfumery around or burn ing incense-or something. I can't. say that I object to it, only I guess. I'll just stick to tobacco smoke, if you don't mind"
 "Yes, sir" groaned Mrs. Wicks, and vanished down the dark stairway.
 Capt Timothy Drew returned to- his room and lighted his pipe. He sat by the window looking off toward the wharf, where his work lay. He. was captain of a small freight and
 
 between the city and smaller town farther down the sound. He might have slept aboard the Pennyroyal, but he chose to spend his sleeping hours away from the scene of his days work. He merely slept at Mrs. Wicks'.- Now he went out to a restaurant for his dinner and returned home at eleven o'clock.
 As he lighted the gas in his room he once more sniffed the air suspi- ciously.
 "Humph," he drowned, looking around. Smells like violets. I won der if any inquisitive housemaid has. been poking around among my poor belongings-well, I'll be blessed!" He stared down at pair of dimin-- utive bedroom slippers-gray suede with frivolous pink pompons on each toe. They were under his bed-his- bed!
 Tossing his hat and stick down on the table, he gathered up the slippers and put them into his pocket. Softly he tiptoed downstairs to the base
 
 Mrs Wicks.
 At the foot of the upper staircase he met the pretty girl he had saved from fall on the stairs the previous day. She was coming up and he has tily stood aside to let her pass.
 Slowly enough, Captain Drew Wenntt- WWeennt down the remainder of the way He was thinking of the girl. She was unusually attractive, he thought. He. really didn't care much for girls, but this one He tapped at the door of the basement sitting room
 Come in," yawned Mrs Wicks. "Oh, it's you, Captain Drew," she, gasped affrightedly. T hope every things all right
 He took out the frivolous slippers and held them for her inspection, but a sound at the door had sent her scared glance over his shoulder.
 q found these slippers under my bed," he boomed in his big voice. What were they doing there, Mrs. ! Wicks?"
 Mrs. Wicks," followed crisp fOlSS dI lllS uOOI, lOul1u d IudLl coat and stick in my room"
 Timothy Drew whirled around at the sound of the voice. It was the girl he had met on the stairs. She was looking puzzled now. Her glance, caught the slippers in his hands.
 Why, those are my slippers" she said in a surprised tone.
 And that's my hat and stick" he retorted.
 I found them in my room," said the girl
 q found the slippers under my bed" he declared With one accord they faced the wretched Mrs. Wicks. She was bowed in despairing grief over the discovery of her double deal ing. She sobbed a sad story-a con- yentional tale of woe, interspersedi with information concerning gas bills. and coal bills and vacant large rooms. and overfull small rooms, and finally confessed she had yielded to the. temptation of renting the same room to two lodgers-one day lodger and the other night tenant. She de- clared that she had wrecked her nerv- ous system trying to prevent meet ing between these two. She told how she had bundled Captain Drew's be- longings out in time to make place for Miss Moore's pretty things when that sleepy young woman should come up~ the stairs at half-past seven, and vice versa.
 And now shall lose two lodgers,'' she mourned at last.
 Timothy Drew's blue eyes twinkled4 with mirth Hester Moore's eyes bubbled over with glee at the funny situation.
 Sort of Box and Cox affair." grinned Captain Drew at last.
 T never heard of them gentlemen,''' averred Mrs. Wicks, dolefully.
 Well Mrs. Wicks, l think youlla have to put Miss Moore in your best :. suite tonight, and tomorrow we'll talk : matters over" And to Mrs Wicks'.