The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-12-22
OO>O>O~O0~O~o~o~
(oopyrighs b. Frank 4. Nunssy CO..

Il VQO8EbVOOO e0Cu osuSA
IN perfectly on the Christ
mas present proposition.
8rwWk This satisfactory state OF
G&& affairs did not come about
81 ~ the first year OF their
&rx&9 welded life, nor even the
second. The third Christ.
mas was almost at hand before Mr.
Smith discovered accidentally, but to
his intense Joy. that Mrs. Smith rel.
ished his selection Of furs. gloves, cur
tains. rugs, and 30 on. no more than
did he her choice Of smoking.jackets,
cravats, mumers, ct cetera.
That their friends could not be
taken In on the combination was.
however, q thorn in the flesh of each
Of them.
THE worst has happened" said
Mrs. Smith. interrupting Mr.. Smiths
perusal Of the paper Christmas morn.
ing.
"A messenger just brought pres
ent from the snivelys, and forgot to
put them on my list It's book and
we've got to send them something"
well, what are we going to do
about the Snivelys?" growled Mr..
Smith.
Jack" said she in . moment. "l've
had an inspiration. Why couldn't we
send the snivelys the book that Cous.
in Lucy sent us7 Neither Of them
will ever know It."
by George! Well do It," said Mr..
Smith. after considering the propo.
Bition. Where is Cousin Lucy's
book?"
Its on the desk" said Mrs. Smith.
1Just put our cards In the book and
wrap 1t up neatly. I'll call . messen-
ger boy"
Half an hour later Mr.. Smith hand.
ed a package, addressed to Mr.. Snive'
ly, to a messenger boy and saw him
stretched out on davenport when
Mrs. Smith came into the room few
minutes later.
Jack" said Mrs. Smith. holding. a
book in her hand. Il thought you
were going to wrap this book up"
Great Scott" exclaimed Mr..
Smith, jumping to his feet. II did
wrap up some book. The messenger
has already been here and gave It
to him"
.'How long has the boy been gomez"
demanded Mrs. Smith.
about ten minutes"
Get your things on. Be quick. and
maybe you can reach the snivelys'
before the boy and get that dreadful
book away from him! How could you
hlve been 80 careless?"
Mrs. Smith wa1 almost frantic.
Down to the nearest street car tore
Mr.. Smith. fairly consumed with rage.
He had arrived at the down town
district when. with q thrill Of Joy, he
spied the messenger boy. Without
waiting for the car to stop. Mr..
Smith jumped OF and started on Z run
for the boy.
At the same moment the messenger
boy saw him, and, without knowing
why he was being pursued. he obeyed
his first impulse and ran too.
In moment dozen had Joined
IN the chase Down the street came
the poor messenger boy, frantically
straining every muscle to get away
from the mob pursuing him. Sud-
denly two men from a cross street
ran in front Of the boy. Ono threw
his arms around the fugitive. hold.
ing his fast; the other man seized the
package the boy was carrying.
why, snively! This package is ad.
dressed to you!" he exclaimed.
why. SO IT," said the man who
had caught the boy.
In q moment they were surrounded
by crowd. A policeman rushed up
and took charge Of the boy.
"Iold on there. omcer. the boys
all right" cried Mr.. Smith, who had
arrived upon the scene by this time.
what do you know about this at.
fais?" said the policeman respectfully.
ns he recognized Mr.. Smith.
But Mr.. Smith was standing as one
dazed. He had caught sight Of Mr..
Snively with the book under his arm.
Hello, Smith, said Mr.. sntvely.
81 just now caught this boy: and
found him carrying . package nd.
dressed to me. SO took charge Of 1t.
Do you know anything about IT."
."Why-why-er-yes." stammered
Mr.. Smith, trying to collect his wits.
..You see, sent tho package
"Well. why were you chasing the
boy?" asked the policeman. . little i'm.
patiently.
The Precipitation stood out on poor
Mr.. Smiths forehead.
IL was afraid I hadn't given the
boy the right address. and was trying
to stop him to find out" he blurted
in desperation.
The policeman looked at Mr.. Smith
curiously. He was convinced that he
was lying, though with what object he
could not imagine.
The package has come to the right
fellow anyway" said snively. laugh.
ing. I'm going right home. 30 I'll
take 1t along with me-"
u0I, Couldn't think ~ o1lou,iu~