The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1915-02-04
low hey Became
Acquainted
D. MAY G eTAERlDce

ing OF seeing 00Cnl08 OF nef, 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. 4
*What's the matter9"
Without turning she pointed to the
bureau. Her husband went to II, and
there lay an envelope, unaddressed.
he took from It 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 it1'
"What about ftp 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
"Yes. your overcoat."
GLOW did It get therer
sDon't ask me how It got thera You
doubtless know how It got there"
"Do you mean to tell me that you
found that In my overcoat pocket7"
II do"
"Where's the coatf'
"There." pointing to closet
MI. Tinkham opened a closet door
and took from 1t his winter overcoat.
He had bought It at stevenson's, ready
made. It was the same pattern az 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 q restaurant, and waiter had
hung bis 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 q possible
solution.
It 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.. 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 .tabls.
put on his hat and overcoat and went
out intending to 90 to the restaurant
where he had lunched and Try to dis
cover II any one had exchanged coats
with him.
Mn. Tinkham, nursing her wrath,
walked aimlessly about for awhile,
when she began to feel faint for want
Of sustenance. Too proud OF too vim.
dictive to return to her home. she
went to 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 at a
table handsome young man stepped
up to her. bowed politely and said:
sis this Mrs. Tinkham?"
sit is"
'sThe proprietor has told me that he
has seen you here with your husband
! lunched here today, and when l left
a waiter handed me my coat. Happen.
Ing to put my hand in my pocket l
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
I could 6nd 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 20 the young man dropped into q
seat opposite her.
Meanwhile Mr.. Tinkham, who had
been approaching, entered the restau.
rant at the same time an q young
and pretty woman. The lady spied
Mn. Tinkham and the young man cit.
ting at the same table and. with Ore
in her eye, approached them. Mr.. Tink.
ham. too. saw bis wife and followed
the lady.
''This 10 the way you are. detained
at business" said the latter, 'and break
your engagementsl Please understand
that all IL OF between Us"
"And this IL the way" cried a voice
behind her, addressing Mrs. Tinkham,
that you contrive to meet q loveri A
clever device to put lock Of hair in
my pocket and then 6ounce out Of the
house to come here to keep an appoint
ment."
"A lock Of hairr' exclaimed Mrs.
Tinkham's companion. did leave a
lock Of hair in the coatr'
whose hairT' cried the young lady
vociferously.
'Yours." snapped the young man.
Excuse me. ladies and gentlemen -
said the proprietor. who. hearing the
wrangle. approached. II can have no
quarrellng in my restaurant"
After considerably more talk the
matter was finally explained. where.
upon Mr.. Tinkham proposed that they
oil have dinner together. The young
man introduced himself and bis flancee.
A good dinner was served, and every
one was happy. Later, when they