The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-08-14
a PAIR or SLIPPERS
- Il
By ALICE EDWARDS.

He had net Mrs Wicks scurryins
through the upper hall and he had
thrown her CHEEKY word OF greet
ing.
He stood in the doorway and
shifted 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 =
hearty voice. 1--WE q suspicion that
you don't like tobacco smoke
'Wh-h-at?" gasped Mrs Wlcks.
Il don't mind smoking q BIT. Why.
my husband smokes like q regular
chimney. What makes you think J
don't like your smoking?"
Because I thought you'd been
sprinkling perfumery around or burn
ing fncense-or something I can't
say that object to it, only guess
I'll just stick to tobacco s4.~xe. II 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 on toward
the wharf, where his work lay. He
was captain Of q small freight and
passenger steamer which piled daily
between the city and smaller town
farther down the sound. He might
have slept aboard the Pennyroyal, but
be 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 restaurant for
his dinner and returned home al
eleven o'clock.
AS he lighted the gas in his room
he once more shifted the air suspi
ciously.
"Humphi" he frowned, looking
around. Smells like violets. won.
der II any inouisitive housemaid has
been poking around among my poor
belongings-well, I'll be blessed"
| He stared down at pair Of dimin.
utive bedroom sfippers-gray suede
with frivolous pink pompons on each
toe. They were under his bed-his
bedl
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
ment, where he knew he would find
| Mrs. Wicks.
At the foot Of the upper staircase
he met the pretty girl he had saved
from q 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 went
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. II hope every
things all right"
He took out the frivolous slippers
and held them for her inspection, but
sound at the door had sent her
scared glance over his shoulder.
II found these slippers under my
bed" he doomed in his big voice.
What we're they doing there, Mrs.
Wicks"
Mrs. Wicks," followed crisp
voice at the door, II found mans
coat and stick in my room"
Timothy Drew whirled around at
the sound OF the voice. It was the
4 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 surprised tone.
''And that's my hat and stick" he
retorted.
Il found them in my ROOM" said
the girl.
"I 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-
ventional tale of woe, interspersed
with information concerning gas bills
and coal bills and vacant large rooms
and oyc-full 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 a night tenant She de-
clared that she had wrecked her nerv-
Gus 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 twinkled
with mirth. Hester Moore's eyes
bubbIed over with Elee at the funny
situation.
Il sort OF a Box and Cox affair, :
grinned Captain Drew at last
Il never heard Of them gentlemen
averred Mrs. wicks, dolefully.
well. Mrs. Wicks, l think you'll
nave to put Miss Moore In your best
suite tonight. and tomorrow we'll talk