The Holt County sentinel. (Oregon, Mo.) 1883-1980, 1916-06-09
Joke That
Nliscarriied
BY ETHEL HOLMES

IVY N'it Nl'lN 'fbihN nbti tbfih
voices were ns nearly the same ns two
violins. They were married on the
same day and went 10 live III twin
houses IN Anterior terrace. Every one
said that there was nothing unlike
about the brothers except their wives.
one day while they were lunchlng to.
gcthcr ut the downtown club they con.
cludcd to swap wives for dinner. Jim
was 10 go home to Johns house. pre-.
tending tu lie John. and vice versa. The
prctctse. if successful. was to last I'LL
coffee was brought on. when John and
his brothers wife were TO go Int, Jim's
and Nil have coffee together and laugh
over what had taken place. ---.-
When John Emerson. pcrsrnating
, Jim. went Ia Jim's house that after.
noon shortly before the dinner hou
brothers wife. ana, 80 FAR M he could
discover. she thought him her husband.
ANY lci,crST' hc asked casually.
"ycS." she said. handing hiiS one al.
dressed IN u feminine hand. while she
looked NJ Into his face rs he read the
su,crscription.
John was somewhat taken aback.
Ue did not know whether the cpistlc
was one his brother would wish his
/ wife TO sec or not Giving Il n casual
glance. he put II IN his coat pocket un.
opened aud nskcd II the wife had spent
the day pleasantly.
Mrs. Jim did not nsk when he had
pockcted n letter In which she was
' deeply Interested who was the writer.
for she Ind studied the handwriting
on the envelope nnd could not make
out that II belonged to any woman she
knew. but her replies a. Johns re-.
marks wcrr not cordial. nnd II was cvi.
dent that there was something on her
mind John cnicnyorcd IT, appear un.
concerned. hut he was Obliged 10 ndmit
that the letter incident hal caused an
unfortunate turn IN his and his broth.
cr's Joke
Til, more John tried To- plncn,c his
sistcrin.lnw the more implicated she
hccnmc. l,y the time the dessert came
on the table she wns sitting holt M.
right In her chair looking very cr,isty.
Meanwhile her husband was dining
with his brothers wife. Jim. VIII"
was an excellent business man. hni
mndc money. white John. whose tastes
were artistic. hnd not. Mrs. John was
economical. nnh her principal business
was a. keep her husband from sicni.
ins more illnn hls limited Income war
rnnicd. II hal occurred H. Jim TINT
this occasion would lie n good one to
make his sis'cr.in.lnw n present so
on his way ~ dinner he stopped ut n
jewelers. aud bought n brooch. for
which he rnli $50 After receiving
the homecoming Kiss hc drew the box
containing his Eft. opened II nnd held
tho brooch before the lndy's eyes.
"Scc what I have brought you. dear"
Mrs. Eincrsons hrows lowered. In.
stead ~ putting her cornl fingers on
the brooch she pushed II nway from
her.
"Why Ia the world did yoN spend
money for that trinkct when ! have
all ! can do 10 make ends meet without
w Iohorr"W hl"rh''g W" '""'
right hack aud leave II where you
got H."
Poor Jim looked very much disgrun'
tied. lie could not confess that he
was her brothcrin'law instead or her
husband and that II was pure gain a.
her lie stnmmercd an apology. Put
the brooch In his pocket. adding that
he twas very sorry" aud took M the
evening paper. Fortunately dinner
was announced. and he hoped 60 get
through Il without anything more dis.
agreeable thnn what had already hap.
pcned.
Thus the Joke that was intended "a
lie q pleasant one. 20 he laughed over
after dinner, miscarricd. John had u
letter IN his pockct TINT he dared not
! omen for fcnr OF compromising his
brother. md Jim stood accused Of
wastefui extravaganza. All through
| tbo dlooap vl,o,s slator.in In vas IA.