The Press., 1917-12-13

made her acquaintance. It was very amusing to talk with her, having seen her, while was still unknown to her except through Sam Atkins photo graph. She continued to complain of the dullness of G., so I concluded to ask her to come to town and go with me to the theater. This would let her into the secret of my having sent her another mans photograph, but l must let that out some time, and there was no especial reason for delay.
 She accepted the invitation with alac- rity and appointed night. procured a couple of seats and wrote her that would meet her at the station and take her from there to the theater; she would know me by a bit of orange rib bon worn in my buttonhole. To keep up the fraud till her arrival asked her to carry a few violets in her left hand.
 When Miss Miller alignted from the train and saw me, whom she had met before, with the orange ribbon in my buttonhole she stood still for a mos ment; then, simply remarking that we had met before and had deceived her about the photograph, We left the sta- tion, and, since it was summer even ing and an hour must elapse before the play would begin, we walked to a park or central square and sat down on one of the benches. She then reproved me mildly for sending her the wrong photograph, but said she didn't mind that since she had made my acquaint- ance at G.
 When we entered the theater and took our seats but few people had ar rived. We enjoyed ourselves chatting about our telegraphic correspondence and watching the audience come in. Suddenly my heart stood still.
 Who should enter and take the two seat in the next row in front Of us but Sam Atkins and Miss Miller's friend, whom l had met at G., Ellen Ormsby.
 The expression on their faces was, to say the least, peculiar Smiles were struggling to assert themselves which the three were endeavoring to sup press. cast d nasty glance at my com panion and saw her eyes fairly dance with mingled delight. mischief and triumph.
 knew at once that the game l had been playing had not only been discOv- cred, but had been turned against me.
 Sam, you rascal!' I exclaimed. You're traitor to your own sexv'
 My remark occasiOned a burst of laughter from the whole party except myself
 Come" I said, explain the matter"
 At this moment the orchestra struck up the overture, and in ten minutes more the curtain rose. My tormentOrS forced me to wait till the end of the first act before giving me an explana- tion; then my companion said:
 Nellie Ormsby is a telegraph opera tor at the G. station and has been your correspondent. She sent you my pho tOgraph with my consent instead of her own and, having no more cOnfi- dence in you in such a matter than her self, did not believe the likeness you sent her was your own. She went to M., taking the photograph with her, and n mutual friend of hers and MT. Atkins there told her that 1t was his picture. Before leaving town she saw you at work at your instrument and knew that you were her correspondent. Then MT. Atkins returned from the war. She went again to M., made his acquaintance and told him the secret.
 Meanwhile you had gone to G., and the moment you entered the ballroom Nellie recognized you. She saw yonr attention fixed on me and introduced you. Your enjoyment in the part you were playing gave us double what was evident in you. When your invitation came we decided to spring the joke on you here at the theater. We wrote MT. Atkins to find out if possible where our seats were and get two more near them. This he learned through you.
 ''So you see that when man sets himself up to outwlt a girl he must sharpen his own wits on a whetstone.' $
 It was all plain enough now. I ac- knowledged myself beaten and after the play invited the party to the best supper that could be obtained.
 There Is a sequel to this story, but not to be given here. The gist of 1t is that I paired of with Miss Miller and Sam with Miss Ormsby.