Evening star., 1921-04-17
BySewell Ford

| thing?"
You're good guesser." says l.
''Wha-what?" says he.
We'll" says l, "it might be bus
of Shakespeare, or a coffee urn. or
| floral offerin." But it amt. It's Z
stuffed deer's head with horns"
I'm very grateful, sir" says ne
Mos graful. Just what 1 thought
saw only-only-"
Il get YOU" says I. You're at the
stage where you can't quite believe
! all you see. But this is the real thing
! and if you don't mind steppin' one
side. I'll be tricklin' on.
"Cernly,' says he. Awkward thing
to carry. Must lemme assist. sir.
l tried to shoe him of. but he was
so full of gratitude. and other sentl'
ments. that there was no shaking
j him. With him holdin' one side OF the
! horns and me the toher and the heat
| danglin' between, we got along worse
| than ever. Much worse. Every fe"
steps we'd trap some hurryin' com
muter and then the three of US woult
mill around until the victim got loose
| Once it was fat old lady with &
| suit case in one hand and an umbrel'
la and lot of parcels in the other
She lets out scared squak and sit:
down on the deer's head.
Pardon me. madam" says m,
friend, but you'll find the loungine
room over at your EISHl.
Don't you sorry me-" she sputters
Such breath. Id like to know where
you got it,.
Naturally" says he. But this Sc
cret can't confide to any but in-in'ni-
mate frien's. Not concealed about deer's
head. assure you. maTam, Tan,o, AiloW Nc ~ me
done anybody. Goodbye"
"Say.. professor" breaks in. 81
think I'd be less of dragnet if you
let me lug this alone
Couldn't think of it. sir. says he
TOO gra'ful. Never abandon COM
on. Where'sh desh-desh' nashun?''
"Portchester local." says l. TRACK
49,
Very good" says he. ''see you or
crouch and when We tries to push past
with the antlers he bars us of.
Say. you need a box car for that
thing says : wbere he TAKE ssss 1t a~aH Have
heart, old sport. 1--WE got to get this
home somehow"
"Cer'ly.' adds the souse. Case OF
'me-eency"
well. you don't get away with
anything like that at this gate" says
| in traffic.
"stemely rude person." says my
friend But all is not lost. No
Mike is on duty at No. 12. He's soul
of coursv. Mike is. Les CO."
And Mike proved to be all that he
Northrup," says he. but I'll take a
chance. Still celebratin' the big
event. I see. How are the twins
comm along?"
"Wonnerful." says Northrup. SOS
the mother. too. just called up Doc
1-s1 t,
Doc. Baily. Must make him fine
present. Thanks. Mike
Which was where I got this brill
liant hunch of mine.
Say. Northrup." says T. where
does this doctor person live?'
Next block to me-" says he. STAN
ford"
Thought what you're goin' to give
him as twin memorial" / goes on
"Too-too full Of gratitude to thinl
clearly yet. Got-sot any sug,
T\NELL." says I. IT don't know how
it strikes you. but if I was tn,
proud father Of new twins I'd wan
to show the Doc how 1 felt about il
right away"
quite right" says Northrup. 18th.
prompt gfver Of gifts is thrishe blesht
eh?"
Something like that" agrees
Now how about nice deer's heac
| with antlers? One like this"
"You-you'll sell thish wonnerfu
trophy" he asks.
no." says I. I'll contribute it
j. free, for nothing. You're friend o
mine. amt you? And you're tn.
father OF twins. Well. there you are
What do you say?"
. He said plenty. I'll tell the judge
Honest. he almost wept on m,
! shoulder, he was so grateful. Ant
after I'd helped him stow the blamed
anuers in the front end of the smok.
ing car on the Stamford express hi
paws me on the shoulder affectionate
! ~Fll remember your generoush ac,
| always, says he. I'LL tell the
twins about it-when-when the,
grow up"
-Thatll be plenty time enough
| says ]. Good luck. old man.
And l walks back through the sta
ton feelin' as free and light as II II
just sawed myself loose from a bal
and chain.
Che" says Swiftly. when 1 drifts
into the Studio about 2:30 "Wh,
dontcher let on about a special hall
holiday bein' declared? What's it for
anyway"
Twins in Stamford" says 1
Hadn't you heard?''
But say. if / ever go to an auction
room again it will be with a guardian
and I'll have him gag me first. You
! ought to see how meek I am around
the house these days, too. Once in a
while, though. l has to let out a
chuckle. That's when I'm wonderin
what Doc Baily said when friend
Northup showed up with that set ol
! antlers.
Copyright. 1921. by sewell Ford.)