Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1926-04-17
Needed a.Man's
Coat or Hat
By JANE OSBORN

WHEN 1t hrSt happened Laura
Wv thought that they ought to call
off the club meeting. With little sis
ter Pansy and herself so upset that
they couldn't even cut the bread for
the sandwiches straight, how were
they going to be able to act as host
esses for the Book club that night?
But after talking to the president Of
the club over the telephone Laura re-
luctantly changed her mind.
"POor little Pansy" was a rather
beautiful young woman Of twenty
FIVE, who lived alone with her maiden
sister, some ten years her senior, who
still watched over her as suspicious
ly as she did when Pansy was fifteen.
You'll just have to have the meet
ing" Kate Jones, the president Of the
club. insisted, unless, Of course, it
is physically impossible. Every one
is expecting to be there. and we
couldn't reach every one now. We're
going to act out the names of great
actors or plays-and your house is 30
nice for charades.
Pansy appeared rather pale and
listless that evening, while Laura,
who was clearly excited, showed
cheeks that famed with color.
The charades progressed smoothly
enough. the members Of the club d.
viding themselves into four groups.
each one of which presented some
distinguished actor, living or dead.
The group Of which Kate Jones was
leader had chosen Richard Mansfield.
"Rich" was easy enough, and Gard"
would be rendered by Cockney Eng
lishman trying to say hard. For the
last name. 'ieid' was easy enough.
and for the first syllable they would
just need a mans hat or coat.
mo use searching here said Kate.
"There never was a man. In the fam
lily, or at least not for ever so long
But I'll just run to one Of the neigh
bors. I guess Professor Lane. next
door. would be glad enough to let me
have his hat"
So Kate hurried to the Lanes. But
the house was closed. So she went
on to the next house. The first knock
at the old-fashioned brass knocker
brought a prepossessing man to the
door.
II have come on a strange Grand"
said the thoroughly substantial Kate.
ave are having a club meeting and
are doing charades We need a mans
hat or coat. Would you lend us one?"
'I'll lend you both," said the young
man. somewhat amused, and reaching
to the hatrack in the old-fashioned
hall he picked Off a hat and ulster
and handed them to Kate
The charade was entirely success
full True, Laura looked surprised
when Kate appeared In a derby and
ulster. smoking an imaginary Gig
arctic made from rolled piece Of
paper. II wonder where she got the
mans hat'and coat" she said, which
gave her the clue she needed to guess
ing the charade, so she forgot to
wonder where the properties had
come from.
1t was some minutes after the last
guest had departed, and Laura and
Pansy we're Strengthening up before
going t" bed. l'ansy had just come
upon the derby and ulster when the
telephone called Laura.
I'm awfully sorry" came Hates
voice. "But I forgot to return the
mans hat and coat borrowed. / got
them at the house Just beyond Pro-
fessOr Lanes. Would you mind see
ing that they get back" And she
hung up.
1.-The house beyond the Lanes"
Laura repeated, looking blankly into
the receiver. "Why, Pansy-that hat
and coat-they must belong Toto"
mot to" and Pansy went even
paler than she had been the rest of
the evening.
After Laura had made Pansy take
a cup Of black coffee they talked the
matter over. They would call Kate
back and insist that she return the
things, but she had phOned from
public booth. on her way back home
some forty miles In the country.
There seemed only one way of re.
turning the hat and ulster and that
was to take them back personally. 1t
was the only honest filing to do. Laura
insisted, with the look Of a martyr.
First Laura insisted that she would
60 alone, and then it was agreed that
1t would look better II they went to-
gether. There was hardly chance
that "he" would come to the door.
But che" did come to the door
Philip Kummings Hunter himself.
"Your hat and ulster" Laura said.
"Oh, didn't think we'd see YOU"
said Pansy, as the young man laid
friendly large hand on her shoulder
and another on Laura'S.
Laura was protesting, but some
how Philip Hunter contrived to get
his neighbOrs into the living ROOM
And In a marvelously short time, con-
sidering he had persuaded Laura us
well as Pansy that he hadn't really
been to blame at all. Pansy and he
had been engaged. four years ago. and
then there was a misunderstanding
L.