The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1930-02-27
A Mans Hat
and Coat
By MARY CARROLL.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
(Copyrightl

w 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.
Something really rather upsetting
has happened" she said. with an air
of mystery. Especially upsetting to
poor little Pansy, though I'm nervous
enough over it. goodness knows"
Poor little Pansy" was a rather
beautiful young woman of twenty-five
who lived alone with her maiden sis
ter. some ten years her senior.
you'll just have to have the meet
ing" Kate Jones, the president of the
| club, insisted, sunless, of course, 1t Is
physically impossible. Everyone is ex.
pecting to be there and we couldn't
reach every one now. We're going
to have theatrical charades-going to
act out the names of great actors or
plays-and your house is so nice for
charades. with the wide double doors
and the large drawing rooms"
Pansy appeared rather pale and list
less that evening, while Laura, who
was clearly excited, showed cheeks
that famed with color.
The charade progressed smoothly
enough. the members of the club di.
viding themselves into four groups.
each one Of which presented some dis
tinguished actor, living or dead. The
group of which Kate Jones was lead
er had chosen Richard Mansfield.
Erich" was easy enough and "ard"
would be rendered by cockney Eng
lishman trying to say hard. For the
last name field" was easy enough,
and for the first syllable they would
just need mans hat or coat.
"No use searching here" said Kate.
"There never was man in the family,
or at least not for ever so long. But
I'll just run to one Of the neighbors.
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 to
the next house. The first knock at the
old-fashioned brass knocker brought q
prepossessing man to the door.
II have come on strange errand,"
said the thoroughly substantial Kate.
1--WE 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.
The charade was entirely success.
full. True, Laura looked surprised
when Kate appeared in a derby and
ulster. II wonder where she got the
mans hat and coat?" she said, which
gave her the clew she needed to
guessing the charade.
It was some minutes after the last
guest had departed. and Laura and
Pansy were Strengthening up before 60
ing to bed. Pansy had just come upon
the derby and ulster when the tele.
phone called Laura.
''Tm awfully sorry" came Rates
voice. "but I forgot to return the
mans hat and coat borrowed.
got them at the house just beyond
Professor Lanes. Would you mind
seeing that they get back?' And she
hung up.
''The house beyond the Lanes"
Laura repeated, looking blankly into
the receiver. "Why. Pansy-that hat
and coat-they must belong Toto"
'Not to-" and Pansy went even
paler than she had been the rest Of
the evening.
After Laura had made Pansy take
cup of black coffee they talked the
matter over. First Laura insisted that
she would go alone. and then It was
agreed that it would look better If
they went together. There was hard
IL chance that she" would come to
the door.
But "he" did come to the door
Philip Kummings Hunter himself.
"Your hat and ulster" Laura said.
"Oh, didn't think we'd see you"
Laura was protesting, but somehow
Philip Hunter contrived to get his
neighbors into the living room. And
in marvelously short time, consider
ing, he had persuaded Laura as 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 Then
he went away and had not written be-
cause he thought Pansy loved some
one else. He had come back that day
for the first time in four years to try
and win her back.
The terrible thing that had SO
shaken Laura's nerves was the event
that morning Of Laura and Pansy's
seeing Philip return as they walked
ont to do the mornings ordering.
"And to think borrowed hat
and coat from Pansy's future hus.
band" said Kate, later. though she
never did find out to her own satisfac-
ton Just what the excitement was all