THE COMEDY OF THE COAT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 271, 1 May 1917, Page 4

THE COMEDY OF THE COAT.

(All Rights Reserved) oli Ii STORYEITE,

Jack Fairk-igh had been r tied just a week. His btief honeymo -- at an end. the first morning ba. k : the office had dragged through its tedious length, and he was now finishing his chop in his favourite City restaurant. He got up and reached out for hi p coat, which, was '.-aging on i" ■ customary peg at hi- elbow To his astonishment, as he was in the act of thrusting his arm iup ihe sleeve it

was jerked roughly nearly out of his grasp.

"Let that coat alone, will pi; I" an irate voice was exclaiming- "Wh. ' are you doing'- That's my cm?!'' Jack glanced sharply round at the speaker, an elderly, wiry, -vceedinglv angry-looking man. at an adjoining table, and bark at the coat stretched between thern. "I b°g your par'--'" he said, giving the garment a decisive tug. '-'That's my ?oat. Iv'ndly take your hands off."

"Your coat dashed!" roared t'i( man. "I've just hung it .up there. What d'you mean ?" What T mean is that it's my property," retorted Jack getting red in the face. "And vou'll have the goodness to let it alone."

As he spoke, in the heat of 3 temper at all times easily roused, he pu-rhed the man aside and secured th'e coat. "Waiter!" called the stranger, choking with rage and excitement, as he plumped back into his seat. ''Here, waiter, stop this scoundrel! He's taking my coat. He's a thief!" Jack was preparing to walk disdainfully out of the place; but upon the excited man's leaping to his feet to follow, he wheeled round with an exasperated air. "Be careful what you're saying!" he exclaimed. "This is my coat, and you know it. Here, waiter, you see mc every day, isn't this my coat?"

The astonished waiter approached and scrutinised the coat at close quarters.

"That's right, sir," he said, with a contemptuous glance at the eagereyed stranger. "1 know that fawn coat quite well, sir. Never seen you in anything else." Jack blushed, but turned triumphantly upon his adversary, who Was becoming purple in the face. "You're in league! You're a gang of thieves together!" spluttered the man. "The coat's mine. Here, police!'

By this time most of the diners had left their seats and gathered round the disputants. Glancing over the heads of his supporters Jack caught sight of a policeman passing the door. He knew the officer by sight, and hoped that the man would recognise him. "Call him in," he said, excitedlv. "Call in that policeman, he knows me."

The policeman, invited in, turned a look of pompous recognition upon Jack, who poured the details of the dispute into his ear. After a brief inspection of the coat the policeman turned severely to the stranger. "What's all this about?" he demanded, sharply. "My coat!" gasped the panting man. "The fellow's lying. It's my coat. I tell you I" Jack flung himself round with ar impatient exclamation. "The man's either a rogue or mad!" he cried stalking to the door. Glancing back as he swung through, he saw the diners scattering hastily as the stranger, apparently tripping over a table-leg in his agitation, went sprawling to the ground. That ivening, upon arriving home, Jak km"d the still blushing Elsa. who trippod to the front door to meet him, anc 1 proceeded to divest himself of his hat and coat. In the act of hanging up the latter upon the peg. his eyes fell upon another coat, th2 fascimile of the garment JU3? taken off, or were hi* eyes playing him a trirk? He rubbed them. and looked again, touching the coat gingerlv 3rd taking it down with tr.'mblio.? rands. "Ore-it Scott!" he exclaimed, in a weak .nee and sank into the hall chair, loci. : ng into space. Elsa jfood wide-eyed while he poured out a harried account of the incident of the restaurant.

"Whawer will you do, Jack?" she asked, at the conclusion. "I saw you did nit put on your coat this morning" Jack never wore his fawn coat again. He felt the risk of being' recognised waj too great. Instead, he purchased one of a pattern as unlike as possible, requesting Elsa to rid him of the old one by presenting it to oue of trie numerous beggars who pa tronised the neighborhood. This Elsa shortly alter did, and the stranger's garment was hung in a dark corner pending the much-dreaded, but possible, encounter with its owner. A few days later Jack had another surprise upon his return home. Elsa after her wont, ran to the front dooi to meet him with a flush of pleased sxdtement upon her fair cheeks. "Uncle's here 1" she whimpered "Uncle Timothy, from Somerset!" "Really," said Jack, under his breath. "And has he bought the wadding present he promised?" Elsa lauded softly, putting her fin ger on her lips. "Hush !" she murinrred, *;th a nervous glance at the dining-room door. We shall see!" Jack followed Elsa into the diningroom, speculating swiftly upon the new uncle about to be presented tc him. Su3oei ly his heart leaped into his mouth ar his eyes i el I upon theii guest- the ownei of the fawn overcoat iia igiD); in the hall I Astonish mjnt and d'sma) combined chaining his tongue proved his salvation. He cojld do n\hing but look with bulK ing eyes at the man seated in tinarm ch-iir by the fire. Untie Tun othy, if he thought his new nephew an exceedingly mvkuard - mannered young man, foiboie to make the im pression apparent. He giasped his hand warmly, and uttered common places, which fell upon tingling ears After a few moments' violent puipi tation, Jack recovered h'unsell with a filing of fnl'n \<< ulVf 1- » ;< <f evident th: t t !• - ;i' •,!,• I' • •■ • tjinlc-l -'. .j ■ vl-i (.....(»(, ~< 1

him before. To his horror, however, ,ii iiie moment v. hen Jack was menlaih cjaiulating .1 thanksgiving, the old mnti began to recite, with graphic force and growing excitement of indignation, the details of the incident .1 ihe overcoat theft. Jack, meeting Lisa's eyes as they turned upon him in astonishment, shoe at her a look of entreaty that sbt co«ld not fail to un derstand.

Uncle Timothy wound up the nir rathe with words which drew theli glances together in blank consterna tion. "It didn't matter in the least about the coat," he said. "It wasn't worth the scoundrel's stealing. What really maddens me will also be a nasty disappointment to you two. I had in that coat, Elsa, hidden in the lining, your wedding present—a thousand pounds in bank-notes! It nearly killed me to see that villain walking out of the place with them. I fell down in a sort of a fit—l'm sur». it was a fit. And those fools, and the policeman, declared I was shamming—-" Elsa jumped to her feet, gazing with open mouth at Uncle Timothy and lack alternately.

"Why, Jack," she gasped, "it's warning glance became silent.

Jack got up from the table and left the room. A moment later Elsa followed him. Jack was fumbling in the dark coiner for the fawn overcoaV His breath was coming in agitated gasps as he dragge'd it from the peg and went quickly into the kitcheh.

"A thousand pounds, Elsa I" hi whispered, hoarsely, as he began felling it over. "We'll buy a great Scott!"

The coat fell to the floor, fie f<tffied and caught hold of Lisa's shoulders, his face turning a greeny ynite. "Why what is it, Jftck?" cried elm, in sudden alarm. "What if the matter?"

"Did you give the othit idsil away?" he asked, hoarsely. "Yes, yes!" she answered—"youi coat. Why?" "Oh, Elsa!" he groaned, "you've given away the wrong c&t I*hi* one is mine I" (The End.f