A PRACTICAL JOKER.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9375, 18 February 1909, Page 6

A PRACTICAL JOKER.

Reports of King Country happenings, false and otherwise, often float about in the air, especially since the opening of the Main Trunk. But the following practical joke worked by two young ladies as a “return” on a gentleman 1 connected with a New Zealand,,, house whd was a fellow-lodger at a Taumarnnui hotel, has the merit of fact. After evening dinner the company adjourned to ttie 5 sitting-room for music. A pianoforte duet was given by the two young \ ladies faforementioned, and while their musical male acquaintance was turning over the pageM or them, bracking jokes and pointing- out how the piece should be played, he successfully tied their,,hair plaits together unknown to the pianists. Rising suddenly from their seat after playing, the ladies, of coarse, sat on the. floor. The gentleman had to make himself scarce. However, next day the ladies’ opportunity came. In the afternoon the latter “espied the gentleman with his towel and bathing costume going off for a dip in the river handy to the town. An interval and then down went tho ladies stealthily and under cover of trees to the river bank, picked np the swimmer’s clothes and returned triumphantly to the hotel and placed them in his room. Then came the fun—for the onlookers. His swim over, The gentleman went to dress, but his clothes containing cash, watch, etc., had disappeared. Visions of a olotheless and penniless man sprang np before him. Just then a little Maori boy who had witnessed the affair from a distance and saw the bather’s plight offered the information that two ladies had taken his clothes. The situation was taken in by the gentleman at a glknce and perforce he had to wander hack to his hotel in his bathing costnme. A.ll the house were out to see him rbtnrn.