Chappie And The Big Hat

Shetripped lightly down the asile and au usher gave her a seatin the flrst row. To be sure, her hair looked as if peroxide had leut a helping hand in giving itcolor, l)ut from ander the huge hatappeared a pretty face. Now, apretty face covers a multituue of sins, and the Chappie wlio was sea ed directly behip.d her tried his best to let herknow he was there. Her appalling hat was adorned with plumes, and people behind her wondered if she would take it off. Chappie was sure of it. "There's a girl who is up to date," said he ; "she reads the papers, and i'll bet she takes it off when the curtain goes up". "I hope she does," replied the man next to him,"for if she leaves it ou I'm afraid I shall not see nuich, and I am sure you won't, because you are directly behind lier." "Don't worry," Chappie said consolingly. The niaiden heard part of the conversation and srailed under the hat. The orchestra came in and played the overture, but she still kopt the hat on The bell rang, the curtain rose, and. she sat there wholly unconcerned. Chappie's expressions of admiration changed to reniarks of disgust, but the damsel noticed him not. The play was well under way, and Chappie was about ready to utter a good, round protest, when his revenge came in a different way. The two cotnedians cauie down to the footlights and sang a topical song. They sang of various things of interest and gradually drifted around to the theater hat. Right in the mjdst of the song they stopped and looked down at the pretty blonde in the first row. The audience began to titter and Chappie laughted aloud. The damsel hesitated a moment, then raised her hands to her head, pulled out two long hat pins and lifted off her hat. The house roared and Chappie yelled "Good!" at the top of his voice. The comedians finished their song and then the protty blonde got up and went out. As she passed Chappie she smiled at him ; but he had hardened his heart against her and took no notice of her. "That's a good thing," said a young man to Chappie as they strolled out to light their cigarettes. "What's a good thing?" "That big hat," explained the 3'oung man. "It goes with the show." Chappie smiled a sickly smile, but kept his peace.