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Show HIS SPEECH WAS GREAT HIT Pumperton Thought It Was His Wit. But Hla Wife Discovered the Reason. It was lato before Pumperton got home, but his wife was still sitting up for him. "Well, John." bIio greeted him, "how was the dinner? And how wns your speech received?" Pumperton took off his coat, smll Ing gonlally. "Oh. splendidly, my doar. splendidly! I got thoro a bit late, when tho others wore already at the table, but 1 Just'sllppod in quietly and dldu't mako any stir." "Well, how nbout the speech?" she reminded him. "Did It mako as much of a hit as you expected?" "Ob, yeB 'more. Nonu of tho preceding pre-ceding speeches had been particularly particular-ly clever, and they had hardly raised a smile. But I had no more than stood up and begun when they began to laugh. went on, my dJar,"and, I assure as-sure you, they simply shook. I never have soon any company so thoroughly entertained. I oven oxpanded n little gavo them a couple of now stories that came Into my mind. And whon I sat down they cheered and clapped an laughed for minutes. I shall never forget how they laughed." "Yes, I can well Imaglno so." his wife said sarcastically. "But tho next time you are to mako an after-dinner Bpoech wouldn't It be well to put your vest on boforo leaving home?" |