MAYOR'S GAY EVENING.

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15361, 9 October 1923, Page 9

MAYOR'S GAY EVENING.

TELL-TALE POSTCARD

\ The mayor of a provincial town in Germany was bewildered recently by the receipt of a summons to go to Berlin as a witness at the trial for theft of a person called Hedwig Schmidt. Neither he nor his wife knew anybody of the name, and it was only after they had solemnly discussed the matter that the mayor was seized with the suspicion taht this Hedwig might be a young person with whom he had had a festive supper, in Berlin some weeks before. Of that supper his wife knew nothing, and all he could remember of it was that he had too much champagne and next morning had found his watch missing. Subsequently In oourt he found his suspicion was only too true. It was the attractive-looking person in a bewitching frook and hat on the-prison-ers' bench with whom he had had that supper. "Do you know the prisoner?" asked the judge. The wretched mayor, knowing that his wife, who had insisted on accompanying ham, was then seated in the body of the court, declared that he had never seen the young person before.

"Then how is it that a postcard addressed to your wife and signed by you was found in the prisoner's handbag?" asked the judge severely.

' Oh! You Serpent!"

At this point a shrill voice rose, "Oh! you serpent 1" cried the wife, and banged the door of the oourt as sho went out. "Arrest that woman 1" shouted the judge. "It is my wife," said the mayor meekly.

The judge smiled, and withdrew his order.

Then, his wife gone, the mayor told the truth. He had supped with the charming Hedwig, and, being uncertain whether his hand was steady enough to post a letter, had given the picture postcard to the young person to post. It was found in her handbag, together with the mayor's watch, when she was arrested on a series of charges of theft. Hedwig got six months, the mayor got his watch —but one's blood runs cold to think of the lifelong price he will have to pay for his recovery.