The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-03-24

The charges against Mr.. Hinslow
had not yet been proven; but com
mittee of the Common Council was
to inquire into the case at an early day,
and Jacob had been appointeda q mem
Der of that committee. The last
question propounded by Ralph
angered Jacob, and as he turned his
eyes and beheld the man who had
stolen the spoons, an idea immediate
ly entered his mind. He conceived
an admirable plan for Furnishing
Ralph, and resolved to instantly put
it i'll execution.
eff [ tell you the password, said
Jacob, purposely sIackening his pace
to allow Mr.. Hinslow to pass before
them, ''if 1 tell you the Masonic pass
word, you promise never to divulge
it-not even to brother?"
''Never!' exclaimed Ralph, eXult-
ing, thinking that at last his curiosity
was to be satisfied.
Upon your soul, you swear it?''
''Upon my soul, | swear itr' re-
sponded Ralph, as he put his hand
20 his face and scratched his nose to
hide smile.
BY this time Mr.. Hinslow had
passed on before them, leaving Ralph
and Jacob about three yards behind.
"1ou'H never utter it, in the hear
ing Of man, woman or beast?" asked
Jacob.
by the great God, I solemnly
swear!''
'I think that 1 can trust YOU.
Well, Ralph, / am about to make
known to you one of the great secrets
of Masonry. When you wish to
form the acquaintance of a Mason,
all you have to do is to whisper in
his ear the mysterious pass word.
That password is-spoons!''
spoons! o that be- eiacu-
lated Ralph, as smile on his face was
displaced by frown.
Il tell you truly-the Masonic
password is spoons. -
"Spoons! Ha! ha. hal and Ralph
made a feeble attempt to laugh.
"Spoons! that's HI Of pass word!
You must think I'm a confounded
fool
'sI'm in earnest, Ralph. When
Masons get into difficulty, and need
assistance, they roar out the word
spoons three times. Were you to
say spoons three times, even here, on
the public street, and q Mason should
hear you, he would immediately rush
to your assistance, thinking that YOU
needed it.
Ralph did not believe him; and to
show that he could not be so easily
gulled, he roared out at the top Of
his voice
s'Spoons! Spoons,! Spoons..."
Ere the second syllable had passed
his mouth, Mr. Hinslow turned
round and faced Ralph.
''1ou said spoons, did you? Take
that, and that!'' AS he spoke, Hins-
low struck Ralph between the eyes,
and then under the ear, the second
blow lifting the inquisitive man off
his feet, so that he staggered and fell
to the paTemeut, completely stunned.
'Ill give you spoons!'' roared the
excited Hinslow, as he advanced
and repeatedly kicked the PROSTATE
man.
AS Ralph made no effort to rise,
the enraged Hinslow soon tired of
kicking him, and slowly passed on,
occasionally looking behind to see if
Ralph were following to obtain salts
faction.
Ralph did not require satisfaction,
thinking he might get too much of it
SO he prudently postponed return
ing to consciousness until his enemy
had disappeared.
AS he rose to his feet, he said to
Jacob, in subdued tone, ':Why did
that man strike me?"
! Yen uttered The Masonic pass word,
but could not respond to the counter
sign. He is Mason; and, as he is
solemnly bound to do, Immediately
answered the password by making
the countersign with his hand. You
were unable to answer his counter
sign. and for that reason he knew
you to be clandestine Mason-a
man who had learned the secrets in
an improper way. Therefore, it was
his duty to chastise you. Your life
may be forfeited for that indiscre-
ton"
MY life! BY the great Jehovah,
thought you were only humbugging
me when you said that spoons was
the password"
''Sh-h-h! Bewarer' said Jacob,
putting his hand to Ralph's mouth.
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