The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-07-29
Finding ont the Secrets,

Mrs. Brown and her gossip Mrs. White,
were conversing about husbands and the
secrets Of Freema3onry. Mr.. Brown was
Freemason, and the fact of not being
able to share the secrets of the order with
him made Mrs Brown very unhappy. She
was pouring out her grief to Mrs. White,
and saying for the thousandth time f: IL
wonder what they do in the lodge ROOM"
:" l have no doubt but it's dreadful" re
piled Mrs. White. "But if my husband
was Mason, I'll bet Z would fnd out
what he did"
"But how? They dare not tell
Ooh but ii make him tell.''
"Iow? oh, how D. asked Mrs Brown,
anxiously.
"Hushl III tell you; but don't breathe
word of it for the world, because it's
dead secret"
"No, no; Won't"
"Well, do you know that tickling per
sons ear when they are asleep viii make
them talk p
"No, will it thought"
eyes. Now you wait until Brown
comes home from the lodge the next time,
and have a broom straw in the bed with
you. When he gets asleep, you tickle his
ear with it gently, and he will begin to
talk about whot he has been doing at the
lodge, and in this way you can get the
whole business out of him"
Gracious me! You don't say so, Mrs.
White2'
"To be sure do. I always get my bus
bands secrets out Of him in this way
"I'll do it; I'll do it."
"And you'll tell me all about It, won't
you?"
"Certainly. But you must never say
anything about it,
"Oh, of course not I'm very close
mouthed.' replied Mrs. White, earn estly.
So it was agreed upon, and they separat-
ed. But unfortunately, Mr.. White had
overheard the conspiracy, and lost no time
in informing Mr.. Brown, who laughed
heartily over it.
A few nights.afterward Brown attended
a meeting Of his lodge. His wife was ell
anxiety regarding it. On retiring she
armed herself with spray from her broom
and wakefrll5 awaited for her lord and
master to return. At last she had almost
broken down the veil of secrecy which had
troubled her so long, ard her heart beat
wildly Wen she heard him open the front
door and come in.
OF course she pretended to be asleep and
did not see the comical smile on her hus.
bands face as he turned up the gas and
began disrobing for bed. But he said
nothing, and in few moments he was
comfortably tuckedgin and giving out pre-
monitory indications of approaching sleep.
Then Mrs. Brown opened her eyes eau
tiously, and convinced herself that he had
gone to that land from which sleepy hus-
bands never return until sometime the next
day. Cautiously she reached under her
pillow, and took the broom straw from its
hiding place. Then she reached over care
fully and began to tickle her husbands ear,
and be was all the while doing his best to
keep from exploding with laughter.
Finally be began to talk little, and her
ears were keenly alive to every syllable.
Eyes, he must die," said he. "He be-
trayed our secrets TO his wife. I've got to
kill him-the lot fell on me-
Mrs. Brown screamed and leaped from
the bed, while her husband, unable longer
to control himself, gave ven. to his laugh
ter and disturbed the neighbors for the
next teu minutes. But they never came to
any understanding about the strange affair.
She never asked him what he was laugh
ing at, and he never inquired what it was
which made her scream and leap out of bed
SO quickly.