The Van Buren press., 1875-05-11
KNEW HER BUSINESS.
Mr. Maxon Gets Elected How his Wife
Found 1t out.

Found 1t out.
James Maxon is duly initiated and
valiant Knight of PythIas, residing on
Fourth street. The other night he left
home. telling Mrs Maxon he was going
to the lodge. About half past oelock
two we'll dressed men rang the door'beli,
and when Mrs MaXon appeared they IN
troduced themselves as companion
! Knights of Pythas They said the lodge
had Just held an election, and that MT
Maxon had been unanimously called TO
the Chancellor's chair-the highest posi-
tion in the lodge They had been duly
appointed. in accordance with the custom
which is peculiar to the order, to inform
her OF the distinguished honor conferred
on her husband, and to solicit her con
lseakto his accgplaaec Of the Office an
other stipulation peculiar only to the
knights Of Pythias. Mr.. Maxon, they
said, according to their rules, would hold
the office for three years, and would re
ceive an annual salary Of 81, l62.. this
being the exact amount according to the
tribute levied on each knight by the Su-
Iperior Council. Mrs. MaXon was over
loved. and thanked the courteous gentle
men-who had, meanwhile, seated them
selves in the parlor-and gave her freest
consent to the acceptance OF the hlgh
and lucrative Office conferred upon her
worthy husband. The visitors rose to
leave, and as they were about TO with
draw with all the thoughtful etiquette OF
thorough gentlemen, one OF them sud
denly remarked:
'Oh, by the way, Mrs. Maxon, ! al
most forgot to give YOU this note; Mr..
Maxon especially impressed upon me not
to forget its delivery" A hurredly
written note was handed Mrs. NJ and ex-
cusing herself, she retired to the lighter
parlor and read
DEAR WIFE | have been selected from
among the 37j memcers of my lodge to act as
/ Chancellor. a tlattcring office. worth nearly
81, 200 year. 1t Is always customary for the
newly elected Chancellor to furnish refresh
ments for the knights. have only 70 with
me Please send ne at least 500, for | must
do the thing mp we'll. Send a 500 ii you have
if handy. or borrow from the neighbors. It
will ali come back. when ] get my months
salary $lOO.
Your loving husband,
JANIS MAxoN.
Mrs Maxon's eyes opened, and she
thought a moment, and then she went to
a wardrobe, plunged her hand into the
pocket Of n silk dress, pulled out pref
ty Russia leather purse, and from its
snusly tucked up corner took bill. 1t
looked nice and fresh, and had, in big
figures upon it $500 Goins to the
door, she inquired of the waiting gentle
men,
.Wiu yolLlake the money to him
The kindaooking fellow handed ihcr
the note, protesting not to know what
was in it, spoke mp:
.Oh, certainly; I'll see that he gets it
safely. Glad to accommodate you mad
anne.
Said Mrs Maxon, I'll have only a hun
dred dollar bill, and James wants but if-
IT, and, besides that don't want to send
the whole of it, Will yon get it changed
for me, please 7
The two gentlemen consulted a mo.
ment, and then said, Oh, we have the
change and straightway made up fifty
dollars, and gave it to Mrs. NJ, in ex-
change for the bill, and wishing her a
very good night, retired with all the ele'
giant grace and manlincss characteristic
of the noble Pythian Knights.
In about twenty minutes Mr.. Maxon
came home.
why sal his wife, | thought you
were entertaining your knightly asso-
ciates. / didn't expect YOU before mid
night considering the amount of money
you wanted for the feast,
What do you meanT inquired Mr..
Maxon. / don't understand You.
why, didn't you send me this ? said
Mrs. NJ as she handed him the note.
Right after you left, two very clever
looking gentlemen called, and said you
had been elected to some oilice--Chancel-
lor, I think-and l. Of course-
Maxon, who had glanced over the
note and discovered its complexion cjac-
ulated:
.You gave it to them? Why, ITS adj
abolical swindle. Did you give them any
money! How much ?
why, | gave them n hundred dollar
bill, and they gave Fifty dollars in change.
Here it is
Mr. Maxon in despairing way took
the money, and carelessly glanced it over
at first, then more eagerly scanning each
| bill carefully
Well, well, said he at last, this is a
double outrage Why, all this money is
counterfeit, except two five dollar notes
! But where. in the name of common sense,
did you ever get 500 bill You didn't
borrow that Of the neighbors, did your
No. said Mrs. MaXon, who appeared
to her husband, to be strangely undistur
bed i took that 500 note you gave
me about a year ago. Don't you remem'
! Der? You told me to look out and not
spend it
why, that's counterfeit said the
/ husband
! Il knew it was Did YOU suppose that
| didn't see through their stupid game,
| Mr.. Maxon? Your wife isn't a fool, If
she is woman Give me them tive. good
s5 bills, if you please. just want a
new bonnet
1t is said thai Digger Indians are
never known to smile. They are grave
Diggers.
What is it which has mouth and
!