Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-01-29
How McDugan was Surprised.

Michigan resides in a newly-erected
frame structure in the western part of
the city, near the centre CT the burnt
district. Surrounding his place of
abode there is still considerable area
of waste and ruins. McDugan is o
bachelor on the down-hill of life and
lives oil alone When sober he over
flows with the milk of human kindness
and is favorte with all who know
hin; but once in a great while on great
occasions he indulges too freely in
" tarantula juice" and then, as is often
the case with good-natured persons, his
voice is for war; nothing but fight then
occupies his mind.
Night before last, New Years Eve,
an ex-policeman, who was on his way
down town, met Mr.. Michigan on his
winding, homeward way. He was "full
as q goose" and the nose, OF large
black bottle looked out of an ample
side-pocket.
This was ab.ut ten o'clock. Half
an hour later the same ex-policeman,
when on his way home, saw marching
toward him small and somewhat mys-
terious procession. This procession
was composed of four men and three
women, all of whom carried lanterns.
AS he watched the party winding
their way along the sinuosities of O
trail that led through the deep snow
lying on the waste Of the burnt district,
the curiosity of the 'ex-policeman was
aroused; something of the old profes
sional feeling took possession of him
and for the the time he was again an
officer in the service of the city.
The party might be up to no deviltry;
but their movements and the deep 81
lence they maintained appeared to him
to SAVIOR of some mysterious errand,
which it would be we'll enough for him
to find out.
He kept close in the wake of the
curious lantern procession without be-
ing observed, which he could easily do,
as all in it were blinded by their Ian
terms, and presently was not little
surprised at seeing the party turn into
o branch trail, and head directly for
old Mr.. McDugan's cabin. on the steep
slope of the hill.
Having seen the old man going home
drunk, with big bottle of the chair
of the same dog" in his pocket, our ex-
officer said TO himself, 4" Here is going
to be some fun
While the little procession was SEAL
ing the short pitch of ground in front
of McDugan's castle the late servant of
the city "fetched o compass" and
reached side window unpreceived.
Peering within, he saw McDugan ly-
lying across his bed in his drawers and
boots, but minus his pantaloons. On q
table at the bedside stood lighted
candle and the black bottle.
Now came o knock at the front door.
Michigan partially arose, with hair
bristled in all directions, prieked up his
ears and listened. ...-.~-.
The knocking was repeated.
Who's thayreY' cried McDugan,
arising to sitting posture. e4
"Frindsp was the answer. 4
"A divilish quare time fur frinds to
be abroad!' muttered McDugan.
"Open yer dure an let us in, Mis-
thur McDugan."
Divil a bit of it till I know who We
air, and what ye want! A quare time
fur frinds to call, and it blowin' great
guns an the shnow a-fyin' till yer
blond wild it, Who air ye, onyhow p
!" We are q surprise party" said one
OF those outside.
20, ye air, air yer A surprise party !
An ye've come here for surprise, I
suppose?"
TITS fearful cowld out here, Misther
McDugan; will ye let us IMP"
So. yer surprise pa-arty. Yejust
wait till I got me breeches on, il theirs
to be any surprise" And McDugan
got up, took pull at the bottle, gath
cred up his pantaloons and began try
ing to haul them ON over his boots, q
very difficult task for him. AS he tug
ged away he paused, and again ad-
dressed those at the door by saying,
/" So yer surprise pa-arty 2"
eve air, Mr.. Michigan. Do We want
us to be schtarved wild the cowldy'
- It's a surprise ye are after. Jest ye
wait TIL I get me breeches on an yell be
asurprised pa-arty. = ya, si..
But the " breeches" did not 60 on
very readily, and by the time McDugan
had got one leg hauled on over his huge
boot the party at the door were thunder
ing away as though about to break it
down. This evidently discounted and
enraged McDugan, as he paused in his
efforts to haul on the other leg of his
panfatnons took anofhar 1nn-r mil a.
the boetle, and the cried: "The divil
fly away wild yel Areye after breakin'
down me dure9 I'll mrke ye a surprise
pa-arty."
With this McDugan took look at his
black bottle, seemed to consider for
q moment, then gathering the loose
leg Of his pantaloons in his hand,
started for tho door, muttering rs he
went: /" So I've got surprise pa-arty
"a pa-arty come for surprise r,
The policeman shifted his position to
the corner of the house and there an %