The daily Cairo bulletin., 1881-02-13

that we heard Smothcrcl laugh as
he p,esc through the door, but we
foryavc the claw hammers, knowing
that nothing human could bear the
sight unmoved. We could hear, how
ever, from our position outside, that
the litter which greeted his entrance
gradually grew into a laugh, and we
were in momcntary expectation of
seeing an animated pair of pantalaons
bounce out through the open door and
come tearing along through the dark
ness to our hiding place among tho
rocks.
Nothing of the kind happened, how
ever. The student was made of diff
fcrent stun. lie had gone in to have
n dance and he proposed to carry out
the programme regardless of consc-
quenccs. Marching straight up to
one Of the prcttiesL girls in the room,
Il lovely camper in our ncighborhood,
he asked her hand for the set which
was forming, and she promptly rose
and took her place beside him on the
floor. "The act Of that brave girl" as
the student afterward expressed it,
"should live in history, for it averted
tragedy. If she failed INC, | had
fully made up my mind TO kill every
smirking claw -hammcr in the room,
and knew could count on Visalia
for q helping hand.
When the music started up, we
could see fellows slipping out through
the door, holding on to themselves as
though stricken with collie, and pent
Rp yell would occasionally y ring out
on the night air like cry of agony.
The figure was soon ended, however,
and the student returned to us flushed
and happy. 1t was my turn next. |
was not possessed of the audacity of
either Visalia or the student, and
trembled at the ordeal before me; but
there was no honorable way out of the
dilemma, as we had entered into SOL
emn compact to stand by one anoth-
er. declined, however, to don the
unmentionableS in which the student
and Visalia had figured, contenting
myself with the shirt, coat, and green
necktie.
My advent in the dancing room, like
that Of my predecessors, was greeted
with something more than smile by
the loungers around the door; but, to
my surprise, the ill-concealed deri-
sion drove away my timidity and
filled me with species of desperate
confidence. Itcxcitcd my resentment,
and enabled me TO understand the i'll
comprehensive audacity of the COM
panions who had gone in before me-
On reaching the inner sanctum, my
first encounter was with a charming
creature named Smith. We had made
each others acquaintance the day be-
fore in under the Nevada Fall, and
were on the most friendly terms. She
did not even glance ut my brogan
boots, but held out her hand, with q
bcwitching smile: "Why, Mr.. Corne-
Illus, how late you arcW
81 had little business" | faltcred.
"What a shame that you should be
so formal in Yosemite! Here is Miss
Nasturtium, who has been looking for
| you all the evening""
At this instant The lady in question
detached herself from the arm of a
claw hammer, and saluted me-
"Whcre is Mr.. Visaia?" she asked
III thought l saw him here awhile
ago"
81 really cannot tell you, Miss Mas
turiium," answered. "leXpected to
find Kim here"
And what has become Of the stu
dcnlW chimcd in Miss Smith. glancing
hastily around the room. II nave not
seen him for hall an hour. And your
friend has not put in an appearance
this evening. Thought YOU four were
| inscDaraDlc."
Mat fell into the river on the way
down." | stammcrcd, cropping des-
pcr1lcly about for some plausible cS-
cape from my dilemma, "and he had
to go back to camp to change his
clothes"
wts funny" slid Miss Nasturtium,
"that NiSalia told me nothing about
that when we were dancing together.
But ! noticed that he was Il little cX-
citcd.'
BY this time little knot Of lady
campers had gathered around me, and
| | noticed that some of them were cX-
changing knowing glancc' and whiS-
pcring in n suspicious manner. They
were beginning to sec through the CO.
operative clothes business.
"Mr. Cornelius" said Miss Smith,
advancing toward me ina coquctlish
manner, and laying her hand ON my
arm, "what II pretty green nccktie you
have on! The student wore one just
like it when he was here"
"And what nice, stylish coat you
hayew chirpcd in another. "Mr. vi
salia wore one OF the same cut, and
with the same Cundlc-greasc stain
down It's back when we last had the
pleasure Of his company"
"And what u nicc---" But
saw "thc jig was up" and did not per-
init Miss NaSlurtum 10 finish her SEN
tcnCC.
"Listcn, lalics,' said, "and will
acknowledge the corn. The boys are
outside in the brush. This suit of
clothes which you see before you is a
combination affair, and we are trying
to work ii on the lnstalment plan.-
Think gcntly-pity our alllction. In
the name Of the best we could do, be
mcrciful--bc--"