Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-11-19

fraternity, else what would become of
the principle of equality"
II see" said Smith, savagely, for he
began to suspect that Brother Jones
was chatting him, land you were a very
outsider"
But Brother Jones was in earnest.
If he was not a member Of this super
lative degree, he had dreamed he was,
and believed, so it came to the same
thing.
"Now, about these signs" said
Smith. ~ don't ask you to tell me
your secrets, but I object to take a
leap in the dark, and if am to join
your lodge, (for this was the contin-
gency that led up to the conversation)
I should like to know just some little
about it beforehand"
Brother Jones seemed to hesitate
for a few moments, then he appeared
buried in profound reflection. At
length he rose, and taking Smith by
the hand, he said:
"Smith, you are my Oldest friend,
can trust you?"
Smith said, "You can, upon my
honor"
"If it were known" said Jones,
"that l had divuleed the least part OF
a secret, my life wouldn't be safe for
half an hour"
"What" exclaimed Smith, "do you
Masons 90 about like the bandits in
melodramas, with daggers concealed
in your boots?"
"Well. no--not exactly in our boots,
because the majority of us wear shoes;
but it is so. However. I'll chance it. "
Here Jones went cautiously around
the room. locked the door, and hung
his hat on the knob, SO as to cover the
keyhole.
why do you put your tile there!'
asked Smith.
ITO keep off," said Jones. "1n
short, to tile the ROOM"
The upshot of Brother Jones retlec-
ton was this: He had thought of a
plan to impart to his friend Smith a
Masonic sign without compromising
his fealty to the Craft.
"When do you propose going to
BRISTOL" he asked him.
'This day week."
Good. Now, if I put you in pos.
session of one of our secret signs, and
you are satisfied with the result, /
shall expect to propose you as a
Mason. 1t is the only way you can
make atonement to my conscience.
II agree" said Smith, land here's
my hand on it,
"Very we'll. Now you are going to
Bristol this day week. Wellyou shall
see the wonderful results of the Masonic
sign. Double your fist thus-please to
copy me-extend the fore6nger OF your
right hand, and apply it three times
to the right side OF your nose-gently
tapping it thus"
"But why three times?'
"Oh. true-I have made q mistake
and given you an advanced sign.
Once would have done, but it can't be
helped now. When you 60 to tbs
booking office ask for q first-clase
Ticket to Bristol, give the sign asg
have shown you, and the bookin
clerk will give you one for nothing
Smith opened his eyes in surprise.
EYES," continued Jones, "a first
class ticket to Bristol for nothing.
1t is in this way: If you only tapped
your nose once they would have
given you third-class ticket-what
we call an e. p. A. ticket; twice, you
would receive q second-class ticket;
but. as have told you three times
you may as we'll have the advantage
of an NJ. M. ticket and ride first"
Accordingly, in due course, Smith
presented himself at the little window,
gave the sign by tapping his nose three
times as instructed, and at once re-
ceived his ticket.
"All right, Brother" said the clerk,
"pass on" Aud it was all right
Smith obtained his irst-class ticket
and went down to Bristol.
| Great was his amazement, and lite
did he suspect Brother Jones had ar
| ranged the jokethus: He had a friend
who was booking clerk at the rail
way and a member of his own lodge
and not grudging trile for the fur
of the thing, he had given him the cost
of a. first class ticket to Bristol, and in
structed him to hand it over to thu
person who should act in the manner
he had instructed Smith to act.
Smiths business transacted, tn,
next day it was imperative on him tt
return, and presenting himself at tn,
booking Office, he again made tn
mystic sign.
:'One pound twelve" responded tn
clerk.
eyes, know, but" tap, tap, tai
and he repeated the sign.
zone pound twelve" repeated tn
clerk, "and don't stand there making
grimaces at me all day"
"But, my dear sir"-(tap, tap, tap.
Then he tried the single and double
tap, but no result followed, so he pait
] for third class ticket, and went OF
his way with q brothsrly resolve o
joining the order, if it was only to oh
1 tain the satisfaction of reporting til
j conduct Of this unworthy clerk. Arriv
i ing in town. his 6rst business was Il
i rail- on. Brother Jones and explain hol
4 he had been served and how the ma,
/ refused to give him q ticket without
the money.
.'Of course he did," explained Jones
'.You made = mistake; you forgot tina
& you were returning. and that the sie
NAL ought to have been reversed. Yo
should have tapped the left side .