The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1886-12-13

your loubt, llOT Wis Wuo tho COutiIi-
gency that led up to the conversation)
should like to know just some little
about it beforehand"
Brother Jones seemed to hesitate
for few moments, then he appeared
buried in profc und reflection. At
length he rose, and taking Smith by
the hand, he said:
"Smith, you are my Oldest friend.
can trust your"
Smith said, "You can, upon my
honor"
"If it were known" said Jones,
chat had divulced the least part OF
secret, my life wouldn't be safe for
half an hour"
"WhatW 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 therel"
asked Smith.
"To keep off," said Jones. an
short to tile the ROOM"
The upshot OF Brother Jones reflec-
ton was this: He had thought OF o
plan to impart to his friend Smith q
Masonic sign without compromising
his fealty to the Craft.
"When do you propose going to
Bris, ol?" he asked him.
This day week.
Good. Now, il | put you in pos
session OF one OF our secret signs. and
you are satisfied with the result, ]
shall expect to propose you as
Mason. 1t is the only way you can
make atonement to my conscience"
81 agree" said Smith, land here's
my hand on it"
"Very well. Now you are going to
Bristol this day week. Wellyo shall
see the wonderful results OF the Masonic
sign. Double your fist thus-please to
copy me-extend the forelinger ofyour
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 u lirst-clase
Ticket to Bristol, give the sign asg
have shown you, and the bookin
clerk will give you one Tor nothing"
Smith opened his eyes in surprise.
"Yes," 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 L. p. A.. ticket; twice, you
would receive a second-class ticket;
but, as have told you three times
you may as well have the advantage
OF an M. 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" And it was all right.
Smith obtained his first-class ticket,
and went down to Bristol.
Great was his amaZement, and littel
did he suspect Brother 10 mes had ar
ranged the Joke thus: He had friend
who was booking clerk at the rail
way and member OF his own lodge,
and not grudging a triae for the fun
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 the
person who should act in The manner
he had instructed Smith to act.
Smiths business transacted, the
next day it was imperative on him to
return, and presenting himself at the
booking Office, he again made the
mystic sign.
lone pound twelve" responded the
clerk.
Eyes, I know, but" tap, tap, tap
and he repeated the sign.
zone pound twelve" repeated the
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 paid
for third class ticket, and went on
his way with brotherly resolve OF
joining the order, if it was only to OBJ
tain the satisfaction OF reporting the
conduct OF this unworthy clerk. Arriv-
ing in town, his first business was to
call on Brother Jones and explain how
he had been served and how the man
refused to give him a ticket without
the money.
"Of course he did," explained Jones,
"You made a mistake; you forgot that
you were returning, and that the sig