Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1890-12-23
MlacELLANEous.
Gen. Dodgess Fun,

Gen. Dodge's Fun,
This fall old General Dodge brought his pret-
ty daughter to the city for fall shopping and
wirepuIling. The pair put up at one of the
best places and father and daughter entered
upon hard session. Maria shopped it all day
aud the old man Clipped it all night They
had two rooms, orc a large parlor bedroom
AID the other a smallroon opening of. Maria.
of course, had the best room. After three
days vigorous campaigning both Maria and
pa were pretty tired. Maria retired early aud
pa went to a private psrlor where quiet little
game was in progress. Aboutthree he knocked
of work, and inviting friend 10 share his
bed ne went OF to his rooms. He knew his
room, because one OF his daughters big Sara
toga trunks stood st the door.
Arriving here, he found his door was locked
on the inside. and there was no way of getting
into his room but BY asking the young lady TO
admit him. Now nc didn't want her TO know
the uuholy hour nor tno unregenerate condi-
tion inSwhieh he was going to bed. SO he
stood and questioned whatw to be done. A
waiter who had been transportation agent for
the party during the evening came along IS
the General andyhis friend in .lnaublug way
argued the case and volunteered to goupstairs
and get Pete, a slim aud slender darkey who
could get over the trensom like q streak of gas
light.
Aud the older poker player sat down on tile
trunk aud waited while Augnstus went fol
Pete. Shortly their friend returned, accom-.
panied by an exceeding Slight and lathy little
negro, who had evidently beer fonnd in bed
for he was simply clothed in pair of red
socks, his trousers and an undcrskirt.
''You ere the sort of night key. III give
you dollar if you get that door open without
waking the lady in the next roomI' exclaimed
the General
81 kin do it, - said the darkey.
Then Augustus and Pete took the trunk ant
placed 1t noislessly against the door.
Somebody got to frow mo up till get my
holt. +" said Pete.
So Augustus puffcd and blew and climbed
the trunk He just laid hold of the little mok,
when Pete Gang out:
"Them's my best pants. Et splils'cm Tn
ruined
Take 'em on" whtsppred the General
there aint nobody here to see"
Pete was out of his tronsers in jiffy. Gus
shoudered him aud pointed Is. legs for thc
open transom. The coou disappeared in th,
room up to his waist Gus took freeh hol,
This time on the back OF the ,tndcrshirt. Slow
ly Pete slid through tue transom Nothingbu
his woolly head and n handful of red flame
could be seen by tho delighted trio outside.
Pete was just going 10 let 20 and drop who,
apiercing shrick rang through the hallway. =
Yell after yell paralyzcd the party. Gus tool
death-grip on the tail of Pete's shirt, tn,
general helplessly eiupg to Petc's discarded
pants the other inebriated old geutlernar
caught at trunk strap like drowning men
straws. Right and loft doors few open, ans
several people streamed into the corridors.
Where's the fFdt7" Catch the murderer
Police Fire" was yariously yelled, aud all
the time the female Joic5 shriekei.
Conformation reigned. bnt no place 80 des
porntely as in old Dodge's bosom. for the doc
next beyond The trunk opened and his iaugh
ter, pale and Trembling, bounced out. Tn,
General had been projecting a Enle dar
key, legs first into the room Of Miss Abia!l Pet
tibone, the spinster principal Of the Chabon.
Academy for select young ladies up the Hnd
son. She had retired early, boiled doors, fast
ered Windows, looked under the bed and IL
the bureau drawers, put a towel over the kc,
hole, commendad hefoeH.to Heaven, and go1t
TO bed. with the gas turned 'dqwn.z Here Al
three in the morning she had been awakened
By 4 scraping ON the lower panels Of door. sht
had sat up In bea, rigid with horror, az Ia,
traDsonl swung slowly open and pair Of bis
feet in red wool stockings shot through III,
opening; from the eeDtrebnard Of each foo
projected slim and not wholly straight ETH
-opian leg. The legs to the knees dangle,
against the white china gloss-painteJ door
Abiah's tongue Glove totheyroof OF her mouth
Was this. bideous hotel nightmare? ? sh,
piDched herself. u hurt. sbc made a su
preme effort and yelled in four languages viii
which she was acquainted. with the effects
have described.
Then Augusta tumIled OF the trunk as IA
door sprang open and Pete dashed over It Il
his shlFt,a stockings in his wild Aight for III,
upper regions. Behind him came ibiah Vi /
her front hair curl papers.
@oh. yon horrid old Romahl No worde
your husband IS mad ~ ~ yelled tie lady on tb,
stairs.
Everybody talked at once, TIL the prineipa
actors rushed into tlleir1respectiye rooras-
There were three different versions of the IS
I fair given next day. but you lave got The fact
( about General Dodge and sis hsh night Key
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