Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-06-28

his voice, ddldt Ntchy, please, tho
bottom dropped out Of everything.
Everful1 sighed and put his hand
YEARLY to his eyes, as though to blot
out some horrible sight. Jagson leaned
forward and gazed at the major, and
General Soake seemed fascinated by tho
trivial action Of his friend. One moment
was given to thought, and then Jagson
blurted out:
"Do your eyes trouble you?'
Thus encouraged the general looked
from the major to the colonel, then
from the colonel to the major, and in o
hoarse whisper brea5hed;
"Seen anything Queer?'
The major and colonel stiffened and
seemed like wooden men. Their aston
ishment was so great they just had
strength to gasp:
"What did you seer"
"Spots, by George, sir, shining spots,
like DEVILS eyes last night in my bed
room"
80 did l." quoth the major in
alarm.
Il saw them days ago." chimed in
Jagson. That's why l stopped drink
ing"
"Gentlemen, " INTERCEPTED the fourth
member Of tho Old Guard, Mr.. Deep
tank by name-"gentlemen, my wife
yesterday received calls from Mrs. Ma
jor Everfull and Mrs General Soake,
and later in the day Mrs. Colonel Jag
son came"
Nothing remarkable in that, " said
Soake.
"Old friends, amt thoyf" quoth jag.
son.
whats that got t do with devils
eyes?'' put in EvorfulL.
"No %offense, gentlemen, no offense at
all, l assure you, but l think / SEQ the
solution Of this mystery. am willing
to sacrifice myself ON the altar Of loyalty
to you, and tonight / will go home So
ber-hom-but will pretend I'm q little
bit hit in the weather cye-er-will
stumble up the stairs, just acting, you
know, gentlemen, but on my honor III
be clear in the top story. A sacrifice to
do it, gentlemen, but the circumstances
require forgetfulness Of sell"
With wonder the party broke up to
meet next morning. What has Deep
tank discovered that will lift this awful
pail? was the thought Of the three af-
hicted men as they YEARLY toddled
home. Gould the world ever come right
again?
Meanwhile the shades of night had
fallen, the hours crept on apaoe, but Mr..
Deeptank thought not q homo. He had
a mission to perform. and, though sit
ting up until 2 a. IN. was nothing to
him, sitting up without grog was de-
cidedly unpleasant. Nevertheless he
fought the battle and won the fight.
Faithfully he refrained from nightcapi,
and when the hour Of 5 arrived he
heaved a mighty sigh, buttoned his coat
and made a line for home. When with
in sight of his domioile, he put on as
natural a jag gait as one would wish tC
see. He knew Mrs. Deeptank had Otter
told him she could SEQ him staggering
along, as she put il, and now she should
have a chance to sec him stagger.
TOO bad to deceive tho wife Of one'i
bosom, +" muttered the victim Of loyalty.
TOO bad, but it's a good cause, /" and
then he began to ascend the steps with
an imitation of profound alcoholism a.
realistic in its effect as any genuine
Deoptank jag aver was. The keynote
was finally found, and Deeptank began
to have histrionio aspirations. Their
was no n as yet to appreciate his abili
ties as an actor, but within himself ht
felt that citation which great actors say
is the highest reward Of the art.
Doeptank was tho last to arrive thu
next day at the meeting place. He tool
his whisky plain, as usual, but aboul
his eyes was on unusual twinkle, and il
his hand he carried a small round wood
en- box.
Gentlemen, he began in his suave
apologetio voice, 81 have made a dis
oovery. A deep conspiracy has been lait
by our wives-pardon me, gentlemen
but hear me-a deep conspiracy, / say
has been Matched to break down the Gus
toms Of our friendship, to destroy on
pleasure in life. As you know, l had
t theory yesterday. That theory today
: a fact. Last night / saw those shin.
! spots like DEVILS eyes, hut was perfect
ly sure of my Eenses-pardon me again
ktnbltlilbu-dEt tAlAbu lbDu my utNlc
half for nm explanation. She could Sc
nothing, of course, but after my suffer
ings. gentlemen, ! was not to To put Of
that way, and as a result / hold in IN.
hand the solution Of the mystery. ~
wife confessed to the whole plot whe
I she discovered 1 was not-er-under tn
! influence. The spots were made b.
t sprinkling phosphorescent powder ON tn
loor. The powder is not made to riya
the Kelley cure, but for the destructio
] of the bedbug. Here Is the box, bearin
its own inscription.
Silently the box was passed to Ger
I eral Soake. He adjusted his glasses
read tho label. and in tones loud an
clear yelled, Waiter. my usual decoc
0 tionl'
By the time the drink was brough
Colonel Jagson had perused the colore
inscription, suited at tho contents o
the box and accepted the explanation
and he demanded Of the waiter why hi
{ usual drink was not there.
I Then Major Evorfull tumbled int
0 limo The toast VI drunk in silence
- Al 49, 49, Al -..-aa $50