The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-02-14

forward and gazed nc the major, and
General Soake seemed fascinated by tho
trivial action of his friend. One moment
was given TO thought. and then Jagscn
blurted out:
do your eyes trouble your"
Thus encouraged the general looked
from the major TO the colonel, then
from the colonel to the major, and in O
hoarse whisper breathed:
"Seen anything queer?"
The major and colonel stiffened and
seemed like wooden men. Their aston
ishment was sc great they just had
strength to gasp:
"What did you see?''
"Spots, by George, sir, shining spots,
like DEVILS eyes last night in my bed.
ROOM"
$50 did l." quoth the major in
alarm.
81 saw them days ago." chimed in
Jagson. That's why I stopped drink,
ing"
Gentlemen" interjected the fourth
member of the Old Guard, Mn. 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.
cold friends, amt they?'' quoth Jag
son.
Whats that got to do with DEVILS
eyes?" put i'm EverfalI.
mo offense, gentlemen, NJ offense at
all, l assure you, but I think I see the
solution of this mystery. l am willing
to sacrifice myself on the altar of loyalty
to you, and tonight i will go home So
ber-hem-but VIII pretend I'm a little
bit hit in the weather eye-er-will
stumble up the stairs, just acting, you
know, gentlemen, but ON my honor I'll
be clear in the top story. A sacrifice t o
do it, gentlemen, but the circumstances
require forgetfulness of self"
With wonder the party broke up to
meet next morning. What has Deep
tank discovered that will lift this av nj
pail? was the thought Of the three af-
fiicted men as they YEARLY toddled
home. Gould the world ever come right
again?
Meanwhile the shades of night had
fallen, the hours crept on apace, but Mr..
Deeptank thought not Of home. He had
q mission to perform. and, though sit
ting up until Q q. 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 nightcaps,
and when the hour of 8 arrived he
heaved a mighty sigh, buttoned his coat
made a line for home. When with
in sight of his domicile, he put ON as
natural a jag gait as one would wish 10
see. He knew Mrs. Deeptank had often
told him she could see him staggering
as she put it, and now she should
have a chance to see him stagger.
Too bad to deceive the wife of ones
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 as
realistic in its effect as any genuine
Deeptank jag eve was. The keynote
finally found, and Deeptank began
to have histrionic aspirations. There
no one as yet to appreciate his abili-
ties as an actor, but within himself he
felt that citation which great actors say
is the highest reward of the art. E
Deeptank was the last to arrive the
next day at the meeting place. He took
his whisky plain, as usual, but about
his eyes was an unusual twinkle, and in
mis- hand he carried o small round wood
IN box.
Gentlemen, " he began in his suave,
.apologetic voice, Il have made a dis
A deep conspiracy has been laid
BY on wives-pardon me, gentlemen,
but hear me-a deep conspiracy, I say,
been hatched to break down the Gus
toms of our friendship, to destroy our
in life. AS you know. / had q
theory yesterday. That theory today is
. fact. Last night / saw those shiny
spots like devil g. eyes, but / was perfect
" sure of my senses-pardon me again,
yentlemen-and called upon my better
half for an explanation. She could see
nothing, OF course, but after my suffer.
Ings, gentlemen, I was not to be put off
that way, and as a result / hold in my
band the solution of the mystery. My
wife confessed to the whole plot when
discovered / was not-er-under the
influence. The spots were made by
'prinkling phosphorescent powder on the
door. The powder is not made to rival
Kelley cure, but for the destruction
Of the bedbug. Here is the box, bearing
It's own inscription.
Silently the box was passed to Gen.
sral Soake. He adjusted his glasses,
read the label, and in tones loud and
yelled, Waiter. my usual decoc-
BY the time the drink was brought
Colonel Jagson bad pernsed the colored
inscription, shifted at the contents OF
box and accepted the explanation,
and he demanded of the waiter why his
usual drink was not there.
Then Major Everfull tumbled into
line. The toast was drunk in silence,
but the eyes OF three of the party were
kurpad wvifh har1r&~1o& AZ 81