The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-12-02
AT NUMBER SIX.

II was not the quantity he had taken
1T never is-but that ridiculous mix
ing. So Smith-he was commercial
traveller, returning to Pentonville az
ter fortnight's absence-argued with
himself.
That sherry at Thetford would quar-
rell with the brandy and water at
Grantham, and the bitter beer and
Irish whiskey at Peterboro and the
glass or two of stout with nip of gin
on reaching town. Perhaps the con-
tents Of his own flask and bad cigar
on the road might have helped, but GER
tainly when he reached his own house
he had to steady himself against the
lamppost before darting in.
"She isn't there" he mrttered, look.
Ing up at the lighted window Of the
little drawing room, which at the mo-
ment showed several figures in sill
houette. We'll, I'm hanged II she
isn't enjoying herself in the midst Of
a madding crowd in her husbands alb
sence."
With sputtering vesuvian Mr..
Smith made certain Of the brass num-
Der.
No. 6 1t was.
A mixture of liquor always makes
a key turn rather hard, but at length
Smith got the door open.
Cautiously, like an inebriated bur-
glar, he entered and topped into a
chair in the lobby. He would get his
boots off and steal quietly TIP to bed.
He wrestled with them and con-
quered, and sneaking along in his
stockings was supporting himself by
the balusters on the second step of the
stairs, when the creak OF an opening
door sent him up at headlong STUN
BILE.
He could hear voice-his wife's,
he thought-complainin Of the heat,
and deep bass tones in reply.
Hot" echoed Smith, on the land
ing above. Pretty cool should call
it, that sort of thing, when mans
away. Who's that bassoon she's talk
ing to, should like to know"
He was getting angry.
A chill gust of night air came up the
stairs.
"Holloa, they've opened the door at
the back!"
Smith was rapidly SOLDERING.
They're going out into the garden.
What shall do?"
He paused a moment, bemusedly
considering. Then:
Hang me, if I'll have my wife per-
ambulating by moonlight with bass
viol! Perfect stranger to me. I'll
swear!"
Smith had gone upstairs lamb-he
went down lion. He flung aside his
boots and his fear Of detection togeth-
er, and descended. There, as he had
guessed, was the open door, and on the
moonlit sward beyond he could see
1t was a caution to gardeners to see
Septimus Smith get over that some
what limited lawn in his stockings.
Like an overgrown Puck, he tripped
across flower-bed and dewy grass. His
unshod feet made no sound, and his
wife and her companion talked on un-
interruptedly, their backs turned to-
ward him.
What ought the back of an enemy
to suggest to brave MANI" the jeal-
Gus Smith asked himself. "To me it
suggests a desire for boots. However,
here goes!"
With this he poised himself and de-
ivered the most emphatic kick he
could under the circumstances.
A man can but do his best The
well-meaning Smith did that-and he
got his reward. The bass-voiced
stranger turned on the instant; and
as he did so our Commercial" saw
more stars than were ever beheld of
astronomer. About the same time he
sat down with commendable prompti-
tide on the wet grass.
The lady gave little scream, and
;mith, as he took his astronomical OBJ
ervations, heard her cry:
Good gracious, Tom, it's surely lit
le Mr.. Smith of No. g."
and pray, what does little Mr..
smith of No. 6 mean by forcing his
way into No. 9 and kicking me?" ask
ID the stalwart Tom.
Smith rose painfully. He felt that
ne had made some horrible blunder.
IF this isn't No. g. he said meekly
I must be wretched, dwelling luna
ic, and authorize you to lock me up
in the nearest asylum, Miss Oakley"
20, that miserable NUMBER" she
said. 81 told papa yesterday that
something unpleasant would come OF
it if it wasn't looked to-"
She fluttered on before them to the
house, the scarlet ribbons that had de-
ceived poor Smith all a-wave.
Come, both of you," she said. "In
three minutes I'll make you apologize
to one another for your rrdeness."
AS Smith again looked at that un-
lucky brass numeral-this time with
sober eyes-a light dawned upon him
"By Jove!" he calculated. "It's as
clear as glass to me now. The TOP
screw of the 9 has come out, and the
horrid figure has reversed itself into a
g."
"Of course" smiled Miss Oakley;
"and now perhaps you'll shake hands
with my brother Tom, who's only jusi
come home from America-and-and
tell us why you kicked him."
Poor Smith blushed like bashfui
beetroot and looked very uncomforta-
BILE as he told the story of his little
mistake.
Ten minutes afterward, as he stood
on the step Of the veritable No. 6, he
raised his hand to the calm night sky
and registered couple of vows-frst
to quit terrace where the houses
were all alike and the locks were seem
ingly the same; and, secondly, thence
forth to avoid mixing his liquors.
Indian Athletes.
! Indian wrestlers and athletes trair
on diet consisting chiefly of milk
with little goats flesh and plenty Of
farinaceous food.