Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-13
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
Agreement at Lodge.

'It Is rather hard on n woman to
have her husband get home at 2 or
3 o'clock in the morning." said Haw-
kins. Hawkins is the past grand
imperial emperor and potentate of Sill
yer Moon lodge No. 81.
I'll tell you what Wen do" he went
on. 1--WE three chaps will agree, if
you say so, when we go home this
morning it's half after 1 o'clock
now-to do whatever our respective
wives suggest. We ought to do some
thing to even things up. What do you
sayT"
1.-The chap who fails to do exactly
what his wife suggests or even hints
at must buy the supper for the crowd"
said Hawkins. Are you all in on itT'
The three pledged their assent.
They met one night less than n week
later and Elliot said: ''WeIl, Temp
kins. how did you come out?
"All right" said the little man.
1.-THE supper isn't on me. 1t was 3
o'clock when 1 got home. l was get
ting along all right, and it seemed GER
tain that L would get to my room on
the third floor without disturbing n
soul. when my foot struck n chair
which somebody had carelessly left
standing on the stairs. The chair
turned over and went rafting and
humping down the stairs.
"'Hello,' called Mrs. Tompkins. i
suppose that is you. HenryY
Ives, dear said. 1t is l.
"'Well.' she said, It's a wonder you
wouldn't break the chair all to pieces
IL remembered our agreement. and
although it was hard work l finally
got that chair broken up. The chair
time to do it. but there was mighty
little left when l got through"
'And you. Elliott" said Hawkins
sadly.
I'm all right" said the magnificent
interior sentinel. II had nearly the
same experience. l broke into the
house without rousing anybody and
was just about to go under the wire
an easy winner when l stepped on
Mrs. Elliott's pet Angora cat.
Thomas said Mrs. Elliott.
"'Yes. dear answered. 4 stepped
on Clarence. He was sleeping here
on the stairs. and 1 was trying to get
up tor bed without disturbing you
well said Mrs. Elliott. it's a Won
der you wouldn't kill the poor dear
with our agreement i'm mind l took
her suggestion as a command and aft
er some difficulty finally got a firm
hold of Clarence and of my revolver.
y cat has nine lives. you know, but
finally succeeded in carrying out my
wife's wishes I'm the matter.
Hawkins. it's up TO you"
The past grand imperial emperor
heaved n deep sigh. r.s-.,ssa o..
eve got n long story to tell" he
said. Let's put it off till we have
more time"
But the other men were relentless.
Il don't mind confessing." he began,
that I went home determined to stick
one of you fellows for the supper. In
fact, 1 may as well admit that had
made arrangements before left home
that evening to get In by the side door.
and was sure not a soul in the house
would hear me. / had it all carefully
planned, and it wasn't at all my fault
that it didn't work out as / figured.
81 stayed down town until O'Clock
on purpose. because / knew that peo-
pie sleep most soundly just before the
dawn. Before / went in l walked all
around the house and saw that there
wasn't light burning anywhere.
81 even took the trouble to look up
the policeman on the beat, and he as
sured me that there hadn't been a light
lit in my house since 10 o'clock. I'm
der the circumstances I felt that it
would be easy to get in without being
caught at it. At the time / wouldn't
have given you chaps a nickel for
your chance of eating at my expense.
"Finally.I let myself mat the side
door without making n sound that
could have disturbed a mouse. Then
with a pocket electric light, which l
always carry with me. / lit myself
through library and drawing room into
the hall.
"Then, like a wise man, l sat down
on the steps to take off my shoes. so
as to make assurance doubly sure. Just
as 1 was pulling of the second shoe
my foot slipped. and l kicked over the
other shoe which 1 had set down on
the stairs beside me. 1t went bump
ing down to the bottom, striking on ev-
cry step with a racket which was
frightful.
who's thereY cried my wife in a
naturally startled voice.
:" It's only me, DEAR answered in
my most ingratiating tone. I'm afraid
1 dropped one of my shoes
Floor goodness sake she said. are
you just getting home from lodge?
What time is it, anyhow?
It's just about 10 o'clock, DEAR
answered.
"Then the cuckoo clock in the library
struck A, and in order to make good l
had to sit there on those stairs and
cuckoo eight times more to make up
twelve.
"'Well, it's time you were home, at
any rate she said.
II started up stairs again, going fast