The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1903-01-03
AN AGREEMENT
AT THE LODGE

D " CAO(0 -
kins. Hawkins is the past grand
imperial emperor and potentate OF Sill
YER Moon lodge No. 81.
an tell you what wen do" he went
on. 1--WE three chaps will agree, II
you say SO, when we go home this
morning it's half after 1 o'clock
now-to do whatever u 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 tT'
The three pledged their assent.
They met one night less than q week
later and Elliot said: "Well, Temp
kins, how did you come outT
"All right" said the little man.
1.-THE supper isn't on me. 1t was .
| o'clock when 1 got home. 1 was get
ting along all right, and it seemed Ger
tain that I would get to my room on
| the third floor without disturbing a
soul, when my foot struck a 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. !
suppose that is you, HenryY
ayes, DEAR 1 said. 1T is L.
4 Nrv Il --ll NASa n xrrAn1nr Won
wouldn't break the chair all to pieces
IL remembered our agreement, and
although it was hard work I finally
got that chair broken up. The chair
was hardwood and it took me q long
time to do it, but there was mighty
little left when 1 got through"
"And you, Elliott" said Hawkins
sadly.
'I'm all right" said the magnificent
interior sentinel. II had nearly the
same experience. 1 broke into the
house without rousing anybody and
was just about to go under the wire
an easy winner when I stepped on
Mrs. Elliott's pet Angora cat
Thomas said Mrs. Elliott.
eyes, dear 1 answered 4 stepped
on Clarence. He was sleeping here
on the stairs, and 1 was trying to gel
up to bed without disturbing you
"'Well,' said Mrs. Elliott, it's a won
der you wouldn't kill the poor dear
with our agreement In mind / took
her suggestion as a command and aft
er some difficulty finally got a firm
hold Of Clarence and of my revolver
A cat has nine lives, you know, but
finally succeeded In carrying out my
wife's wishes in the matter.
Hawkins, it's up to you"
The past grand imperial emperor
heaved a deep sigh.
'T've got a long story to TELL" h'
said. Lets put 1t off till we hav'
more time"
But the other men were relentless.
81 don't mind ~confessing," he began
"that 1 went home determined to sticl
one Of you fellows for the supper. II
fact, 1 nay as well admit that l hat
made arrangements before / left HON,
that evening to get in by the side door
and I was sure not a soul In the hous'
would hear me. / had it all CAREFUL.
planned, and it wasn't at all my faul
that it didn't work out as I figured.
81 stayed down town until 4 o'clocl
on purpose, because I knew that PEG
pie sleep most soundly just before tn
dawn. Before I went In I walked al
around the house and saw that Their
wasn't a light burning anywhere.
II ever took the trouble to look VI
the policeman on the beat, and he as
sured me that there hadn't been a ligh
Lit In my house since 10 o'clock. Un
der the circumstances I felt that l
would be easy to get in without bein,
caught at it. AT the time I wouldn'
have given you chaps a nickel 70
your chance Of eating at my expense.
Finally I let myself in at the sid
door without making a sound tina
could have disturbed q The
with a pocket electric Light. which
always carry with me. I Lit mysel
through library and drawing room int
the hall.
"Then, like a wise man, I sat dow
on the steps to take OF my shoes, s
as to make assurance doubly ure Jus
as / was pulling of the second sho
my foot slipped, and I kicked over tn
other shoe which I had set down o.
the stairs beside me. 1t went bump
ing down to the bottom, striking on ey
cry step with a racket which wa
frightful.
who's theref' cried my wife in
naturally startled voice.
"It's only me, DEAR I answered 1
my most ingratiating tone. I'm afrat
I dropped one of my shoes
"'Foor goodness sake she said, 'ar
you just getting home from lodge
What time is 1t, anyhow
"Tts just about II o'clock, DEAR
answered.
"Then the cuckoo clock In the librar,
struck 4, and In order to make good
had to sit there on those stairs ant
cuckoo eight times more to make VI
twelve.
"'Well, it's time you were home. a