Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-02-06

scheme2 In that case we can mererv
empower him to act and let the de-
tatls make themselves known by re-
sults.''
did not at all approve the turn that
things had taken. 1t was only because
had been apprised beforehand of the
conspirators' line OF action that I had
on more than one occasion been sue
ceSsiul In frustrating their projects.
But IL secrecy were maintained in re-
gard to their proposed operations, the
game would be up as far l was con-
cerned, for unless L knew nat move
they were about to make, / should not
know how to go to work to checkmats
them.
THE chiefs quite right In insisting
upon everything being above board"
i said, boldly. I'VE don't want any
hole-and-corner business in a concern
like this. We are all like SO many
mountaineers roped together on a
mountain. If one of us makes a slip
and the others aren't prepared to set
their feet hard and meet the jerk when
1t comes, the chances are that the lot
OF us get pulled over the precipice.
And mind you, friends, a rope round
your body on mountain is one thing,
and a rope round your neck on a scat
fold is another. I've sampled one, but
l don't want to sample the other. So
l think the chief is right in taking us
into his confidence as he has done.
We all hang by the one rope, so what
l say is, Let us know where we're go
ing Besides, in a concern like this.
which claims before all things to be
democratic, we don't want any one
man show. Here are we working to
overthrow the autocrat or aristocrat
wherever you find him, and you pro-
pose setting up one man who is to be
our pope and lead us all blindfolded by
the nose"
"Give us your hand, Number Seven"
said Number Six, slapping me familiar
ly on the shoulder. Its a good Job
you amt parson, for if l heard you
preach few times, 1 believe you'd
I convert me, and I'm damned if 1 could
stand that. I'd no idea we'd got such
an orator among US. Anyhow, he's
! convinced me; so go ahead, chief, and
let's have the details in full"
Good humor being thus restored
| Number Two continued his explana-
| ton.
"The thing is to be done in this
| way" he said. lubbock was once
| chef at the Ishmael club, and is still
| friendly with the steward and the other
walters. From one of them he has
I heard little secret which is supposed
to be known only to the secretary of
II hn 1,,h
maelites are very fond of having what
1 may call unrehearsed effects at the
house-dinner evenings, and the mem
Der who is in the chair often springs
a surprise upon the company by pro-
viding some unexpected feature for
their entertainment The secretary
| a whimsical fellow-has hit upon an
idea which he purposes to carry out
on the occasion of the Srince's visit.
Good fellowship being ftsine qua non
for election to the Ishmael, the prince
OF Wales, who is, as every one knows.
the best OF good fellows in the social
sense, is naturally a prime favorite
there. AS you all know, the prince is
only now recovering from serious i'll
ness. and as his presence at the Ish-
mael will be his first public appearance
after his convalescence, the i.~lmael
ties intend to give him an ovation
The speech OF the evening will be, The
health OF our guest his royal high
ness the prince OF Wales Well, The
secretary has sent the ten-minutC
umekeeper TO Switzerland to have the
ordinary gong replaced by a musica
box which shall play God Bless the
Prince of Wales Inc chairman, III
proposing the princes health, will pur
posely outstay his ten minutes. The
gong will strike, but instead of mere
ly sounding ten warnnsy notes on the
bell il will lead OFF with God Bless the
Prince OF Wales AS soon as the mem
bers tumble 10 il Cor the affair is Il
be kept secret from all but two ol
three), the chairman will spring TO his
feet and take up the air, which viii
be sung. all standing, and ending M
with three times three That's JUS
the kind of thins to catch on with the
lshmaelites. and l shouldn't be sur
prised il IL proved an immense success
and pleased the prince into the bargain
We'll. lubbock has contrived--iT
virtue Of his old connection with the
club-to get engaged as an assistan,
chef for the occasion. and he also man
aged To get n peep at the address or
the box that contained the gong, wher
1t was sent on To Switzerland 10 have
the inside mechanism taken out and
replaced by musical box. The ad.
dress was that OF well-known instru.
ment maker in Geneva to whom Hub
book has since paid visit Need
tell you why? Ii was to get a dupli-
cate gong made--a duplicate, that is tc
say. so far as the ouside is concerned
But IL isn't IA duplicate inside, for in
stead OF the musical box, lubbock Is
getting an Internal machine made from
newly discovered explosive. 1t is ar
explosive SO deat h dealing and terrible
that even the small quantity that car
be packed away inside the gong will
be sufficient TO Mill every one in its
immediate vicinity. and. in fact. it is
more than probable that IL will Kill