Year: 1867

the ladies of Bagdad turned out en- masse, and the
ball was pronounced decided success. Hank
Smith was there and for once rumor had told the
truth dressed in immaculate suit of black
which shone and glistened in its newness, he
strutted around proud as peacock, perfect
Triton among the minnows. Whether it was be-
csIse of his extra good clothes or because he
really was good dancer and good looking fell
low besides, he had better success with the
ladies, never failing to secure partner, and this
didn't help matters much. The ball went ON
merrily, the gents had taken their partners to
supper and returned, and the time had como
when Mr. Jim Bates (who was to manage the
" setting back" operation) was to carry out his
part of the programme.


"Now you fellers stand back" said Jim to the
crowd which stood round the door, " don't rush
in when the dance is called, as though you'd
hearn tell of ounce diggins somewhere and want
ed claim. Let him 60 on fust with his pard
and then he'll git close to the music-stand where
want him."


| The words were scarcely spoken when the call
was given to form quadrille. Smith took his
partner and hurried to the head of the hall, as
Jim had hoped and predicted, while Jim and his
lady stood vis-a-vis. The master, who acted as
| floor manager passed round the hall and saw
| that the sets were filled out.


| NsAint we goin' to have some music on that
horn ?'' cried Jim, when the master announced
" all ready" ~ never danced arter horn play
ing yet, and think we mout just as well as not.
Git out your tooter, Charley, and give us
touch" This was addressed to one OF the extra
musicians, who had brought along cornet, but
had not played on it any as yet.


Charley was very willing, and reaching for the
cornet which lay behind him, placed it to his
| lips. But no sound issued therefrom.


"All ready, music" cried the manager
Charley put the horn to his lips and again
essayed. Once, twice, three times he puffed
away, and then a strain of -four shot out of the
bell, striking Smith fair and square between the
shoulders and spreading over his back, while
the cornet raised to the upper G.


Smith was furious. He aimed lick at the
player who knocked it off with his horn. The
ladies ran from the room while the boys rushed
in to separate the belligerants. Smith was con-
veyed from the ballroom covered with -four like
a miller, swearing vengeance on the fellow who
had done it. But the crowd gathered around
him and argued that the trick had been played
on him and the musician alike so he should
have no ill-will toward him. So Smith sent
word for Charles to come in and take drink
and make friends. Charley soon appeared, ac-
companied by the dancing master.


I" Positively, gentlemen, this is scandalous,"
said the latter as he caught sight of the damaged
garment again. sNever in any of my schools
was such thing known as this. l have taught
throughout the country, and never in my ex-
perience has such discreditable action come
under my observation. This company should
ferrit out the author of this outrage and"


"See here, old professor" said Bates, inter-
rupting, you'd better dry up? Well settle
this among ourselves, and be blowed to you
Look out you don't get served so yourself, and
you'll have enough to tend to. What dye want
to be string up muss for? ~


The "professor" fastened to disclaim any in
tention of the kind, but thought that ball room
was not the place where snch jokes should be
| played He was very sorry it had happened in
his school, but if the scholars could stand it he
had nothing more to say.


"All right, then" said Bates, +" let's have
drink and call the matter settled"


| If there is any weakness which dwels in the
bosom of professor of the Terpsichorean art it
is for drink. So they drank. Bates left the
professor standing at the bar and mingled with
the crowd, and it was soon evident that mischief
was brewing to somebody Soon Fossen came,
talked with the professor moment and they
| took drink. He was followed by another, and
another, and another, until he had drank with
nearly the entire school, one at time. He soon
knocked under to that kind of treatment, became
&C weary" and lay down a bench. Meanwhile,
the ladies had been induced to return to the ball
room and the dance went merrily on without the
aid of the floor manager, who was discovered at
! daylight lashed in chair and hosted half way
up the flagstaff to snooze off the effects of his
spree. When lowered down, he sought the fd-
dler Charley, and they left the place in huge dis
gust, nor did they discover until they reached
their homes that the professors coat pockets
were lined with boiled squash, while the violin
boxes had been converted into aquariums for
live frogs, which hoped out in all directions
when the boxes were opened.


But though Hank Smith said but little he was
not disposed to let the matter rest until he had
played 60 even" on the perpetrators of the joke.
Like ancient Pistol he ate his leek and swore
revenge, and it was not long ere he found out
that Bates and Fossen were the leaders in the
| trick which had taken him down q few pegs
at the time of the ball. But Bates and Fossen
were on the lookout for something in return,
and some time passed away before an Opportuni
ty offered.


At length the society of the place was further
| increased by the advent of two or three mar
| riagable young ladies, and great became the
change in the habits of the bloods Of Bagdad.-
Some, who in the past rejoiced in the possession
of grey shirt and overalls, and deemed them
selves dressed in the height of fashion when on
Sundays and holidays the overalls were ex-
chaged for pair of cloth pants, now prided
themselves upon the purity of their linen, and
could not think of passing in range OF the said
Young ladies vision unless the attire was such as
would be more pleasing than ordinary miners
rigs. Among the rest, Mr.. Fossen, who already
had fixed in his mind upon one OF the new COM
ers as the future partner of his joys and sorrows,
was particularly noticed for the fneness Of his
apparel.


Things worked smoothly for some time and
one morning Smith, who had just finished Law.
ing new fume in his claim, started up stream
to where there were some deserted cabins where
he hoped to find some rags with which he could
stop around the mouth Of the 1ume and make IL
water tight. His route lay BY the claim where
Fossen was working and he stopped few min
utes to talk with the boys, during which he in.
cidentaliy made known his Grand


"Going after rags" said Fossen, "why 90
to my cabin and you'll find enough to stop
dozen fumes. There's an old coat and pants,
and half dozen -four sacks under my bed il
You want EN-. We have no use for them 30 just
take anything you can 6nd.''


This was too good an offer to be rejected, so
to Georges cabin he went. He had no difficulty
in finding the things he was in search Of, but
just as he was about to leave he espied some
thing at the head of Fossen's bed wrapped mp in
a handkerchief a--i-aF @.s--