irst, no cross
words; no swearing and vulgar words; nobody but the treasurer to climb
this ladder to go up into the cupola, unless the club say so."

This was in Charlie's handwriting.

"Why not go?" asked Aunt Stanshy.

"O we keep our funds up there in a dipper."

"It looks unsafe to me, for somebody climbing up there might reach into
the cup and steal the money."

"O no, I guess not."

Sid Waters now stepped forward. "Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "two more
individuals having arrived"--these were nail patrons--"we will begin our
entertainment. First is the dialogue called 'The Spy.'"

The curtain rose and there stood the inheritor of the warlike name of
Jugurtha. He was rather sober and melancholy, and was dressed in a
semi-military style that betrayed not in the least the fact to what flag
he might possibly be attached. Sid was crouching down, hiding behind a
barrel.

"What am I?" Juggie now asked in low tones, "American or British?"

"Of course," Sid was heard to say, "you are an American, or ought to be.
Hush up!"

Juggie now strode over the floor, an exiled broom-handle resting on his
shoulder. Suddenly a step was heard. From the rear of a box crept out the
governor. He wore a farmer's dress, and was half smothered under his
father's tall hat.

"Advance!" shouted Juggie, "and gib de count--count--"

"Countersign!" whispered the prompter behind the barrel.

"Count-de-sign!" shouted Juggie, pompously, at the same time presenting
the broom-handle threateningly.

"George Washington!" answered the farmer.

"All right. Go 'long dar!"

"No, no!" whispered Sid. "Let me see your papers, friend!"

"Let me see your papers, friend!"

The farmer reads his pass.

"Is dat all?"

"All."

"Knock off his hat," whispered Sid.

"What's de matter wid your hat?" and as Juggie shouted this, he fetched
the governor's hat a merciless rap, one that would have been serious had
not the governors head luckily been in the first story of the hat. As the
hat dropped, Juggie seized a paper that fell out, and exclaimed, "A spy, a
spy! A note to de British commander!"

"Seize him! That is the next thing," suggested Sid, in smothered tones.
But the British spy was too much for Juggie, and the defender of the
continental name was obliged to resort to severe measures. Presenting the
broom-handle, he shouted, "Aim! Fire! Bang!" but the spy was not
considerate enough to fall.

"Drop! drop, why don't you?" whispered Jug