Divulging The Mason's Word.

you ought to be aware that if I am a little curious , I never blab . Will you tell me ? Surely you don't doubt your old school-fellow ? Out with the password , ancl I promise you that I'll be mum as a mouse . "

Were it not for the sake of old friendship , Jacob would have long before put an end to such impertinent queries ; but having failed to do so , the inquisitive Ralph imagined that he would at last be successful in " pumping" his Masonic

friend . When Ralph had completed his last sentence , which was spoken in a loud tone , Jacob turned his head , thinking that the words might have been overheard by a gentleman who happened to be

walking behind them . This gentleman proved to be a Mr . Hinslow , who , a feAV weeks before , hacl been dismissed from bis position as keeper in the Bellevue Hospital , charged with stealing spoons . Although

personally unacquainted with Mr . Hinslow , Jacob knew him by sight ; he had been pointed out to him by a member of the Common Council , of which body Jacob was also , at that time , a member .

The charges against Mr . Hinslow had not yet . been formally proved ; but a committee of the Common Council ivere to inquire into the facts of the case at an early day , ancl Jacob had been appointed a member of that committee .

The last questions propounded by Ralph angered Jacob , ancl as he turned his eyes ancl beheld the man who had stolen the spoons , an idea instantly entered his mind . He conceived an admirable

plan for punishing Ralph , ancl resolved to immediately put it in execution . " If I tell you the password , " said Jacob , purposely slackening his pace , to alloiv Mr . Hinslow to pass before them— " If I tell you the Masonic

. passivord , you promise never to divulge it—not even to a brother ?" "Never ! " exclaimed Ralph exultingly , thinking that at last his curiosity was to be satisfied . "Upon your soul , you swear it !"

"Upon my soul , I swear it ! " responded Ralph , as he put his hand to his face ancl scratched ' his nose to hide a smile . By this time Mr . Hinslow had passed on . before them , leaving Ralph ancl Jacob about three yards behind .

' You'll never utter it in the hearing of man , woman , or beast ! " asked Jacob . "I solemnly swear !"

" I think that I can trust you . Well , Ralph , I am about to make knoivn to yon one of the great secrets of Masonry . When you wish to form the acquaintance of a Mason , all you have to do is to whisper hi his ear the mysterious password . That

passivord is—SPOONS !" " Spoons ! Oh that be ! " ejaculated Ralph , as a smile on his face was displaced by a frown .

" I tell you truly—the Masonic passivord is spoons . " "'Spoons ! Ha ! ha ! ha ! " ancl Ralph made a feeble attempt to laugh . " Spoons !—that ' s a strange password ! You must think that I am a confounded fool !"

" I am in earnest , Ralph . When "Masons get into difficulty , ancl need assistance , they roar out the ivord ' spoons' three times . Were you to say ' spoons' three times , even here , on the public street , ancl a Mason should hear you , he would

immediately rush to your assistance , thinking that you needed it . " Ralph did not believe him ; and to show that he could not be' so easily gulled , he roared out , at the top of his voice ,

" Spoons ! spoons ! spoons !" Ere the second syllable hacl passed his mouth Mr . Hinsloiv turned round and faced Ralph .

"You said e Spoons , ' did you ? Take thatand that ! " As he spoke , HinsloAV struck Ralph between the eyes , and then under the ear , the second bloiv lifting the inquisitive man off his feet , so that he staggered ancl fell to the

pavement , completely stunned . "I'll give you spoons ! " roared the excited Hinsloiv , as he advanced ancl repeatedly kicked the prostrate man . As Ralph made no effort to rise , the enraged Hinsloiv soon tired of kicking

him , and slowly passed on , occasionally looking behind to see if Ralp h were folloiving to obtain satisfaction . Ralp h did not require satisfaction , thinking he might get too much of it ; so he prudently

postponed returning consciousness until his enemy hacl disappeared . -As he rose to his feet , he said to Jacob , in a subdued tone , " Why did that man strike me ?"

" Because you uttered the Masonic password , but could not respond to the countersign . He is a Mason ; and as he ivas solemnly bound to do , immediately answered the passivord by making