It was a Fragrant Smoke.

Manawatu Herald, 10 June 1897, Page 3

It was a Fragrant Smoke.

♦ 11 The coolest spy I ever heard of was captured by myself and a handful of men daring the civil war," eaid an old veteran. "We brought him to the commanding officer's tent and upon his person were found some papers —unimportant but incriminating ; a blind, we afterwards learned — a couple of cigars and some other articles which need not be mentioned. The commanding officer was puzzled that a man should risk his neck for papers of such little moment. " You will be hanged as a spy," Baid the officer. "No doubt about it," replied the prisoner. " You confess you are a spy ?" "Ob, yes. It's a matter of no importance. Won't you smoke with me, general?" indicating the two cigars. - ••Well, I like your impudence," roared the general. "However, I don't mind if I do." And he lighted one of the cigars. The prisoner's eyes rested wistfully on the other weed, and the general noticed the glance. He. was a kind hearted, though eccentric man, and said : " Smoke the otberyourself prisoner. It's the last consolation you'll have, for -yon will undoubtedly be condemned to be shot." " For some moments they smoked, talking about general matters. Then the general sniffed. " These cigars are not very good." " I must apologize for the quality, general," said the prisoner meekly. "The tobacco seems good, but there's a peculiar flavor." <• That's beoause the weed is very green, general." " Humph I" grunted the general, not altogether pleased but still 44 Finally the officer threw away the lighted stump and the prisoner did likewise. "Thank you, general,' said the prisoner, "you have performed an inestimable servioe for the confederacy." 11 What do yon mean," roared the general. "That you have consumed id smoke a most important dispatch, and that I have smoked up another." "What! Those cigars contained important dispatches ?" " Yes, these other papers are merely a blind. You held in your band, general," — mockingly — information which would have made you one of the greatest men in the northern army. That information you have converted into smoke, the smoke which is wafted so hospitably about our heads, at this momf nt. No wonder you objected to the flay r of the cigar, general, for within the Übaeoo was placed a long dispatch in the finest tissue paper. What was in the dispatch, general ? Bead it in the smoke above our heads I What words do you see in these impalpable cloads? Thank you, general, for a most pleasant half hour. My last smoke was the moat agreeable one in my life. The tobacco-tissue paper mixture tasted more fragrant to me than the finest Carolina would have done. Au revoir ! Long live the confederacy !" Detroit Free Press. " MAKING BOTH ENDS MEET," is rather a difficult task in life with many but the expense of good cooking is reduced to a minimum by using the SUN BAKING POWDER, purer and cheaper than most others. Give it a trial. A SAFE INVESTMENT . Of money is the problem of the day, buying " Sjuuulxh r "is a safe investment, for one shilling packet preserves twenty shillings worth of Milk, Meat, and all such perishable goods, and is odourless and harmless. m