CHAPTER XII.
Mr.Caleb Hammond rose that Sunday morning with a partially developed attack of indigestion and a thoroughly developed "grouch." The indigestion was due to an injudicious partaking of light refreshment--sandwiches, ice cream and sarsaparilla "tonic"-- at the club the previous evening.

Simeon Baker had paid for the refreshment, ordering the supplies sent in from Mr.Chris Badger's store.

Simeon had received an unexpected high price for cranberries shipped to New York, and was in consequence "flush" and reckless.

He appeared at the club at nine-thirty, after most of its married members had departed for their homes and only a few of the younger set and one or two bachelors, like Mr.Hammond, remained, and announced that he was going to "blow the crowd." The crowd was quite willing to be blown and said so.
Mr.Hammond ate three sandwiches and two plates of ice cream, also he smoked two cigars.

He did not really feel the need of the second cream or the second cigar, but, as they were furnished without cost to him, he took them as a matter of principle.