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Show CHAPTER VII. THE ODD FELLOWS LODGE. "I can tell you an all-fired funny thing," said Mr. George Clark, his face cheery with smiles, as if inwardly enjoying the story he was about to relate. " The first Odd Fellows lodge was established in Denver December 24th, 1860. There was a scarcity of members at the beginning, and two of them went out recruiting. They wanted men who would work for the glory of the cause, who had plenty of money, and disposed to be liberal with it. So they tackled Wolfe Londoner. They knew him to be a leader in all the societies to which he attached himself, and what was better still, it never hurt him to strike his pocket-book. At first he refused, but they finally over-persuaded him. " The lodge was located over a grocery store approached only by an outside flight of rickety stairs. The landing was sheltered with rough boards. This became the resting place of a loud-smelling goat owned by one John Martin, who kept a livery stable, and because of the of-fensiveness of the creature it was often ordered away in a forcible and energetic manner. The groceryman also scented out the hiding place of the vagrant animal and pelted him away. Living, as it were, between two fires, the goat was constantly on the alert and ready to jump and run at the least indication of hostile approach. "At the next meeting of the lodge two of the faithful and earnest workers buttonholed Wolfe. They said they would soon make him an officer; that he would look 37 |