Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-15

+I've got forty cents, and I'll pay twenty
if JOEL pay twenty"
"We might get killed." said Joe, eau
tiously, and then who'd take the mare
home"
"Oh, you're always afraid" retorted
Johnny willie and nell go, won't
we, Willie?'
Willie expressed his willingness to go
wherever Johnny led, and the two crept
under the ropes, Johnny with twenty
cents In hand, which was accepted, and
the two helped into the basket
ANY more to come? ' asked the aero
naut. It's the only chance. It's got to
be five O'Clock, and | want to go up so as
to land before shutdown"
No one else came forward, and the rope
slackened. Up, up went the balloon,
while the boys waved their hats and
cheered in answer to the shouts from be-
low. All at once a struggle arose in the
crowd near the ropes. One man had
pushed another to get better sight, and
was struck in return. A rush was made,
the ropes broken down, and in the strug-
gle the aeronaut lost his hold on the rope
attached to the balloon.
A cry of horror at once burst from the
crowd
" If they don't get frightened, and try
to jump" said the aeronaut, "they're all
right. The balloon can't stay up more
than four or five hours at the longest, and
there isn't wind enough to carry it many
miles. Besides they may come down
in half an hour. Balloons are uncer-
TAIN
The boys showed no signs of fear, how
ever; they waved the flag which they
found in the car, and emptied one of the
bags of ballast upon the crowd below
Then they rose higher and higher and
drifted away out of sight.
When the news reached Brightview
which it did an hour later, the excite
ment in the little village was intense
Every eye was turned to the sky in the
vain hope of catching a glimpse of the
wandering balloon. The two stricken
mothers wrung their hands and wept.
Willie's father was away on business, but
Johnny's, when the news arrived, lost no
time in Harvesting his horse and setting
out for town.
"Don't give way till the worst is
known" he said to his wife, as he stepped
into his wagon There are five chances
out of ten that they will turn up all right
AS soon as the balloon lands the news will
be telegraphed, and shall not come
back until [ hear from them.'
There was some comfort in this refec-
ton, but not enough to set the hearts of
the women completely at rest.
Meanwhile the two boys, miIe-high,
were waited along by the afternoon breeze,
with no more apparent motion than If
they had been seated on the ground. The
idea of being afraid never entered their
heads. They could look over the edge of
the basket and see the town below them,
with the fields and farms and rivers
spread out as on a map. 1t seemed as if
they we're hanging still in the air, and the
earth was turning slowly beneath them.
We're getting our ten cents worth o.
ride, anyhow" said Johnny, after pro-
longed gaze at the earth. 81 bet that
mans mad because he let the rope slip.
It's just as much of sight, though, to
see US go up as him."
''But how are we going to get down,
johnny asked Willie, who was begin
ming to feel little hungry and cold.
Il don't know" answered Johnny
We don't want to get down now. Time
enough to think of it by and by"
There was an overcoat in the basket,
and Willie pulled it over his shoulders
Y It'll shiver.
Both boys were silent for some time !;
then Willie said:
CT wonder what our folks I'll think has
become of us!''
''Sure enough" echoed Johnny.
had not thought anything about that. Of
course the Billings boys III go home and
tell, and then mother III be almost fright.
ened to DEATH
"They IL think we're killed." said
Willie in trembling voice, land know
just how mother III take on Let's get
down. Gomez
Yes, but how are we going TOT" said
Johnny. That's the question. I'm
afraid Well have to wait till il gets ready
to go down ITSELF and it feels all the time
as if it was getting higher and higherr'
The tears stood in Willie's eyes.
6 l read in a newspaper that when folks
want to come down out of balloon they
prick holes in it. Now, if we had some
pins you and | would climb up and give
the old thing a good sticking. And it's
growing dark, too.''
And it was. The sun had gone down.
and the shadows lay long and black across
the fields and in the valleys. Here and
there the lights were already beginning to
twinkle below, while above, the sky was
thick with stars.
There was another long silence.
''Ain't you afraid, Johnny?" at last in
quired Willie.
Afraid? no! What's the use of being