The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-07-16

from below, holding fast the end of the
rod to steady it, while crept out and
secured the cap and shoes. Meanwhile
Tom gained the caves, where he rested
q few minutes before beginning the
most dangerous part of the ascent.
Slowly moving. up. we saw his dark
form against the sky; then we lost sight
of him as he swung into the shadow;
but in moment he appeared climb
ing over the balustrade into the belfry.
l am sure we all felt like shouting
our joy. but we kept silent and listened.
Presently we heard him cautiously
raising the trap door; then creaking
down the narrow. shaky stairs, which
had long been considered unsafe, but
yet allowed to remain as they were;
then he was laundering through the
dark gallery; and at last he was FUN
bling at the hasp which secured the YES
try door on the inside.
Then they all rushed in, and old
prohibition Belr' was rung as it had
never been rung before. Ding dong,
ding -dong," as fast it could 90; it sound
ed on the still, midnight air, and was
echoed back from the hills, rousing the
whole village; heads were popped out
of windows along the street. and sup
pressed laughter was heard, for every
body knew how confident the Commo-
dore had been.
The boys had rung it furiously for
about ten minutes, and the little can
mons had begun to speak on every cor
ner, when from my watch-window I
spied lantern in the Commodore
door-yard. In another minute I had
scattered the ringers; and by the time
he had appeared on the scene of action
with the blacksmith, whom he had
routed from his bed. there was not a
boy visible, except the small fellows
with their cannons on the nearest cross
street. who were unable to tell him
anything, simply because they did not
know.
The culprits, however, were all within
hearing, and lost not word of the old
gentleman's strong assertions, spoken
loud on purpose for their ears, which
he was shrewd enough to suppose were
within hearing, that he would find out
"who they are; and I'll prosecute every
one of them to the fullest extent of the
law"
The two men searched everywhere,
even to the belfry, from which their
lantern shone like beacon, and thev
tried every window and looked into
every pew; then, giving it up, the
blacksmith put a paddock on the outer
door, and they departed.
The boys gave them just time enough
to get home; then, at my sign, they
started up from their hiding places, and
the bell began to toll, deep, and strong
and quick. Tom, who had planned for
every possible contingency, had carried
in his pocket, when he climbed up, a
strong cord wound round a pebble to
which one end was secured; the other
he had tied to the clapper of the bell;
then, unwinding, he had hurled the
stone back down over the sheds; and
now they were using this strong cord
with will.
The bell had doomed furiously for a
few minutes. when the lantern appeared
again in the Commodore yard, and back
he came with his companion. They found
the church all right, not a window unfast-
ened, and every door secure; SO re-
locking the outer ones, they proceeded
to an inspection of the sheds. But
while they were still in the vestibule,
bending over the inner lock, Tom had
slipped in and hidden himself in the
wood closet. 1t did not require much
searching on the part of the men to find
the cord, which they tried to break by
their united efforts, and succeeded by
saving it along the edge of the roof.
And now the sexton was SO sure that
the bell would be at rest for the remain
der of the night that he laughed at the
blacksmith when he proposed that they
should sit on the meeting house steps
with their lantern and watch till day
break, which was not very far off. Ee
dispersed the small boys, bidding them,
$50 home and 90 to bed, and come
come again at sunrise, then I will ring
the bell myself; and you may all ring
till your hands are blistered. AS for
those rascals," raising his voice, ''if
they have broken so much as pane of
glass in this house, 1 will have the law
on them Tomorrow
The boys had pretty busy night of
it, but they were not through yet. As
soon as the familiar lantern had van
ished in the Commodore's house, win
dow in the church was gently raised, a
dark lantern in TOMS hand shone a
moment, there was good deal of
climbing in and out, of low talking, and
the sound of tools being used, and GER
tain other sounds strongly suggesting
that something was going on in the bel
fry. Then the boys dispersed just at
daylight, agreeing to keep watch and
see what hannono6 neYt
Promptly at sunrise came the sexton,
and crowd of small boys at his heels;
a few men, too, had lounged along to
the church steps, and looked in as he |