The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-07-16

: A,h Uo'e"s hotuihS last the end or IN
rod TO steady il, while crept out an
secured the cap and shoes. Meanwhile
Tom gained the caves. where he reste
few minutes before beginning IN
most dangerous part Of the ascent
SLOWLY moving up. we saw his darI
form against the sky; then we lost 81 oh
OF him rs he swung into the shadow
put IN q moment he appeared climb
ing over the balustrade into the belfry
am sure we all felt like shoutin,
our JOY. but we kept silent and listened
Presently we heard him cautiousl,
raising the trap door; then creakins
down the narrow. shaky stairs. which
had long been considered unsafe. bu,
yet allowed 10 remain as they were
then he was laundering through the
dark gallery; and at last he was FINN
bling at the hasp which secured the YES.
try door on the inside.
Then they all rushed in. and Old
prohibition Bell'' was rung rs il had
never been rung before ng-don2.
dihg-dong,' rs fast it could go; il 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 eyery-
body knew how confident the Commo-
dore had been.
The boys had rung 1t furiously for
about ten minutes. and the little can
mons had begun TO speak on every cor
ner, when from my watch-window l
spied lantern in the Commodore
door-yard. In another minute | 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
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 III 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 a beacon, and thew
tried every window and looked into
every pew; then, giving it up. the
blacksmith put 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 pebble to
which one end was secured: the other
ne 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 n
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 window unfast-
sned, and every door secure: SO re-
ocklng the outer ones. they proceeded
p an inspection Of the sheds. But
While thew 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 ,
ne cord, which they tried to break by
heir united efforts, and succeeded by |
awing il along the edge Of the roof.
And now the sexton was so sure that !
iie bell would be at rest for the remain I
Ter OF the night that he laughed at the
blacksmith when he proposed that they 1
should sit on the meeting house steps :
With their lantern and watch till day- Z
freak, which was not very far of. He
dispersed the small boys, bidding them.
Go home and 90 to bed, and come q
ome again nc sunrise, then I will ring a
he bell myseit; and you may all RING Il
Ill your hands are blistered. As for
hose rascals," raising his voice, IF a
hey have broken so much as pane of Q
iazs In this house. will have the law :
n them fo-morrowr' h
The boys had pretty busy night Of I
!, but they were not through yet. As
DON as the familiar lantern had van
she'd In the Commodore's house, a win
ow in the church was gently raised. a
ark lantern in Toms hand shone a /,
loment, there was good deal OF b
limbing in and out, Of low talking, and e
Nc sound Of tools being used, and GER b
ain other sounds strongly suggesting I
nat something was going on in the BEL Il
~. Then the boys dispersed Just at cl
aylight. agreeing 70 keep watch and "a
20 what happened next. in
Promptly at sunrise came the sexton, p
nd crowd OF small boys at his heels; d
few. men, too, had lo,inged along to
70 church steps, and looked in as he m
rev open the doors. 81
q And now" shouted the Commo- le
ore, ''you may have all the ringing q
)u want This Is early enou0h far al In