The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-03-27

than ever, it seemed to me that the
lady's eyes were red as the consequence
OF some wordy skirmish between her.
self and her mother, who was now more
than ever infatuated with her Robil-
lard. / thought it was about time to
interfere in behalf of these poor chill
dren. 1t was, in fact, the last Sunday
OF the year, and the conversation
naturally turned upon New Years
Day, which was to be observed as g.
family feast.
"Parbluel Dear Mime. Dutailly, +"
cried the captain, 81 must give you a
surprise for your present"
This gave me the idea of preparing
one on my own account.
On the eventful day DuCailly received
us beaming and with open arms. The
strategist of the Temps had lust beaten
ION paper Prince Charles out of his
boots in the neighborhood OF Evreux
Dutailly presented us with this piece
of news for our New Years gift. Ana
tole brought a rabbit which had been
caught in trap in the devastated ISL
and OF st. Denis. AS to the captain he
presented to Nine. Dutailly an immense
bag of marrons glaces in a German
helmet
'Dear madame" said he, smiling,
cit was quite possible for me to have
given you the head OF the owner of
this helmet as we'll"
"Whett !" cried Mne. Dutailly, lost
IN admiration, ''you actually killed
him?"
SIN order to offer you these bon
bons, which are not, [ make free to
say, within the reach ofeverybody."
| spare my readers the details OF the
adventure. not single one of which,
you may be sure, was omitted by
this boaster. Covering in tunnel he
had watched for, surprised and
knocked down the wearer of the hell
met, a struggling sentinel, and had
strangled him in order not to attract
the attention of the enemy by the use
OF his revolver. What sorry spec
tacle the poor, strangled rabbit made
beside OF this glorious trophy
''As for me-" said /, Il should not
dare to enter into competition with SO
gallant a soldier as the captain; but l
have my little surprise too, only it
has not yet arrived, and If you will
take my advice we will dine without
waiting for it"
We sat down and our repast proved
a very Jolly one. We were taking
coffee when a servant announced that
an artillery man had just deposited
ny present in the salon. On going in
to that apartment we found the gift
placed upon table wrapped in glazed
paper and ornamented with a blue
ribbon.
"What can it be?" said Nine. Du-
tally.
Don't investigate, dear madame;
it is a bombsheli."
ga bombshell"
"Dutailly has several times expressed
to me his wish to have a bombshell-a
real one, that had been used; so at my
request my friend Roland who COM
mands battery, has sent me this one
from the plateau OF Akron, where it
forgot to explode when it fell"
While speaking I united the blue
ribbon, tore off the paper, and there,
sure enough, was the shell-black,
sinister, menacing.
"Parbleu l'' said Dutailly. "You de-
light me, l will have it made into a
clock for my office"
"But," objected Nine. Dutailly, a
little nervously," if 1t has not explod-
ed
"Oh rest easy 1t was agreed that
Roland should send it cleaned out and
empty. Here is his letter."
open a note that had been fastened
to the side OF the shell and prepared
to read it aloud, but my face betrayed
so much surprise and alarm that every
one exclaimed:
whats the matter"
"Mon Dieu THAT is-listen," and
read
"Dear friend-This is the shell you
asked for-only it was impossible for
me to find an artillery man who knew
how to extract the load. Haveit TAX
en- to the gunsmith's in the Passage
de POpera, who does this kind of work
very cleverly. But the greatest eau
ton must be used-not the slightest
shock or friction-for the thickness OF
a sheet of paper would not"
| was interrupted by cries of alarm.
"Take it away take it awayr cried
hHie. DuUdilly. IL Is uTeduIul 10
have g. bombshell in my salon."
"Be calm," said /, stretching out my
hand. "Be calm. There is no cause
for alarm. The artillery-man who
brought it can take it away again"
"But, monsieur" said the trembling
servant coming into the room, "the
man has gone"
Fresh CONSERVATION.
"Then," said l, at is for me-
"Iforbidit, " eagerly exclaimed Nine.
Dutailly. "You are not strong
to carry it. You would let it fall on
the wagon the staircase, in the yes
tibule or somewhere else"
Nine. Dutailly chung to me-
"No! not you-it is too dangerous;
not youw
"This," added Nine. Dutailly, sis
the task OF a strong man. Fortunate
ly we have the captain here"
"But-" said the captain.
Certainly, my good fellow, you are
as strong as Turk and up to this
sort of thing. You make no more OF
handling balls and shells than a boy
does OF playing marbles or football"
Pardon pardon" objected the
captain, who was visibly losing color.
at is only shell, why not wait until
tomorrow and have it taken"
But Nine. Dutailly began to object
again: Tomorrow? And not get a
wink of sleep all night? / would rath-
er go and lodge in hotel"
Here Anatole mildly remarked:
"Remain at home, madame. | will
carry the shell to-
Dutailly interrupted him.
You are crazy, my dear fellow-a
convalescent, and with wounded
arm! Do you want to blow us up?'
Clearly " said |, at Is no task for
sick man."
But for the captain" continued
Dutailly. 81 haveconfdence IN no one
but him. Come, captain, be quick.
Take away this monster and relieve
US from our nightmare"
The captain was evidently assing a
bad quarter OF an hour. But he was
not the man to be put out OF counte-