Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-01-08

eitherof them did any teing of the kind
/ The sort of danger Brace Barlow goes
into is quick and sure. When it once
gets started. there isn't any chance for
life saving,or for telling of it afterwards
Arthur ought to know better than 10 go
round Boosting IN that way to little
girl like you, and ! should think he'd be
ashamed OF himself for doing IL.
Arthur listened to this unjust and
cruel speech with flushed face and
feeling Of choking Indignation; but ne
did not say a word Young as he Was.he
had already learned that in contest
with an unreasonable person. silence ia
the weapon of wisdom
After finishing his supper the forlorn
little fellow. accepting his punishment
without a murmur. though he could not
imagine what wrong be had done. re-
tired to his cot in the wooi-shed- where
he was quickly blessed h. the presence
Of sleep, the comforter.
The next day was the bright one in
September with which this story opens,
and Arthur is introduced as he sis on
the top rail Of zig-zag fence watching
the other children at play.
Fired By the accounts of his adven-
lures Of the day before, as narrated 70
them at second hand by Cynthia. for Ar
another word concerning il, his
cousins had determined TO have a
miniature well-shooting of their own-
They spent the entire morning in the
construction Of a very shaky little der
rick, about ten feet high, and now they
were busy drilling well, which they
hoped TO put down to depth of at least
two feet When it was finished they
proposed TO shoot it by means OF
cannon cracker that they had saved over
from Fourth of July for use on some
such special occasion.
The scheme was we'll planned. and
seemed likely to be carried out. for the
children we're enthusiastic over it. and,
under Dicks direction. worked most
diligently. Arthur would gladly have
Joined in this fascinating occupation,
but the others would not have him. AS
Dick scornfullF remarked: .sWhat can =
city chap ike you know about building
derricks. and drilling wells? You
wasn't raised in the oil region"
So Arthur was forced 70 content him
self with sitting on the fence and
watching them. Occasionally he turned
for chat with rnele Phin. who was
cutting brush tn the Geld behind him,
and who took long rest whenever he
reached the end OF a row that brought
him anywhere near his ill marse-"
Finally. after one Of these rests, during
which Arthur had paid no attention 70
tire operations at the miniature derrick,
he left his perch and followed Uncle
Phin for short distsnce into the thick
brush.
While in there he was atartied by q
perfect babel Of sound coming from
where the children we're al play. There
were wells and shouts Of laughter. min
ried with cries OF pain, and an angry
screaming. together with pitcous calls
Of: Arthur. Oh, Arthur, Come and
make 'em stopg
Like a young deer the boy bounded
out Of the corn and over the fence. fol-
lowed. much more slowly. by Uncle
Phin. Arrived upon the scene he quick
ly comprehended the situation. In an
unfortunate moment, just as the well
was completed and ready to be shot,
Cvnfhia's dearly-loved little white kitty
came demureIy walking in that direc-
ton looking for her mistress. IT sight
Of the little animal a brilliant idea
flashed through Dicks mind, and he
at once prsreeded to carry it out He
said:
I'VE can't have much fun shooting a
dry well anyhow, cause there won't b
any oil to fly up in the air, but III tell
you what. Let's have an execution BY
Electricity. It'll be immense. and here's
the prisoner already waiting to be ex-
ecuted.-
Thus saying. the cruel boy snatcheo
up the little white kitty. and bidding
the Others hold Cynthia. who was ready
to make a furious struggle in defense
Of her pet, he ran with it to The der
rick. Here with the make-believe
drill rope. he hung it by the tail,
so that the little pink nose was bus
few inches from the ground. Then
lighting the fuse Of the great cannon
cracker, he placed il directly beneath
the victim. who was nowRttering piteous
cries of pain and terror, and ran to
where the others were shouting with
delight over the new and thrilling di-
version so unexpectedly prepared for
them
Poor, desperate, little Cynthia, kick
ing. biting. scratching, but struggling
in vain with the young rascals who held
her fast, began. as last resort. to can
upon Arthur. the brave Prince who bad
defended her against the big dog. and
she did not cali in vain
Hatless and b-eathless. with tie Gre
Of righteous wrath blazing in his blue
eyes. the plucky boy came flying 70 the
rescue tie bad no thought of TIE over
whelning odds against him. The
princes Of his fairy tales fought whole
armies single-handed and Why should
not hep His inpetuous sped carried
hirn right through the shouting group as
sembled 70 witness the execution Of the
hapless kitty, and two q them we're
dung 10 the ground before they knew