Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-08-15

eise briRht moonlight night Now,
call that worthy Of remarkr
Truly so. said the sergent. uneasily
And. strangely enough" went ON the
/ villager. there Is legend that such
storms are the work Of goblins, who thus
punish tellers Of big stories, as, IL seems.
this sailor must have been!'
! The sergeant made no comment. but
drummed quickstep upon the table.
whistling noiseless fife accompaniment
Emil. Jules and Jean had been listen.
ing open mouthed and ransacking their
brains to find some trace Of this wonder
full legend But no one of them could
recall It, and. while they were collecting
their wits to question CASTOR, the SER
geant asked
"Where was 1t you said this sailor
lodgedy'
ieft-your room, by the way sergeant.
is Ii notY'
THAT Is where they have put me-" re-
piled the veteran. Then rising, he shook
hands all round. saying: GOOD night.
my lads, good night, Remarkable place.
the tropics
Remarkable, indeed" they answered.
No sooner was their guest out OF sight
than the others turned to CASTOR, who
was laughing TO himself Mt their wonder.
ing faces
After a short explanation, during
which the four heads were very close to-
getier. jules went in one direction for a
dark lantern, CASTOR set forth in another
10 borrow drum. Jean went in a third
for the big watering pot. while Emil was
10 fill "A basket with sand and gravel
When they came back, later in the even
ing. each had succeeded In his errand.
I'VE will give the sergeant a goblin
thunder Storm" CASTOR said, with a
smile. Then all four laughed aloud
They were sharp fellows, and they com.
pretended his plan.
Although the moon shone brightly
that night the conspirators set forth for
the inn, walking in single file, and
grinning with anticipation.
About midnight they were in front of
the window of the front room on the
left. Emil threw the sand against the
panes. CASTOR beat a terrible roll upon
the drum, and Jules flashed the light of
his lantern through the window, while
Jean spattered water upon the glass.
The sergeant arose, came to the win
dow and gazed curiously out. APP
parently there was bright moonlight and
a cloudless sky: but he had seen the
lightning. heard the thunder. and surely
those were drops of rain upon the panes
of the window.
The four mischief makers had crouched
closely against the wall. and with diff.
Guilty restrained themselves from noisy
mirth
The steps retreated from the window.
After waiting IA moment another Cob
lin Storm" was created, and brought the
puzzled man again to the window; but
so closely tiattened against tho inn were
the four friends that there was no clew
to the mystery, and the sergeant once
more retired, too sleepy to make any
further investigation that night.
A third repetition OF their trick brought
their victim running 10 the door-as they
had expected
Being ready for him, Jean deluged the
poor sergeant with water. CASTOR deaf
encd him with the drum, Jules blinded
his eyes with the lantern, while Emil
pelted him with the gravel. and he stag
gered back indoors with his hands over
his eyes and his breath almost gone.
Next day the sergeant asked the land.
lord at breakfast time whether the ter
rible storm had not kept him awake.
The landlord stared at him in silence
for a moment, aud then s,iid:
Sergeant, are you crazy?"
Landlord. what do YOU mean?" re-
piled the soldier with much dignity, ris.
ing to his feet
1T was calm, bright moonlight night.
as any one will tell you. Why do you
ask sncha lishquestion? To make me
ridiculous"
1T was but poor joke. wasn't it, mine
hostr said the sergeant, with twist at
his big mustaches while his cheeks grew
very red Pray say nothing about il,
and will promise not To repeat SO i'll
timed a pleasantly. and away he
marched, very erect and very proud in.
deed
Strangely enough, not only did the
sergeant seek no explanation of his re.
markable experience at the inn. but even
his wonderful adventures in Tonquin
were no more recalled
As for Gaston, Jules. Emil and Jean
they never met together without chuck.
ling and poking one another. and this
they continued To do until next fair time.
-Benjamin Webster in ST. Nicholas.
Tho Pestiferous Horse Fty,