Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-04

will be in charge of the chairman Of the com.
mittee. Philemon Faggs."
/ The plcnickersspeculateda great deal on what
was in store for their dedication. II was
nearly the middle of the afternoon when Phile-
| mon arrived with a covered wagon. On the
| front seat was a proud companion, Johnny
Lynch Philemon selected an open meadow a
available spot for the exhibition. To that
| spot the entire picnic party followed the
| wagon. The horses we're unhitched and Phile-
/ mon. beneath the cover OF the wagon, poured
| chemicals into two esrthen retorts, which
/ fixed and hissed He threw two rubber tubes
over the tailboard and Johnny Lynch spread
| on the grass a roll Of yellowish brown material.
To this attached a tube. The stopcock
turned. the oiled silk bulged and almost in one
voice the crowd exclaimed:
| Its a baiioonf
| A stake was driven and when the gas bag ex-
banded to nearly the size Of load Of hay 1t
was anchored to the stake.
Are you going up in it. Johnny" said one
Of his schoolmates to the young assistant, who
WAS as much inflated with pride as the balloon
was with gas.
Nav" replied Johnny. in a rebuking tone
People don't go up in them kind Of baliooAs. -
When the first gas bag WAS inflated another
was laid out on the grass and the tubing at
taehed. The retorts Kissed and fixed some
more as they were recharged and agitated and
il was not long before four balloons were an
chored side by side, swaying like monster bub-
bles in the gentle breeze.
From the wagon Philemon took a reel OF fine
wire. He attached two threads of it to No. l.,
which scared Iazily aloft as it was released
from its anchorage. The wire spun out merrily
and the apparent size Of the balloon diminished
as II continued Its upward flight. A blue tag
on the running wire passed from the spool and
at this point Philemon checked the ascent On
the tag was II 600 feet. and the crowd knew
nat at vrb tch bof
hoated. Cutting the wires Philemon attached
them TO an instrument in the wagon.
Are your horses all well hitched?" he in
quired of the gaping crowd. Being assured
that they were, he touched the button.
The crash was like that Of . thousand dvna-
mite blasts exploded simultaneously. Women
and children screamed. and men nearly jumped
out OF their boots. By rights the girls ought
TO have tainted. but country girls do not faint
That Is an accomplishment of the drawing room
and boudoir. Philemon himself was consider
ably startled, but he retained his nerve. Like
dirty snow flakes little patches Of the balloon
descended, and In watching these the picnickers
found something to divert them from the sur
prise of the shock.
Don't do that again. Phil" was the remon-
STRANGE that came from all sides, only q few
wicked boys present manifesting any desire for
repetition Of the terrific blast.
"Ihe others will only give display Of fancy
toaoEs, rdfu fHHefuOn. untfutntUlly, out II
was reassuring. and everybody, including
Eleanor and her escort, wanted the exhibition
to proceed. The remaining gas bags were sent
heavenwsrd with electrical attachments SINH
lar to that applied to No. /.
.'Oh. LOOK AT the smoke :" cried O voice.
In the heavens where the balloon had ex-
ploded there was a misty, nebulous cloud, the
area Of which seemed to be slowly charging.
The vaporous mass passed in the eyes of the
pienickers for smoke, but caused a grim and
devilish smile to ornament Philemon's face.
One of the balloons. drifted by a current of air,
noated into the misty mass above, and Phile-
mon again touched the button.
Bangi!.
The explosion which followed was q counter
part of the first, but the shock in itself was BY
no means 80 terrifying the atmospheric dis
turbances it created in the heavens The harm
less looking mist changed to a huge dark cloud,
the edges of which seemed to be unrolllng in
black smoke. Each upturned face felt the
splash of a drop Of water and terror reigned.
Bang.., Bang.,!
The two remaining balloons were exploded
almost IN the same second. The seething cloud
above seemed to settle down and in an instant
empty an ocean OF water the crowd. In
binding sheets the rain dashed downward. and
there was a stampede for the shelter of the
neighboring woods. So far as any protection
was afforded the move was useless. From the
branches of the trees the resistless downpour
streamed in riyuiets, adding measure of twigs.
bark and dead leaves, each moment the rainfall
becoming more terrific
At the foot of a spreading maple crouched
Charley Gimp. vainly endeavoring to shelter
Elesnor. a needless task, by the way, as an ad-
ditional lake OF two Of water could not have in
creased her drenching. From the tail Of his
blazer dripped two streams, one red and one
blue, representing the stripes in that garment
His sash swathed him like a dishrag and his
tan shoes were invisible in the puddle of water
IN which they stood.
Through tue binding torrent Of rain came
Philemon He had on a rubber overcoat and
gum boots. He also had an umbrella.
- Miss Fields, said he to the dripping
Eleanor, pulling a dark object from beneath
his coat, here is a gossamer and q pair of
ovsrshoes- Please accept them and would be
glad TO drive you home in my covered spring
wagon IL Mr.. Gimp will excuse you"
''Oh, thanks; you are too kind" said Eleanor
with such look of unmistakable gratitude that
the miserable Gimp could do nothing
but surrender possession With the heavens
still raging Eleanor was lifted into the covered
wagon and the curtains drawn. Johnny Lynch
still heroic and proud of his personal connec-
ton with the disturbance, occupied the front
seat and did the driving
How can l ever repay your kindness, Mr..
rags! asked Eleanor, her mind full Of the
terrible predicament Of those they had left be-
hind.
Easily enough, Miss Fields-by promise"
What is it!''
Promise me you will never 60 to another
picnic. Miss Fi-Eleanor, with q dude who
wears blazer and a SASH
"Oh. Phil. that's easy. To tell the truth I
only care for the society of men who are sensi-
bic and thoughtful
Johnny, said Philemon, drive around BY
the way Of Huntsville. 1 want to send tele-
gram
And this was the telegram:
Hon J. NJ. Rusk, Secretary Of Agriculture.
80. -, Washington. ID. G.
PHILEMOS FAGGS.