Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1892-05-13

make 1t out any more than ne had done
on the ground with the magnifier.
The crowd below passed up swing.
Govann fastened this to limbs and swung
out in free way toward the bottle, the
face steadily looking on. 1t might have
laughed in its sleeve, If it owned a
slesve, at the way Govann returned
crashing back through the boughs, hang
ing on them shreds of his clothes,
shreds, too, of his sandy hair for the
use of future nests. builders.
Govann reported that he did not OBJ
tain any additional knowledge of the
subject by that tour OF observation.
The face on the stopper was face; that
was certain.
The magnifying glass was sent up to
the investigator. Standing on one foot
In swaying branch, Govann took OBJ
servations with the magnider. He re-
ported that it was really face; mcre-
over, that it moved and 'made faces at
him.
"Surely it was some wicked spirit
the ghost of some one beheaded for
crime"
Then they fell to rediculing Govann
for the failure of his tree excursion. He
had not advanced the general informa-
tion except By stating that the face
had moved. ~ doubt the faces NOV
ing" "The motion was all in Govann's
eye"
"Taking dagucreotypes " was just then
getting around to our parts, aud. all the
people said that they'd subscribe to get
a picture taking man and his machine to
come over and take the likeness of that
red-and- yellow mystery, sitting uncon-
cerned up there.
Govann said that if they would give
him the money which it would cost to
get the things picture taken, he'd under
take to solve the mystery.5
How would he do it2 They must raise
the purse and he must see the money; he
didn't propose to wait till planters could
raise another crop and sell it before feel
ing of his money. Then, too, he must
have the help of all the men and tools
that he might need.
Govann's first call was for good axes,
sharp saws and the best Of choppers.
All the other men of the settlement stood
looking on while the axmen chopped and
the sawyers sawed at the tallest tree in
all that country-the companion through
years of storm aud sunshine Of the Bottle
Pinnacle. There were guesses and reck-
ouings about the probable happenings
when the great tree should fall. "The
bottle might be broken to pieces"
1.-THE face might fall at their feet!"
Not only the settlement but crowd
from near and far came to the tree fall
ing. And it did make a sight and a
sound worth while. The top was broad
enough to make a sky-duster. When
the folks saw the great plumy mass of
green sweeping down like forest, max
ing moving shadow like a swift storm
cloud, they held their breath, feeling
that nothing could save Bottle Pinnacle
that it must be crushed into q thou
saud fragments. But not crumb was
broken from it, though 1t was thrashed
with great green whips past numbering.
1t stood silent, unharmed.
The tree itself received a thousand
wounds, but was safely lodged against
the rock, as Govaan had planned. At
once the choppers aud sawyers began to
lop off the branches slon the massive
trunk.
Then, up the India Ia Ter formed by
the notches, Govann climbed till he
reached the rock where the bottles neck
began. There he crept out on the
shoulder, seeking hold, break in the
rock, by which he might get higher, or
for yielding spots where he might screw
in his augers.
But the pinnacle stood unyielding,
unconqueret.
lie called for the longest and lightest
ladder that the settlement could produce.
1t took the hard tugging OF score of
men to get II up to aim. II was planted
on the bottles shoulder, stayed by the
treetop.
II was now dark. by lantern
Govann climbed up and up to the lad
der's topmost round, the people watch
ing the latter mount higher ani higher
till it seemed a star. At the top he held
out aud up the lantera at arms length,
but no light was thrown on the face.
There's nothing boys won't do for
fun. They serenaded Govann, singing
"Roekaby, Baby In the Treetop."
In the morning dovaun returned to
the top OF the ladder aud lashed himself
to it. lie had rope with three lashss,
each lash ending in a loop. This triple
lasso he threw up, trying TO lssso the
face. The eeuntenanco was turned three
quarters TO him, but he could hardly get
q glimpse Of IL on account OF the pro-
jecting lodge on the bottle just below
the stopper.
lie worked at lassoing all the morning
without once touching tha face. But
just a. he heard the dinner horns Of the
settlement sounding faia. aud far he
found that his rope was caught by some
thing In the stopper, This made his
blood jump.
nFae.ng himself he pulled Al the rope
wlth all bis might. II lid not start. Ills
heart beat hard. II the rope would hold
he saw thai he could ollmb u ~ the top
OF the pinnacle. Iloldlas 10 the top at
lhe ladder, he swung all bis weight on
the Fepe. Ii held laut. Again and again
he tested ID carefully from aide 10 side II
dli not start. iIls heaIt gsew hat With
courage. "cllmh itl Up Climb III
they below shouted.
IA. l...k II sIesus A.. fka st,sasHasl tsaE4.