Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1894-02-28

and empty. See his letter.
opened letter pasted on the side of
the shell and prepared to read it aloud,
but at the first line my countenance ex-
pressed surprise, then anxiety, for every
one exclaimed:
"What is the matter"
"Alas," | said, "listen, and l will
read 1t:
DEAR FRIEND-I send the shell requested.
Only Il has been impossible to find an artillery
man who knew how to unload 1t. Make him
carry 1t to the house Of the armorer near the
entrance to the opera house, who can do 1t
very skillfully. Take the greatest care. The
least blow, the least friction, for 1t is only the
thickness Of paper, and the shell will ex-
plode"-
was interrupted by cries of fear.
"Take it away" cried Mime. Dutailly.
at is terriblel this shell in my drawing
rooml"
"Alasl" said l, extending my hand.
"Do not touch it."
"Be calml Be assured The artillery
man who brought it will take it away"
'But, SIR" said the servant, who stood
trembling on the doorsill, "he has al
ready gone"
New EXPLANATIONS.
"Then," said l, sit is p
II forbid you," quickly cried Dutailly.
"You have not the strength to carry
that all the way to the opera house."
"You will only let it fall on the stair
case or in the ante-room.
Nine. Dutailly chung to me.
mot you; it is too dangerousl not
your
"This," said Dutailly, sis the deed of
a soldier, strong soldier; happily the
captain is thatl"
"Ir' said the captain.
Eyes, you are as strong as a Turk and
can do such deeds. You play with balls
end shells as schoolboy plays with
marbles and footballr'
Pardon The, pardon me-" objected the
captain, growing pale, sit is she'll
the DEVIL Can't you wait until to-mor.
row to have it taken away?'
''Whatr' cried Mme Dutailly, "to.
morrow? Why, cannot close my eyes
all night | shall go to hotel to sleepr
Then Anatole said, quietly:
Remain at home, madame; will
carry away the shell.
Dutallly stopped him.
"You are a fool, my dear boy, just
convalescent with your weak arm. Dc
you wish to blow up the house2"
Truly" said l, "this is not the tasl
Of q weak man."
"But the captain" said Dutailly, 90
have confidence only in him. Go quick
ly, captain, take the monster and deliver
us from this nightmare"
The captain at this moment felt badly
that was evident, but he was not discon
certed by SO small matter. Surely,
said he, smiling, "that is my right.
only wished to say, as you interrupted
me several times, that to take this oh
ject and to walk is too dangerous. It il
slippery, and single false step NIGH
kill ten people in the street. To take Il
in a carriage is the only way"
But a carriage" replied Dutailly, IA
this time? They are nearly all required
, for ambulances."
''True," said the captain. Genera
Smith, who brought me to your house
dimes at the Brabant, and his carriage Il
waiting at the door of the restaurant.
will ask him to loan it to me, as he Is q
friend Of mine. 1t is done. Taking time
to buckle on my sword belt and go there
it will be ten minutes or a quarter of al
hour more"
$50 quickly" said Nine. Dutailly
Il shall not live longer than that time.
~ will run, dear madame" Saying
this, the captain took his military cal
and cloak and went. By the way he rar
down the stairs it was evident he was In
hurry.
| went back to the drawing room
where fear reigned. Mime. Dutailly
wavered between the wish to fly and the
desire to watch over the shell. Withou,
seeming to do SO, looked out into the
moonlit street.
at would have been so easy to let me
take it," murmured Anatole.
"Be SILENT" replied Dutailly, little
surprised by the quiet courage of this
boy. at is better the captain should
do it"
Provided" groaned madame, she
does not wait too long"
He will wait, dear lady," said gay
ly. You may count on that. For he
will never come back"
HE will never come back?"
Certainly not. The way to go to the
Brabant House is to take the right hand
street; he went to the left and very
quickly"
"What do you mean?"
81 wish to say, friend Dutailly, that
your captain is an impostor, and re-
joice to have dismounted the batteries
of this boaster by the aid of this engine
Then taking photograph album
struck blow on the top Of the shell
which broke into thousand pieces-oi
chocolate, and scattered on the carpet a
volley of sugar plums, burned almonds
and pistachio nuts.
A shout Of laughter greeted the explo-
sion, and, may say, the climax.
Three months later Anatole married
Gertrude.