The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-07-03


EST FOURTH OF JULY"
ness the display of fireworks, for 1t had
been reported that Elishas boys were 60
ing to make n regular spread. Every one
about, excepting the Bunkers, had been
invited in general way, and while await
ing darkness confectionery, fruit, ice
cream and lemonade were served in gener-
Gus quantities
Elisha was everywhere, and he had never
before seemed so jolly and sociable. lie
| appeared to be enjoying everything like
boy, and the people who had known him
| as a rather quiet, reserved and stern man
were astonished at his manner.
At length the time for the display OF
fireworks arrived, and the visitors assem-
bled at the back of the house, where they
could sit on grassy slope and enjoy the
spectacle. The boys had carried the box OF
fireworks down near the hoodoo well,
where everything had been prepared for
sending them off.
The first rocket sailed into the air with
graceful curve, a cheer breaking from
the lips of the spectators as 1t burst and
sent forth many colored balls that hoated
lightly away and finally faded. Then
Elisha, who had slipped away few mo-
ments before, came back and sat down
lust in time to be on hand when the an
wills, which he had loaded with an extra
heavy charge, gave roar that shook the
ground and broke dozen panes OF glass In
the windows of the house.
"Hurrah!" cried the old farmer, in
genuine delight, as he heard the jingle OF
the glass as it ratified from his windows,
accompanied by little screams of terror
from the women and girls in the party
"hurrah for the Fourth of JulyP'
l Up into the sky hissed another rocket,
and vet another, and then No one could
, tell how it came about, but freshly light
+ ed pinwheel flew from it's pivot and went
Q Sizing and spluttering right into the well
: The next instant column of fire shot up
o ward from the mouth Of the we'll with I
Q rushing sound, and the invited spectator
: clapped their hands with delight, for the.
s fancied Elisha had prepared an amazing
l. and novel surprise for them.
Q The farmer himself, however, sat staring
t Mt this unexpected display in utter bewil
! derment and he did not arouse himsel
A until one of his boys, who came running u
from the field, shook him by the shoulder
n crying:
10 Father father, the wells aflreV
h "Well, what makes her burnY" he aske
a amazedly. "The old thing smelled ba
II enough to burn, butt
n "Stone," broke in a neighbor, "tha
Of looks to me like a burning jet OF natIlra
r Rasl If so, your fortune Is made. You
RS celebration has proved fortunate one
f. and your hoodoo well Is good as a gol
T. mine"
g. In the midst Of the excitement Jeduthi
he Bunker appeared and presented himself b'
co fore Elisha, saying;
as "Mr. Stone have the pleasure OF II
forming you that Noah jackson has bee
arrested and is on his way here In custod
of detective. If you do not recover yol
ue money, you will see him properly pul
ished"
gs electromagnetic BY detectiv
III Who sent a detective arter himf"
ais IT did, sir. / was determined to Gle
50. myself of any suspicion in this matte
81 Here is the dispatch received from my q
-. ~, iec.ive notifying me he has secured II
10y man." And the message was placed
%, Elisha's unsteady fingers. when he hi
nu read 1t by the light of the burning well,
a. muttered rather dazedly:
ioe 'sWell. this has certain been the create
~ Fourth of July ever saw in all my DO
M ny, daysl"
Cho % The "hoodoo we'll" did prove &c
,n mine. 1t was plugged" TO extinguish
ne FIRE, and then syndicate came along a
~ bought the Stone farm for fabulous su
' 'it., after which they proceeded TO bore otf
~ wells and conduct the gas - town.
"a Noah jackson was tgicn d conyict'
which removed the last vestige OF s
ne, picion against Bunker from the mind
WI elisha, who acknowledged his mistt
and gave the consent asked for to the M
ria1e Of Dick and JAzzie