The morning times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-19

and fell, twisting and turning, TO the pave
| mept, amid the breathIess silence OF the
| crowd
| MY fneDd,' said JACK in his hest Spun.
ish, II must ask you to go hack the way
| you came. There is no admittance this
| way. -. will give you ten
seconds to begin the return voyage.
The luckless sailor took one glance at
| the flag lie had come so high to seize, and
another at the suggestive revolver. Then
with furious cath, be commenced TO back
down the leaden piping.
Up to that time lie had been tie he TO OF
themob. Now OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES mob
| fashion: and excavations at lis COwardicc
filled the air. stones came thick and fast,
as well. an number Of them hit the poor
wretch, as lie half clambercd down the pip
ing.
mis- defeat wrought up the rioters to
fever heat. Jack, watching from his coign
OF vantage, saw several men armed with
miskfts standing in line before the con
sulate.
FIRING ON THE FLAG.
He was right "BaDg.' wentthe muskcts,
and q shower Of lead wEistlcd across the
roof top Two or three bullets pierced the
flag; but, tatteTed AMI torn as IL was, The
gallant piece OF bunting still waved seIenely
from its staff.
"Hooray!'' shouted little Jack Talcnst.
but his shout was lost in the mighty roars
of the crowd.
"Bangl'' went the inuskets once more;
and this time their shots sped with more
effect. The Flagstaff was shorn across
as though slasie with an ax. For a brief
space the part from which floated the Rag
wavered IN m!d-air. Jack leared 10 Lis
feet fearful lest IL should fail on the side
towards the street. But the Old flag
seemed to know and cling to its natural
f.s id We u nd
dropped into the boys outstrctched arms.
'Viva!" yelled the students. "Down
with the gridiron! Long live spain!''
The smoke had cleared away and the
delighted rioters saw no flag waving OYER
the consulate. They opened their mouths
for a tremendous cheer: hut in place OF IL
cheer, there issued rorth II howl OF rage.
Fer, where the Flagstaff had been reared
stood the slender figure OF n boy, and in his
hand lie waved the shreds or the hated
"grdiron.'
"IIuoray for American cried Jack with
all the vigor OF his lungs. "HoOray for
Uncle Sam and free Cuba!''
1t was then that the maddeBcd rioters
utterly forgot themselves, and did a decd
which afterwards filled them with shame.
They gave the word 10 fire upon this de-
fenselcss boy.
Once again the guns rang out. JACK
Ta!cou, shot through the leg. staggered
from his perch. and fell heavily behind
the parapet Even there, however, he
found nerve enough 10 RAISE his arm and
give the old flag one mere whirl before be
tainted away.
PLUCKY JACK.
A troop or horses, Gathering up the
street, with sabers drawn. sent the not
ers scudding To right and left. Then the
police closed in upon the Vice consulate,
and the dgnifed mayor came with many
excuses. to make his peace with Americas
representatives.
II deeply Roget these sad events. senor,"
Re said. 1t was the work or the hot
headed rabble, headed by ii few madcap
students. PART cularly do l
regret the unfortunate loss OF bicoi.'
Less OF blcod!' repeated the vice
consul-"There has been no loss or hlold.'
Does not tie senior know? l
Am told that on your rIo:, while waving
the American nag, a boy was shot down
-
a boy,' cried the Americans; and then
Mai Talcott With fathers instinct
guessed whose boy it was.
Good heavens! 1t must have been
Jack" he exclaimed: and rushing from
the rocm. with the other Americans, and
even the dignified mayor behind him, lie
made for tie roof
Under the parapet, conscious once more,
but bleeding snrely, lay little Jack Tai
colt, the flag was tightly clutched In his
hands, and its tat,ered folds had been
stained with his blood.
A happy smile passed over his wan face
at the sight Of his father.
.Hooray, dadr' he cried: Those fcl-
lows didn't get the flag after all; did
they?''