Middletown transcript., 1896-07-04

nSt uPuiOuc cnae SiOio Wuuiu ALI III
companion, on the ground that dea,
men-and boys-tell no tales. Som
Of them looked SO fierce and gesticu
lated so wildly that he was sure they
must be advocating the most extreme
measures, What could he do to saw
: his friendP Return to the village and
summon help? All, mol Help woult
! only arrive too late. Should he rusf
out fling himself upon the desperadoel
] in his companions defense9 Thai
would be utter foolisliness- weal
,boy against half dozen brawny men,
| All! A thought like an inspiration
| flushed over him the giant firecrack-
ersl
| Cautiously be ranged them side by
| side on top of tho rock. There we're
eight of the big cylinders in all. Then
he lighted the fuses, one after another,
and, sliding down into the path, ran
back for few yards
S-Z-z-Z went the fusesl How the boy Is
heart throbbed as the powder sparks
began to fly out. Suddenly tremen-
dous report rang through the silent ra-
vine, waking tliunderous echoes among
the rocks. Then followed another,
and another, and then perfect yolley
of reports. till it seemed as il the very
cliffs would split with the echoes.
AS tie loud reports began to ring
through the glen the smugglers, think
ing that whole detachment of Uncle
Sans revenue officers must be upon
them, fled in the ildest confusion.
Alec was left standing alone, with
hands bound, near the scattered en-
bers of the campfire. Judge of his as
tonishment and delight when Tom
bounded into sight, exclaiming:
"Hurrah for the giant firecrackersI
They did the business that time and no
mistakep With quick slashes of his
knife Tom cut the cords which bound
Alec's arms, and then the two boys fled
back in the direction from which they
had come, laughing conyulsively every
now and then in spite of their haste
and terror at the spectacle presented
by the six stafwart men fleeing from
bunch of firecrackers.
There was no more thought of climb
ing old Baldtop that day. The boys
hastened back to the village, aud soon
the story of the smugglers was in every
body's mouth. Sheriff Smith got to-
gether posse of men, armed with guns
and reyolvers, inside of ON hour, and
guided by the boys they made quick
time for the Notch.
Meanwhile the smugglers, finding
that they had fled on false alirm had
returned to their camp and were hast
lily packing up their contraband goods,
knowing that their escaped captive
would surely give the alarm as soon as
possible. But Sheriff Smith was a
shrewd man and understood both the
lay of the land and the probable tac-
tics of the smugglers. So, instead of
taking his entire force into the Notch
he sent FIVE men over the course taken
by the boys, and with the other four
went himself across the spur of the
mountain to the farther end of the
pass, thus penning the smugglers in a |
trap.
The smugglers, as the sheriff had ex-
pected, attempted to escape from the
Notch as they had entered it, little ex- |
pecting to meet their pursuers in that !
direction. But as they were hurrying
out of the narrow deflle, incumbered
by their packs, FIVE men suddenly |
started up from behind as many bowl |
ders and presented their cooked guns
at the fugitiyes' heads.
Surrender" cried the sheriff, "or
you are all dead menl''
Every pack was dropped 70 the
ground, and up went six pairs of hands
1t was u complete surprise and a blood
less capture. The smugglers were
marched off to the county seat and
lodged in Jail that very night. And
the next day the city papers had col
umn accounts of the heroism of the
boys and the wonderful effects pro-
duced by the eight giant firecrackers.
s'Bv the way,n said Sheriff Smith to
Tom AID Alec few days later, "there
was hand some reward offered for the
capture Of those rascals. Did you
know it. boys?"
"Nop' exclaimed the boys. Nv 70
do You suppose will get iip''
ssYou viii" replied the sheriff. with
a twinkle in his eye, provided you'll
ride over to the county treasurer's
with me tomorrow and sign a receipt
for the money. Philadelphia Press.