The Portland daily press., 1898-09-08

in nlotting. Giant crackers and other fire.
works were to be secretly procured and set
off in various places at the first tap OF mid
night The church bell was also to be
RING. rs usual, and two strong armed
girls were detailed for this duty. One art
ful da1nsel undertook to get possession OF
the Home guards big drum and beat 1t,
"Only shall have to make up with Joe
little" she protested pickering her lips.
Others promised to blow horns and conchs,
but the great act was to be the firing OF
tho cannon, and this the adventurous Co
lumbia reserved for herself.
s'They'd never believe we could do that.
but I've watched them lots of times, and
I know we can. I wouldn't miss it for
anything. 1 shall want you, Hilda era
ham, to help me, and you, Mamie Miller.
The three of us can manage it, I'm sure.
This cannon was rusty relic OF the
Mexican war, procured from the govern
ment for Fourth of July purposes in the
days when Rustival esteemed itself
model of patriotism. 1t was kept housed
in an open shed at the top of a slight rise
of ground just outside the village.
ave won't try>to move it down." said
Columbia "We'd best shoot it off right
where it stands.
At last the night of great events had
come, to be signalized by a new revolt
against overbearing tyranny. All Rusti-
val was asleep apparently except Joel Slo-
cum, who uneasily paced his porch and
listened at the gate, still haunted by vague
apprehensions anent them striped petit
coats.
Suddenly the still moonlight was Jared
by the sharp clang of a bell. Peal after
neal sang out with clashing and discordant
precipitancy like a fire alarm. Then there
burst forth an unearthly shrilling and
souawking Of horns and conchs and a
suffering and banging OF firecrackers of
all dimensions joel rushed out into the
street, to be greeted by the kissing rush Of
a mountain rocket, and the meteoric
glare. as it exploded and spilled downward
it's shower of particolored sparks, showed
him that the aforesaid striped petit
coats'' were abundantly in evidence. A
moment later came the roar of the cannon
from the hill, jolting the ear and rattling
all the window panes with its harsh con-
| cussion.
Meanwhile the fair artillery corps were
standing in terrific triumph by their FUN
II thought was just blown to atoms"
screamed Mamie, still dancing about
"Lucky you didn't stay behind it,
| Clumby. That was real cute plea of
yours to set it off with firecracker. See,
! it's kicked hole right through the back
of the shedl'
"And isn't the smell perfectly awful"
cried Hilda, sneezing
81 rather like the smell of gunpowder
myself, - answered Columbia stoutly, but
she, too, ehoked and sneezed.
s'Now for another onel'' shouted Mamie.
"Hurry up, Clumby, before anybody
comes But we've hardly any newspaper
left for wadding. I'd no idea the old
thing would take SO much. What will we
do2''
GIVE seen the boys use grass" replied
the resourceful captain.
So, with straining arms and heroic dis
regard of CRIME, they pulled their heavy
ordnance back into position and filled it
nearly to the muzzle with armfuls of dewy
grass, ramming it home with all their
strength.
Don't be afraid. They always fill it
clear up!' painted Columbia, breathless
with her exertions.
"You didn't forget to put in the pow
der?"
''Not l." she responded. "That would
be girl trick, wouldn' t it?"
At that moment shouts were heard at
the foot of the hill. She hastily adjusted
the printing and sprang to her feet. A
throng of dark, gesticulating figures were
pressing up the slope, Joel Slocum at the
head of the column.
"You leave alone that cannonl' he bel
lowed as he oantered toward them like an
angry bull. "You shoot that gun again
an I'll have you jailed"
"Put 'em under the pumpl' bawled an
other of the gallant party.
"Look out for yourselves! It's goingW
rang out the shrill, sweet treble of the cap
tain, keyed to concert pitch by intense ex-
element.
The fuse was already sparkling and
splitting gushes of fire. She stood in it's
fltful light, aglow with color. Then the
air was rent with a tremendous detona-
ton, and both the cannon and its inclos-
ing shed had vanished.
|. Slocum was hit full and fair by the
huge wad of pulpy grass. Lucky for him
be was no nearer Stained green from
head to foot he lay writhing and raging
like blistered snake.
"She's a-killin folksT' he yelled. "She
fred right at usl Tar an feathers is too
good fer herl'' And the crazed mob took
up the cry.
But the girls also had vanished. The
two aids had fed in shrieking panic, but
as the storm of threats broke upon her
Columbia staggered to her feet, cropping
for support, little stream of blood trio
king from her forehead. "Stand back p
she cried family. "Don't you dare touch
met"
"Stand back, you scoundrels"
A clear, strong, menacing voice came
like an echo with a reyeille Of hoof beats
from the farther slope of the hill. A young
cavalry officer, closely followed by a squad
of his men, drew rein beside her. He lift
ed the girl to the saddle and drew a big
revolver.
"This gun shoots leadp' he warned
them. "Don't you advance another step.
/ suspected there might be trouble tonight
in a despicable little town where they re-
spect neither country nor women"
sAre you badly hurt, sweetheart ht
asked tenderly as they rode away.
"No, Edmund; only little cash on my