The record-union., 1898-02-07

see-there are two fou-. siT. eight. ten
twelve-exactly a dozen of us here. and
that will be just enough - do the job
UP ir good SHAPE. And now al who
want TO be counted in on the adventure
will please raise their right hands,
Every hand wen. up.
''All right. that settles it: the job is as
good as done. Wal your working
clothes, and meet me under the big ELM
this side of Mr.. Joggins' house at 8
O'Clock tonight"
The boys soon separated. and at
p. m. that night, punctual to agreement.
they met in the shadow of the big elm.
We'll" remarked Will Perkins, as he
looked over the crowd I'm glad tc see
that none of you backed out: and now
we will proceed to business. We've got
big job ahead eff US, and when we get
1t completed | rather think Mr. Joggins
Will have to call in his neighbors and
make a bee" Of it to get things back
Where they belong. In the first place, l
propose taking apart the blackboard
wagon that he keeps standing under the
shed of the barn. and carrying it upon
the roof Of the barn, and putting it up
together and leaving it up there. with
the wheels standing astraddle of the
rigpole. Guess it'll puzzle him and the
hired man some to get it down when
they discover it, not to mention a few
other little chores Of that kind that We'll
fix up for them before we get through.
But, come oh: We'll elevate the buck
board first, and when We're through
with that III tell YOU about the rest.
And remember. no talking above a
whisper while We're at work.
In silence the boys followed their
leader, and in a very few minutes
they had the blackboard apart and were
conveying it by piecemeal to the roof
of the barn. Young Perkins had pre-
vided himself with a monkey wrench, so
getting the wagon apart was simple
enough but the rest was not so easy.
But by the aid of two ladders. one of
which reached from the ground to the
caves Of the barn, and the other. which
had a hook at the top to hold it fast,
from the caves to the ridge board, and
strong rope, so that some of the crowd
could go ahead and pull while others
pushed behind, they soon accomplished
their purpose.
They had just got the blackboard
nicely put together and anchored as
tride the highest part OF the roof. when
an unw9come sound arrested their at
tention and sent a sudden chill over
their spirits. Some one on horseback
was turing into the lane that led to the
JogginS barn. 1t must either be Mr..
Joggins or the hired man, though the
boys supposed they were both in bed
and asleep long before this time.
Crouching down on the roof. out of
sight as far as possible, and scarcely
daring 10 breathe, the boys anxiously
awaited developments. 1t was a decid
eddy thrilling moment, and when they
heard Joggins' voice saying Hello.
What's that ladder doing there?
Thought / left it under the shed" they
would have cheerfully given all their
jackknives and other valuables to have
been safely out of the scrape.
But if JogginS had discovered theme
suspected the purpose for which the
ladder had been placed there, he made
no sign. Putting his horse into the sta
bic, he fastened the door, then removing
the ladder. he carried it back under the
shed where the boys had found it, and
went on to the house whistling to him
self.
We'll. now we are in nice fix" ut
terd Will Perkins dolefully, as the door
closed behind Joggins This ladder
won't reach half way to the ground,
even if we could spare it from where
it is. Joggins has got US freed. and
when he comes out in the morning and
discovers US here he will probably send
for the constable and have us locked
up"
Wouldn't blame him a bit if he did
said Carl Bunker. But we mustn't stay
here to be discovered. Where is the
rope we had just now up in the wagon?
Won't that reach to the ground, or far
enough SO we can drop the rest of the
way without breaking our legs or
necks?"
1T might. if we only had it here"
groaned VIII Perkins: but / threw it
down to the ground after we got this
COMPOUNDED blackboard up here. Say,
boys, TO use talking, l can't stand it
up here till daylight; I'm going to yell
for Mr. Joggins to let us down.
Yes, and get us all arrested" ut
tered Carl, reproachfully.
We'll. if we are going to be arrested
we might as well be arrested now as
III the HlOTiiIilS- u lttt tllOuSl Slsilt
more comforta BILE and safer in the lock-
up than roosting up here on the peak of
this barn all night. I'm chilled through
now. So here goes. no matter what hap
pens. Hi. there, Mr. Joggins. Halloo,
help, halloo,'
Mr.. Joggins' promptness in responding
ing to this appeal looked somewhat sus-
pioious, almost as though he had been
standing with an ear 10 the keyhole lis
tening for ii.
We'll, what's wanted?" he demanded,
sticking his head out of the door as the
final shout died away.
Were up here on the roof of the
barn. a lot of US boys. and we want TO
get down." exclaimed Will Perkins in
tones that were far from mirthful.
''Sho, you don't say" calculated jog
gins; and then, without another word
he tramped out to the barn, took the
VI