The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1899-06-30

much lifting and struggling. IL was
done. however. Then they an pulled
with a will. and a clang that almost
dealcned them came from the bell.
Sleeping Cherryfield was aroused in q
very few minutes. and asked. ia amaze
ment. what Was the matter. The new
fire engine was taken out with a rush
and clamor. But where was the tire?
People ran wildly about and nobody
seemed 20 know. The most aystified
man was old Sandy McNie. who ran out
OF the house in maze Of bewildermen..
and declared that the bell was be-
witchcd- How else could il ring with
out tongue? And how could any hu-
man being get into the church when the
door was securely locked. and no win
dow broken. as anybody could see?
And sill the bell rang wildly and
clamorouslv. as such a sober-minded
old church bell was never known to ring
before. The spirit of half dozen
Fonrihs ~ July seem 10 possess IL.
People on the outskirts OF the town
began 20 think that the sciecimen had
repeniea u not celebrating the Fourth.
and were making amends by celebrat-
ing the 5ih. and they came hurriedly
driving into the village to see what
was the matter.
~ length somebody more courageous
than Sandy McNie insisted upon going
into the church 20 investigate. and
Sandy went 10 got tho key. The dis
covery that IL was gone put a new
face upon the matter. and Sandy's sus-
PIGEONS reverted 70 tie boys whose
plans he had overheard. and he volnn-
tccrcd 20 break open q window and
lead the search.
Rosy Movie at that time was pulling
the becclothes over her head. and won
dering what would become OF her, and
resolving never again 10 touch key
or anything else that she had no right
to. for all the candy in the world.
Candy was good. but. OH. how bad was
the terror she was suffering now, And
Rosy is rot likely 70 forget her resolve.
although she was never found out. The
boys agreed that they would never be
SO mean as 10 tell on girl. anyway"
and they were always supposed TO have
stolen the key from Sandy McNie's
closet themselves.
When they heard the footsteps Of
their rescucrs the boys ceased TO ring
the bell. 1t was easy enough 10 open
the trapdoor from beneath. While the
boys were wondering anNiomsly wheth-
Ct il ever could be opened. Sandy Me-
Nie's head popped up out Of it like
Jack-in-t he-box. Eob's father came
next, and Rob-who meant 10 Lght In
dians-th-ew his arms around his neck
and-cried. Eob's father had suffered
some anxiety about him. but thought
lie had stayed at Borrowsyille with
True.
Everybody agreed that the boys had
been sufficiently punished by their i'm
prisonmcnt and the loss Of their Fourth
Of July fun. Even Sandy McNie said
he guessed they wouldn't be apt TO
do il again But he may have been
somewhat softened by the compliments
which True paid him or his skill in
hiding the bell tongue.
The bows didn't care TO say much
about their adventure. They felt a II
the trick they had tried 10 play had
been turned upon themselves. When
True's Eor-owsville cousins asked him
what kind Of Fourth he had had. be
replied. carelesslv:
-Oh. sky-high one."
Which was certainly truer than the
cousins. who had their own opinion
Of Cherryfeld celebrations. believed.
But those three boys viii never ring
another church bell without leave
Sophie SWEET. in Golden Days.