The Holly chieftain., 1899-06-30


But somebody had been up in that cor
ner lately. How otherwise could the
dust have been brushed away and the
spiders web broken? True wondered
idly what anybody could have been
there for, and then sudden thought
struck him that sent the blood rushing
to his head, and made him for a moment
feel faint and dizzy. In another mo-
mcnt he was climbing up those beams
nimbly as only squirrel or boy could
climb. He put his hand under the heap
of shavings and chips, and il touched
something very hard and cold. He
dashed off the chips and shavings with
which it was covered, and disclosed
the bell tongue.
True wanted to shout for joy, but he
knew that he needed all his strength
just now, and restrained himself. He
could not have lifted the bell tongue,
even if he had not been obliged to cling
to beam with one hand, but he could
draw it along to the edge of the scat
folding, and then with one mighty ef-
fort, he pushed it off. 1t came to the
floor with a crash that seemed as If it
might arouse all Cherryfeld, and cer-
tainly did effectually arouse the two
sleeping boys, who sprang to their feet,
Rob with svague impression that it
was the report of a cannon. and that his
time had now come to fight something.
1t was happy moment when they
realized that the bell tongue was found,
though Tenney did grumble that they
ought to have been smart enough to
find it yesterday" True thought that
ii he hadn't been awake when that sun
beam struck the corner, they never
would have found it, for who would
have thought that anybody would car
ry it away up there to hide it?
1t was no small undertaking to re-
place the tongue in the bell. but, after
much lifting and struggling, it was
done. however. Then they all pulled
with will, and clang that almost
deafened them came from the bell.
Sleeping Cherryfield was aroused in
very few minutes, and asked, in amaze
ment. what was the matter. The new
fire engine was taken out with rush
and clamor. But where was the fire?
People ran wildly about and nobody
semed to know. The most mystified
man was old Sandy McVie, who ran out
of the house in n maze of fbewilderment,
and declared that the bell was be-
witched. How else could it 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 still the bell rang wildly and
clamorously, as such sober-minded
old church bell was never known to ring
before. The spirit Of half a dozen
Fourths of July seem to possess ii.
People on the outskirts of the town
began to think TINT the selectmen had
repented of not celebrating the Fourth,
and were making amends by celebrat-
ing the 5th, and they came hurriedly
driving into the village to see what
was the matter.
AT length somebody more courageous
than Sandy Movie insisted upon going
into the church TO investigate, and
Sandy went to get the key. The dis
covery that it was gone put a new
face upon the matter. and Sandy's sus-
picions reverted to the boys whose
plans he had overheard, and he volun-
teered to break open a window and
lead the search.
Rosy Movie at that time was pulling
the bedclothes over her head, and Won
dering what would become of her, and
resolving never again to 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 not likely to forget her resolve,
although she was never found out. The
boys agreed that they would never be
SO mean as to tell on girl, anyway"
and they were always supposed to have
stolen the key from Sandy Mcvie's
closet themselves.
When they heard the footsteps of
their rescuers the boys ceased to ring
the bell. 1t was easy enough to open
the trapdoor from beneath. While the
boys were wondering anXiously wheth-
er it ever could be opened, Sandy Nc
Vie's head popped up out of it like
Jack-in-the-box. Rob's father came
next, and Rob-who meant to fight In
dians--threw his arms around his neck
and-cried. Rob's father had suffered
some anxiety about him, but thought
he had stayed at Borrowsvilie with
True.
Everybody agreed that the boys had
been sufficiently punished by their i'm
prisonment and the loss of their Fourth
of July fun. Even Sandy Movie said
"he guessed they wouldn't be apt to
do it again." But he may have been
somewhat softened by the compliments
which True paid him on his skill in
l. Il i. Ill