Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-05-08
that I felt pledged to my best effort.


"Well," / said, FIRST the poster. We
must beat them in that
He brought me large sheets Of brown
paper, and after two hours hard work
I had half dozen pictorial showbills
done in gorgeous colors and striking
designs. They were good, if do say it
myself.
The turkey, the magic lantern, the
Punch and Judy show were all there,
the last with crowd before it in gap
ing delight. A few explanatory words
were thrown in, emphasizing the high
ly artistic nature of the Punch and
Judy entertainment
Craig was delighted and proceeded to
perfect his plans. He had some half
dozen young men, four young. ladies
and eight or ten matrons upon whom
he could depend for help. These he or
ganized into vigilance committee
charged with the duty Of preventing
miners and lumbermen from getting
away to Slavin's.
1.-The critical moments will be imme-
diately before and after dinner and
then again after the show is over" he
explained. 1.-THE first two crises must
be left to the care of Punch and Judy,
and, as for the last, am not yet sure
what shall be done" But saw he had
something in his head, for he added, 81
shall see Mrs. Mavor."
''Who is Mrs. Mavor?" I asked.
But he made no reply. He was a
born fighter, and he put the fighting
spirit into us all. We were bound to
win.
The sports were to begin at O'clock
BY lunchtime everything was in readi-
ness. After lunch l was having quiet
smoke in Craig's shack when in he
rushed. saying:
"The battle will be lost before it is
fought. If we lose Quatre Bras, we
shall never get to Waterloo"
whats up"
"Savn, just now. The miners are
coming in. and he will have them in
tow in half an hour"
He looked at me appealingly. 1 knew
what he wanted.
"All right I suppose must, but it
is an awful bore that man can't have
a quiet smoke"
you're not half bad fellow" he
replied, smiling. II shall get the la
dies to furnish coffee inside the booth.
You furnish them intellectual nourish-
ment in front with dear old Punch and
Judy"
He sent a boy with bell round the
village, announcing. punch and Judy
in front of the Christmas booth be-
side the church." and for three-quar-
ters of an hour | shrieked and sweated
in that awful little pen. But it was
almost worth it to hear the shouts Of
approval and laughter that greeted my
performance. 1t was cold work stand
ing about, so that the crowd was quite
ready to respond when Punch. after
invited all into the booth for the hot
coffee which Judy had ordered.
In they trooped, and Quatre Bras
was won.
No soNler were the miners safely en-
gagged with their coffee than I heard a
great noise of bells and OF men shout
ing. and on reaching the street | saw
that the men from the lumber camp
were coming in. Two immense sleighs,
decorated with ribbons and spruce
boughs, each drawn by four horse
team gayly adorned, filled with some
Gfty men, singing and shouting with
all their might. We're coming down the
/ hill road at full gallop. Round the cor
nor they swung. dashed at full speed
across the bridge and down the street
/ and pulled up after they had made the
circuit of n block. to the great admra-
ton OF the onlookcrs. Among others,
Slavin sauntered up good naturedly,
making himself agreeable to Sandy
and those who were helping to unhitch
his team.
ooh. YOU need not take trouble with
me or my team, Mike Savn. Batch
ces and Inc and the boys can look after
them fine" said Sandy coolly.
This rejecting of hospitality was per-
fectly understood by Slavin and by ALL
Oats too bad, heh?" said Baptiste
wickedly "And, Sandy, he's got good
money on bis pocket for sure too"
The boys laughed, and Slavin, join
ing in, turned away with koefe and
Blaney. but by the look in his eye
knew he was playing Br'er Rabbit and
lying low.
Mr.. Craig just then came up.
"IIello, boys! Too late for Punch
and Judy. but just in time for hot cot
fee and doughnuts."
"Bon. OATS fuss rate" said Bap
tiste heartily. "Where you keep him"
up in the tent next the church
there. The miners are all in"
"Ah. OATS so? OATS bad news fol
the shanty mon, heh, Sandy said Tho
little Frcnohman dolefully.
There We're a cothesba sket full o.
doughnuts and boiler of coffee lef
as | passed just now" said Craig en-
couragingly.
"Allons, mes garcons. Nite! Never
say keel" cried Baptiste excitedly
stripping off the harness.
But Sandy would not leave the horses
till they were carefully rubbed down
blanketed and fed, for he was entered
for the four horse race, and it behoov
ed him to do his best to win. Besides
he scorned to hurry himself for any
thing so unimportant as eating. Tha
he considered hardly worthy even O
Baptiste. Mr.. Craig managed to &c