Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-04-02

| dtI@chment. Nhen all was ad luSted
he cleared his throat and stepped for
ward to make his preliminary speech.
Mr.. Chief and fellow-citizens (no,
you amt that, thank goodness, but l
guess you won't know the difference),
1T gives me great pleasure to visit your
beautiful city. l know you mean well
by having this highly cultured and in
telllgent audience all ready and wait
ing for e,but I must say amt used
to speaking on an empty stomick and
also it gifts me how I'm to charge adj
mission when you're already in. OF
course / can and viii pass the hat,
but that amt never so satisfactory, at
least not to him that's giving the show.
l suppose that stone critter is your
god. | hope you won't take offense
because l can't say that / consider him
handsome, but then it's all matter Of
taste, as the old woman said when she
kissed her COW. q guess you won't
mind messy joke down this way.)
Ladies and gents, thank you for
your kind intentions. We will now
proceed to the business Of the even
ing"
At that instant the chief rose in his
place. He was dignifed Maya of mag
nifcent physique, and his muscles
quivered under the brown satin skin
like those of high-bred horse. Turn
ing TO the idol he bowed his head nearly
to the floor, while the people swayed
like corn before the wind Waving his
hand scornfully at the Yankee and his
properties, he called up STRIPPING from
among his subjects. The boy knelt be-
fore the idol, then he was grasped by
four priests who extended him upon
the sacrifcial stone, while a fifth
brandished a stone knife over his
breast and went through the motions
of tearing out his heart, holding il
aloft in one hand, and then released the
victim.
"Wal, Mr. Chief" gasped the Amer
lean, 81 notice that other chap said
his prayers first. so l suppose you'll
allow me to do the same"
As he indicated by his movements
desire to kneel before the idol. the
chief grinned his assent, greatly
pleased with the victims apparent
readiness 10 conform gracefully TO the
requirements Of the situation. Jere-
miah considered that IL would be best
for him to pray aloud in order to dis
tract attention from certain cropping |
motions of his hands among the gar
lands Of flowers which encircled the |
pedestal. The quayer Of physical fear |
in his nasal voice made il sound pro-
foundly pious to heather ears. for |
whom the effect was not spoiled by |
any comprehension of the words.
"Sholkeouli You dad-blasted old |
bypocritei Amt there any chink in |
your rock underpinning where | can
tuck this little bit of giant powder |
happen to have along? There, you
old devil you'll blow up in about ten
minutes. Now for my last trump"
He had barely time to draw the
poles of a pocket battery from his |
sleeves down into his palms when the |
priests were upon him. He grasped
the nearest one cordially by the hand. |
His yell Of pain and surprise was eeh-
oed fiercely from the audience who
evidently longed for a more active
part in the proceedings. Jeremiah
made a quick dive for the ankle of an
other priest, who howled and went
spinning round like a dancing dervish
holding the injured member. One
after another they loosed their hold,
but they still formed a ring about him.
and il he broke through this, there
was the bloodthirsty mob Of villagers
to reckon with.
The chief shouted a suggestion
which was evidently to the effect that
since his flesh burned them they must
grasp him by his clothing. With a cry
of triumph they pinned him down so
that he could not use his hands and,
IN spite OF his writing and squirming,
they extended him on the sacriiicial
stone. 4 priest stood over him with
appraised knife. yet delaying the blow
both 10 enjoy the victims agony and
to prolong the impressive tableau for
the audience. The bloody arm had al
ready started on its descent when,
with terrific explosion, Sholkeoul
rolled from his pedestal and broke
into fragments about his throne. The
sound reverherated horribly in that
confined space. the torches were eN-
tinguished and, with piercing cries Of
terror. the people rushed in panic
down the side OF the pyramid The
shrieks Of the chief and two priests
under the debris OF their god
only FASTENED the flying feet Of the
multitude.
The Yankee sat mp on the edge OF
the sacrifcial stone. dazed. stunned
and deafened by the shock. He felt
warm and put up his hand,
10 find the blood flowing from a scalp
wound inflicted by a flying bit Of the
wrecked idol The night was so dark
hat he could barely discern the open
ngs between the pillars. He stun
bled along to the other end of the
temple. found his hat among the ruins
q