The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1903-11-13

!"
sought the proprietor of the show and
introduced himself.
What can do for your" asked that
black mustached, bediamoned individ-
ual
I'D like to have one of the wild ami
mails escape" said Ernest.
The proprietor leaned against red
wagon and gasped: "Well, I've heard
of nerve, but never met the real article
before" he said weakly.
I'm not so particular about having
1t escape, as about having an an
nouncement made that 1t has escaped, u
Ernest continued. "Such reports are
rather common, and usually are copied
in the newspapers-with the name OF
the circus" he added insinuatingly.
The proprietor showed signs of ap-
probation. 81 won't ask what your
object is, because am thoroughbred
myself. but what do get?" he said.
you get the advertising, and I'll
pay for the kilograms to the papers, -
Ernest replied.
care you particular about the kind
of animal?" asked the Snowman.
ga wildcat will do" Ernest said.
briefly.
1t needed no press reports to spread
the information that a wildcat was
roaming about Clear Water Springs.
An announcement from the circus pro-
prietor was sufficient Everyone in the
vicinity knew it the next day, and the
number of people who had seen and
heard the imaginary beast was surpris-
ing. BY the end of the week this num-
Der had increased, and general uneasi-
ness had diminished.
Meanwhile Ernest Lawrence had Wis
ited youth named Bob Wheelock,
who was popularity supposed to be des-
tined for the gallows-unless electrical
execution interviewed.
Ernest told Bob Of a contrivance
which had been favored by the preced-
ing generation of small boys. The COM
ponents were a tin can with a hole in
the bottom and a piece of resin-cov-
cred string penetrating the hole. BY
proper manipulation of the string this
instrument produced sounds which
acutely affected the nerves, and even
the spinal column. Bob was enchant-
ed, and received coin Of the realm and
private instructions from Ernest.
That evening when Ernest sat on the
Proctor veranda with Grace and the
ever-present Miss Harriet, his New
England conscience rumbled ominous-
ly, but he stilled its mutterings. Con-
versatiOn swung round the local orbit,
touched the wildcat, and then was de-
f1ected by Ernest to the supposed ner-
vousness Of the two women, alone in
the house and unprotected. Again his
conscience rumbled.
Finally, when darkness set in, Ern-
est suggested q walk to the border Of
the orchard to see an eclipse of the
moon, which was scheduled in the
weekly paper.
1t was still, calm night, and when
the confines of the orchard were passed
the three people looked up at the orb
of night, which, with no swift-moving
clouds to emphasize its movements,
calmly returned their stare. A small,
film-like crescent of black was slowly
invading it's edge.
"The eclipse seems to be on time"
said Ernest, nervously consulting his
watch.
The eyes of Miss Babcock and Grace
were fixed on the encroaching spot of
black. A figure in the orchard crept
toward them; then came a gentle
squeak. Miss Harriet turned from her
observation of the moon.
A wall, starting low and TREMENDOUSLY
and rising slowly, disturbed the
silence. Miss Harriet grasped Ernest's
arm so tightly that his muscles ached.
Again came the wall, rasping, defiant
and nerve-racking.
Miss Baboock gasped one word,
Wildcat" and fed toward the house.
Ernest Lawrence dashed into the
depths of the orchard, something
crashed through the underbrush and
two shots sounded in quick succession.
On his return to the house Ernest
found all the doors and windows
locked When he secured an entrance
Grace Proctor, pale but calm. was
soothing her aunt.
1t was rather late when Ernest went
home, and as he swung jauntily down
the path Miss Babcock said to her
niece: 81 think l was wrong about
that young man. He seems to have
qualities that atone for his shiftless-
ness"
Three months later, when the moon
again glowed softly, sounds of revelry
came from the Proctor house. There
had been an evening wedding, and a
reception was in progress. A momen-
tary silence was broken by a long,
penetrating wall from the orchard
Before his bride or his trembling aunt
in-law could stop him Ernest Lawrence
rushed out after the wildcat
When he returned all was silent in
the orchard. Bob Wheelock was wend-
ing his solitary way homeward. A five
dollar bill was clutched in his hand,
and in his mind was the thought Of a
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