Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1903-09-04

bdiSdiH CUPS III thut 'ncIc i"iih''
downstairs that'll send out all the
smoke you'll want
Tho Reverend Zeb was on his fec.
now. 81 don't go up In no more bal
ICONS to-day" he remarked. as he Slid
over the roofs edge. But his assertion
proved TO be an error. :Ie was In n
minority. Mace desired to be mar
ried; Hubbard was determined to give
the crowd below at the settlement the
spectacle for which their money had
been paid; and he was outvotcd. out
faced, over-persuaded fairly hustled
into adventure.
After Hester Busharcs had been
found, fastened in a lower room of the
stillhouse, ;he Bird O Paradise fed full
of balSam smoke. the ear and rigging
rightcd, four people settled themselves
in the car and the great, eg~g-shaped,
yellow monster, true to the bidding of
her strangely attircd master, rose
ma icstically from the mountain top.
There was a light westerly breeze.
Garyvillc ncsiles just to the east of Big
Turkey Track mountain. Its tiny
ii'''p''' INV wy b'H''r 40 wv Wv '''
like a lamp mat, became visible almost
Immediately. There were moments of
intense anxiety, when it seemed i'm
| possible that they should go nea
enough to be more than seen.
Lord a mighty" proancd Mace in
an agony Of Impotence. "Looks like
this is the biggest fool tontraption ever
made by man. Ef n follcr had a bit in
its mouth, or u paddle to steer with,
evcn-but 10 set up here an let the
wind blow We
Easy, my friend counsclcd Hub
bard, speak well o. the bridge that
carries you safe over. The Bird q
Paradise, she's a-goin' like n dove to
the ark. ! believe you'd ruLhcr be here
than back in your recent quartcrs?'
Mace looked In IIeStcr's eyes and
agreed that he was an ,ngratcful dog.
Hubbard laid aside coat. vest. tic and
what proved TO be n false shirt front
commonly called a dickcy. and APP
pcarCd glorious in furnished ~spanFlcS
about neck and breast.
Hester Galcd upon him with wide
awe-illed eyes. 1t was the cxpcricnc,
Of n lifetime. sometime to tell to hen
children and grandchildren, to be Sc
near a Snowman" And the presence
Of Mace robbed it Of all IMPROPERLY
that ever present bugbcar of Rustic
femininity.
Mace had "A happy inspiration. Say
look hycr, let MIR. Pussy marry " RICH
nUW-wc hain't Soin' to cit to Gary
vile in this thing he pleaded.
yes, W" are Hubbard returned
staring intcntly down, his hand on IT,,
valV" rop" "By George, | wouidn'
have believed II. We've struck a cur
rent that's going to carry rs RICH
smack over III" fair grounds
II was true; the race track. crowd
booths and stalls, were almost d'rectl,
below them, and lay in their line o
advance. Hubbard began 10 descend.
The shouting Of the crowd could no,
be heard the crowd itself was visible
t and discntanglcd itself into individu
, ais, like ants running about an an
heap.
} Hester clun& in silence to her lover
''''. Ct '''f''' - ~ az nv
| q mountain belle could command, f.
l she had expected to 20 to the cclcLra
ton az Garyvillc-indcCd, she was &C
r. ing To it now, ana 20 her W weddin
as wcll. You reel on Fain'S dow
$ there she inquired finally, looking 9
the ant Hill and the mis-. II was yer
! difficult 10 be afraid Oh a brother d
such long range, and when your unlr
%tcrrrpled view was permitted 10 re
I duce him to su"h ~cpntoElptiblc dimcI
siunS.
@ III" balloon. however, was row s
b much lover that people began to loo
like people, though strangely tOr'
@ shortened and distorted, Hester, Mac
n aud Brother Pussy pa2cd lascinatc
and no wonder; for, from this heigh
= q man directly below presented hin
g sell az a hat moving along upon tt
i ground, from which were thrust "A pa
of feet, and beside which two sho
arms wapglcd.
# Hubbard undid Il package Of har
bills, and all four Joined In THROWN
them ont. The %acronaut, KNOWN
It nothing of mountain people and mOuI
tain ways, failed to appreciate the dal
l. ger in which not only his passenge
n but his beloved balloon might be fro
l. Busharcs' rife. The Reverend he
,r however. touched his sleeve, cautio
A, ing, Better moi sit down too clos
o Fain Bushcrcs Is a good shot; but u
way this here thing wobbles. Ii
l. mighty apt to miss Mace an hit "
IT or ne"
IS 'iiow far will a rifle ball carry