The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1903-10-03

unmel0dious howls, coming apparently
from ne roof abova
"Ez mat your bird-a-your bird q
paradise29 Mace inquired
Hubbard arose with great alacrfey.
sIt's the preacher I brought with me.
/ forgot him. He's hitched in the
ropes, and when the balloon careens
it's likely to rake him over the shingles
some. Get me that hatehet, will you?
And would you please come and help
me get him loose?" 1t was plain that
whatever the oddly of Mace's predica-
nent, it could extort but wavering at
tention from one whose own affairs
were in such pressing disorder. A bali
loon. The matter began to unrayel it,
self before Mace. To this mountain
man there was nothing strange in hav-
ing a prospective brother-in-law sud-
denly turn assassin; but the manner
Of this which began TO present itself
as deliverance, was indeed wildly alb
surd.
Names Hubbard, as l told you.
Was making an ascent down there at
Garyville. Balloon got away with me
before / was ready-me and the
preacher. We was to have brought up
a couple with us and married 'em
one thousand feet in air. Hesjerked
out the sentences as the two men
climbed to the roof.
The preacher. VINO was Of the noun
tain variety, was not resigning himself
to death without effort. He had his
pocket knife out and was hacking val
iantly at the ropes, whenever he could
reach one. Hubbard sprang upon him
almost savagely. Hold on there, my
dear sir" he demonstrated. "I1l cut
the right ones
Amy rope that's ho1din' me is the
right one to cut" the Reverend Zeb
Pussy asserted with emphasis.
"Do you know Fain Bushares?' Mace
inquired, abruptly, as the two men
worked at the ropes.
Haven't the pleasure of the gentle
mans acquaintance-but should be
glad of the opportunity, if he's a friend
o yourn," returned the aeronaut,
Blandly, as he struggled with the big,
bullying captive and its netting Of
ropes.
"Say, look here, is this thing a-goin'
to rise up when we git her cut
a~-loosa2" Mace inquired.
why, l think it will hope it will.
My notion is to make the ascension
from here. if the gear can be olsen
tangled, and drop down in or near
Garyville. That will satisfy the crowd,
I hope, even if we haven't a couple to
marry!"
A couple to marry! Ideas were COM
ing fast to Mace; q plan so brilliant
that it seemed too good to be true vas
instantly born in his brain.
'They's a couple here in this here
shanty," he suggested, that's mighty
wishfuI to be wed, and likewise mighty
wishful o. gettin' out o. these diggin's.
Fain Bushares, the gent you said you
hadn't met, is after the man, with a
gun-the gals Fain's sister. Fain, he's
down to Garyville now. Eff so be you
can take me and my gal down there
an keep out o. rifle range-we'd be
mighty proud to go"
Four people and the balloon some
what damaged. Hubbard looked doubt,
full.
"If l could get some smoke-or hot
air-say, IS minutes flung up would
make her sail like a bird"
whats the matter with this?" Mace
inquired, pointing to the great chimney
Of the still. I can make you a fire o
balsam chips in that there furnac,
downstairs that'll send out all thu
smoke you'll want"
The Reverend Zeb was on his fee.
now. 81 don't go up in no more bal
looms to-day" he remarked, as he slid
over the roofs edge. But his assertion
proved to be an error. He was in
minority. Mace desired to be mar
ried; Hubbard was determined to Civ,
the crowd below at the settlement thu
spectacle for which their money haC
been paid; and he vas Outvoted, out
faced, over-persuaded-fairly hustled
into more adventure.
After Hester Bushares had beef
found, fastened in a lower room of tn
~stiIlhouse, the Bird Of Paradise fed full
of balsam smoke, the gear and riggini
righted, four people settled themselve
in the car and the great, egg-shaped
yellow monster, true to the bidding 0
her strangely attired master, ros
maiestically from the mountain top.
There was a light westerly breeze
GaryviIle nestles just to the east Of Bi
Turkey Track mountain. It's tin.
houses, like toy boxes; it's race course
like a lamp mat, became visible almOs
Immediately. There were moments c
intense anxiety, when it seemed i'm
possible that they should go nea
: enough to be more than seen.
Lord a. mighty" groaned Mace i
, an agony of Impotence. Looks Xix
, this is the biggest fool c~ontraption eve
made by man. Ef a Teller had a bit /
/. it's mouth, or a paddle to steer will
even-but to set up here an let tn
wind blow We"
"Easy, my friend" counseled Hut
bard. Speak well o. the bridge tn;
carries you safe over. The Bird
Paradise, she's a-goin' like a dove
go