Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-09-03

Inc rahlnS, SWOOplng SOUND now
once more attacked the roof. MY
names Hubbard" the visitor replied
rather at random. That's the Bird o.
Paradise you hear on the roof. Got a
good, sharp ak handy? l want to
straighten out her riggin'."
Mace gaped upon him with fallen
jaw. A man who wore stockings as
long as that, and had tied a bird of
paradise to the roof, was so crazy a
happening that Talent began to be-
lieve his wits were going, and that he
had invented the whole matter.
Suddenly the window d%arkened, and
a big, creamy curtain seemed to de-
scend outside of it. Lord a mighty!
is the skies a-fallin'?" Mace reared.
Then, upon their ears burst most
unmelodious bowls, coming apparently
from the roof above.
"Ez that your bird-a-your bird o.
~paradise?" Mace inquired.
Hubbard arose with great alacrity.
Its the preacher l 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 Ratchet, will you?
And would you please come and help
me get him loose?" 1t was plain that
whatever the oddly of Mace's ~predica-
ment, it could extort but wavering at
| tention from whose own affairs
were in such pressing disorder. A bal
loon. The matter began to unravel 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 I told you.
Was making an ascent down there at
Garyville. Balloon got away with me
before l was ready-me and the
preacher. We was to have brought up
a couple with us and married 'em
'one thousand feet in air." He jerked
out the sentences as the two men
climbed to the roof.
The preacher, who 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. "Ill cut
the right ones"
amy rope that's holdin' 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 it's netting of
ropes.
Say, look here, is this thing a-goin'
to rise up when we git her cut
d-lOOSe mace inquired.
why, | think it will hope it will.
My notion is to make the ascension
from here, if the gear can be disen-
tangled, and drop down in or near
Garyville. That will satisfy the crowd,
l hope, even if we haven't a couple to
marry!"
A couple to marry! Ideas were COM
ing fast to Mace; a plan so brilliant
that it seemed too good to be true was
instantly born in his brain.
"They's a couple here in this here
shanty," he suggested, that's mighty
wishful 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 Ell SO be you
can take me and my gal down there
an keep out O rifle ~range-we'd be
mighty proud to 60"
Four people and the balloon some
what damaged. Hubbard looked doubt
full.
eff | could get some smoke-or hot
air-say, Is minutes filling up would
make her sail like a bird"
whats the matter with this?" Mace
inquired, pointing to the great chimney
of the still. l can make you a fire O.
balsam chips in that there furnace
downstairs that'll send out all the
smoke you'll want"
The Reverend Zeb was on his feet
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
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 %outvoted, out
faced, over-persuaded-fairly hustled
into more adventure.
After Hester Bushares had been
found, fastened in a lower room of the
%stillhouse, the Bird of Paradise fed full
of balsam smoke, the gear and rigging
llSHtcuJ loul people Sollleu IHeilSclFSS
in the car and the great, egg-shaped,
yellow monster, true to the bidding Of
her strangely attired master, ROSE
majestically from the mountain top.
There was a light westerly breeze.
Garyville nestles just to the east of Big
Turkey Track mountain. It's tiny
houses, like toy boxes; it's race course,
like a lamp mat, became visible almost
Immediately. There were moments of
intense anxiety, when it seemed i'm
possible that they should go neal
enough to be more than seen.
Lord a mighty" groaned Mace in
an agony Of impatience. Looks like
this is the biggest fool %contraption ever
made by man. Ell a Teller had a bit in