The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1903-09-18

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Then upon their 'ears burnt most
unme odious hoWls, coming apparently
from the roof above 49, So 8 .s
"Ez that your bird "a yy IS bird q
paradisea s Mace inquired. III t + u:
Hubbard arose with great alacrity.
Its the preacher Is brought with me.
I 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?" It was plain that
whatever the oddity Of Mace's predica-
ment, it could extort; but wavering at
tention from one whose own affairs
were in such pressing disorder. A bal
loon. The matter began to unravel it.
self before Mace. 70 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 tot 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 I was ready-me and the
preacher. We was to have brought up
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. "Fll cut
the right ones.'
ANY 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
a-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 q 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 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.
Fafn 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 CO.,
Four people and the balloon some
what damaged. Hubbard looked doubt
full.
IF could get some smoke-or hot
air-say, Is minutes filling up would
make her sail like Bird
whats the Meter with this?" Mace
inquired, pointing to the great chimney
of the still. 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. II 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 give
the crowd below at the settlement the
spectacle for which their money had
been paid; and he was outvoted, out
faced, over-persuaded-fair 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
righted, four people settled themselves
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 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 lamp mat, became visible almost
Immediately. There were moments Of
intense anxiety, when it seemed i'm
possible that they should go near
enough to be more than seen.
Lord a. mighty" groaned Mace in