Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1904-01-28

through, say the word, and I'm your
man. | guess it'll bring the subscrip-
tions in at such rate that we shall
all be able to chuck conspiracy and re-
tire into private life to spend the
pieces. What do you say, gentlemen"
There's no need for us to say any
thing" sneered Councillor Number
Five, who seemed determined to main
tain an attitude of opposition to every
thing that Number Two had proposed.
You talk big enough for houseful
yourself. Don't you think all this
blowing off would sound more to the
purpose after the event than before it?
Even hen doesn't cackle till she's
laid an egg"
"If you have formed any plan for
striking a blow which is more likely to
startle the world and to induce sub
scriptions," replied Number Two, cold
ly, Il shall be happy to withdraw my
proposal"
II thought not" he went on when
Number Five shook his head, then in
that case perhaps you will yourself
undertake the carrying out of the plan
which | have had the honor to submit
to the council"
He stopped as he spoke, and lifting
the brown bag, of which mention has
already been made, opened it, and TAX
ing out a red celluloid ball he held it
at arms length to Number Five, who
backed uneasily and stood staring at
the thing with anything but eyes of
desire.
Wont you take it?" jeered Number
Two, advancing a step. at will be the
simplest thing in the world now to
carry out the arrangement. All you
have to do is to slip the end of the
wire through the ring at the top of the
ball, and let it slide down till it
reaches the slackest part You see it
is made exactly like the other colored
balls they are using, and no one could
tell, without opening it, that it con-
tanned bomb instead of an electric
lamp. You are so anxious to serve
the council, and so ready with your
criticisms, that no doubt you will be
glad to accept the responsibility of
stringing that pretty bead on its neck
lace, and cutting the wire at the crit
ical moment. The man who under
takes the business may of course lose
his life in the explosion, or may be
detected or arrested as | fully recog-
nized when | offered to play the part
of Guy Faux. But I'm quite willing
to resign in your favor, since you are
so eager to distinguish yourself. The
post of honor is always a post of dan
ger-both in war and in conspiracy
but you, no doubt, won't count the cost
so long as you gain the Importance
you so covet. Do you accept my Of
fer?'
NO." said Number Five. "If your
plan succeeds-though | don't think
such lot of it as you do-youll take
all the credit; and if it fails, as | be-
lieve it will, | shall have to pay the
costs. Much Obliged to you! No
thanks! When l play Guy Faux, as
you call it, it will have to be a plot
OF my own-not somebody elses-
planning. You're not the only man on
this council with ideas, and if the other
members would like me to think out
a plan or two I'm ready to do it, But
you've dealt out the cards in this lit
tie game of yours, and now you'd best
play your hand out. All the same,
and to show that it isn't funk that
keeps me out of it, I'm quite ready to
act as your assistant in this jubilee
business, and to share whatever risk
you run in it,"
1T is quite true that ought to have
an assistant" replied Number Two,
coldly. "The wire rope which l have
to undo will be very heavy, and l shall
need some one to hold it for me while
| thread the ball; for if by any chance
the thing slipped out of my hand the
result would be too previous to be
pleasant. But if you will pardon my
saying so, | would rather that some
other member than yourself volun-
teered to assist me. You have already
expressed your disbelief in the sue
cess of my project; and it does not
do to have half-hearted workers in
such business. We are already half
way to victory when every one con-
Cerned is confident of success, and,
conversely, we are halfway to a fail
ure when one of the workers antici-
pates breakdown. Besides, though l
am not very superstitious, something
tells me that your presence on the
occasion would bring us ill luck. Is
any other member of the council will
ing to assist me in the great blow I
am about to striker"
Here was my chance.
Il am" | said.
AS | spoke | stepped forward and
raised my right hand in military
salute-why, l cannot think, unless the |
whole thing seemed to me less like real
life than melodrama in which | was
sustaining a part. The action, how
ever, appeared to please him
That's good" he said. "a soldier. |
too, and accustomed to act under or
ders without asking questions. Your |
number"
Number Seven" l replied, prompt-