The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1904-05-30

you going 10 drum ?"
Old Tom did not answer. The
gate clicked after him.
"Iie never put tho uniform on be
fore" said Sarah. lie must be
going To drum
And wen 60. Sarah. Won't We
gog"
Yes. we'll go"
The fair grounds were crowded
early In the day About noon the
grand -atand began TO fiji People
took their lunch baskets there and
ate In groups. spread leisurely
among the benches. As the lunch
cons disappeared the uuoCcupled
asRta became fewer. Sarah and
Willie slipped up TO far corner un-
noticed In the confused interchanges
Of greetings and "reminiscences.
They sat very straight and Wills
pered TO each other.
There's Jim Wilson. remarked
Willie lie used 10 come 10 see
you"
We used 20 play together"
Why don't he come any more2
Why don't any fellera come To see
your"
There's no need OF your asking
that. Willie You know lust AZ we'll
as do
Same reason why they chase me
at school. | s'pose." murmured VII
lie. and Sarah sighed.
The small boys In the grand
stand were restless by this time
They began 20 stamp their feet. ir-
regularly at first and then IN
rhythm. Older boys Joined Ia. Tae
noise became 50 thunderous that
Mr. Bmythe. the master OF ceremo-
mics. eho was also the town under
taker. hurried TO the front. looked
dspreclatinEly about and elappod his
hands. putting on his professional
look There was luli.
We must remember" called Mr.
smythe. that the general Is com
ing"
Al last a carriage swung around
the corner OF the stand and came T.
stop. The general descended and
moved slowly To the box rceFrved
for him. with Judge Wilson. hts
boat. Thsrv waA no rnlHtaking the
generals erect old figure. the gray
beard half hiding the kindly face.
The peopl. cheered frantieaily. not
stopping until long after he had en-
tered his boz. where he stood ssnil-
Ing and bowling. Don't keep him
\ n.
ing" shouted ono 10 another. aud
the noise died out The general
took hts seat and conversed ia Low
tones with Judge Wilson. while the
people droned like Hwarmtng bees.
Ia was time for THE band contest
60 begin. A biars OF bfassss flat
tened the air. and the ZouAve band
from the state capital swung around
the grandstand. marching IN good
order and playing the Washington
Post" The .,ader atrode ln front
swinging his huge batos and some
times throwing II high into the air
and catching IL as II fell. without
once permitting TIA whirllng u
cease. Round and round marched
the players, stopping finally before
tso stand and putting a new access
% energy into their music. The
checks Of the coruetists We're puffed
gu, like rcd apples. the ciarionett-
lists never missed a note the drums
ratified: the trofnbonss aud great
horns groaned tu the most approved
rhythm. aud the leader continued
the gyrations Of his baton with an
agility that seemed almost incredl-
bile. At the last flourish the drums
beat again. and the band marched
proudly from the field.
THE state ZonaveH." whispered
Judge Wilson To the general, amid
The applause They've won haN
a dozen contests"
AZ the next contestants came into
view there was a burst Of cheering
Local pride made the local band
popular. and half the people IN the
stand recognized that Il was per-
forming piece new 20 its roper
tolre. The familiar faces 81 the
players stared without recognition
at their friends and neiEhhors
among the auditors. The oornetists
and trombone players were not
quite sure Of their notes. 80 they
had their music fastened 10 their
Instruments. The leader. George
Schroeder. who was also head Of
the fire department, waved his baton
with due regard TO time. hut not 30
much to expression. The new vel
low uniforms were very effective I'm
the sunlight The piece went
smoothly at first Presently one Of
the cornetists skipped n bar and
blew loud notes that had no relation
70 things IN general Ills neighbor
kicked him Shredder the leader.
gave him an RRonized look. He
knew something was wrong. but he
dared not stop. and plunged ahead
into deeper aud deeper abysscs OF
,ilscord
Then Schroeder. being essentially
a man Of quick decision. marched
his band away. still playing. and
sought Aeclusion where the poor
offender could be sufficiently sworn
at. The crowd cheercd pntriotlcaIIv
ThP next band came from Rel
Rravia. the metropolis OF an ad-
Joining county the next from
Waterford These four were all that
had entered for the contest. and the
people after applaudlug the last.
settled down 10 n noisy discussion
Of rival merits. The local majority