Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-04-06

II
colors Of early autumn. The
grounds about Glover Greek Academy
We'd with the surrounding hills in their
lavish display Of red and gold, and the
long sweep Of tree-plumed ground that
sloped off to the stream back Of the
barracks building seemed to be one
mass of scarlet, intermingled with the
darker hues of the never-dying spruce.
The cadets had been in harness long
enough to know what military re-
straint was, for already they chafed
under the restrictions Of semi-oficial
duty and began to look with awe upon
the relentless rigor Of Major Ken
bricks, the cOmmandant.
There had been one or two small
football games, a series Of elaborate
dress parades and one expulsion. This
summed up the excitement of the
early session, and as they pored over
their books in the stuffy classrooms
nothing seemed more tantaliZing than
these purple stretches Of country on
which the most fantastic and tickle
sunshine fell.
II have an idea, Barry declared
Wallace Wedrell, as the two cadets
lolled upon the green after school
hours. 1T would mean some risk, but
there would be all kinds of fun In it. y
Barry, who, like many Of the others,
highly respected Wedrell, not alone for
his manliness, but for a certain spirit
of healthy adventure which dominated
his character, wanted to know all
about it without further delay
II know of little farm about mile
from here where grapes grow as If
they had been taught the business,
Wedrell continued. ut isn't a case of
theft at all. You see, the farm has
been abandoned for several years, and
while the vineyard has not been cared
for the grapes are as fine as any Cali
fornia product"
GLOW do you know about it?" in.
Quired Barry curiously.
event over there last year at about
this time. Was driving to Auburn to
meet my father and passed the place.
] asked about it yesterday down at
Flemming's store, and Flemming said
the place is still untenanted"
"Well, out with your scheme"
IT suggest that we use the ropes to-
night and go across to the place for a
basketful of grapes; it would be jolly
dark and this weather simply gets into
my bones; 1 want to be under that
faultless sky for while"
"Poetical, eh" warbled Barry; then
with a slap on his friends shoulder,
'I'm with you; give me some Details
"You know about all there is to it;
we must start from the barracks at
II or II 80 and be quiet from the word
go; If old Ken learns about the affair
1T will result disastrously."
"No fireworks" limited Barry, with a
smile.
Indications, however, promised any
thing but a quiet night, for Wedrell
and Barry had scarcely entered the
barracks building when small boy
slipped noiselessly down the big tree
under which the two lads had been
lying. Few there were who knew that
''Noddy" Slote had peculiar habit of
studying high in the branches of this
particular oak. 1t was cool up there
amid the branches and "Noddy" never
found q disturbing influence.
"Whewv' he whistled, closing his
Latin book with a pop; II must tell
Fletcher about this; more than two can
eat grapes, and Fletch can get even
with that Wedrell chap for his partic-
ular brand of audacity"
An undercurrent of petty animosity
existed between Fletcher and Wedrell
which, If not encouraged by Wallace
himself, was nursed into vivid spark
of hatred by Fletcher, with whom nc
one could get along.
Taps had ben sounded a full hour
when two dark figures, outlined for a
moment against the white walls of the
Barracks, fell upon the grass beneath
q certain third-story window. They
shot off down the slope under maze
of somber green trees and almost sim
ultaneously from another barracks
window five other figures dropped into
the night with equal precaution.
The first two lost no time in clear
ing the wall that surrounded the acad-
Hnly grounds and headed straight for
the undulating stretch of half-open
country that lay bathed in the soft
moonlight.
made it without a tangle," whis-
pered Barry, cooking on one elbow the
basket that lie carried with jubilant
satisfaction; "now for the grapes"
Wedreil shifted the night air with
suppressed content.
isn't that breath Of the fields
enough to pay us for our little ven
turc?" lie inquired spiritedly. His com
pan:on nodded enthusiastic assent.
The walk consumed scant half
hour; then they came upon a rambling
old house, picturesque in it's desclation.
On every hand were signs of neglect
i'll The oyer-grown garden, trees trailed
IL T. IL