The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1905-12-09
By
Carroll Watson Rankin.

more imposing one. The openin
through which Dick sold tickets wa
guarded by upright laths, making tn
place appear not at like cage In
deed. the ingenious carpenter who ha
Dullt the chicken coops had used TIL
remaining material to screen the tick
ct office.
Cautiously approaching, Edward
tackled the gorgeous sign high aboy,
his head against the solid board at tn.
left of the grating. The joke appeale,
amazingly to the crowd, but the uncon
scious ticket seller. not suspccting tha
ne mad become fancy pet" went or
with his work with ludicrously sol
emn cOu1tenance.
We'll pleased with his prank. Edwar rd
was watching the smiles and grins or
the faces round him when a small boy
touched his elbow.
Say said the boy, "here's a note
your sister sent you. I've hunted all
over the place for YOU
Edward tore open the envelope and
found thiS note within:
Dear Ned:-Cousin Susie came on
the noon train to go to the fair, but |
nave a headache and cant go Meet
her at two o'clock at the north en-
trance. and see that she gets a good
place on the grand stand.
Edward looked at his watch. 1t was
already almost two. The train. only
half mile away. was whistlins at
that moment. Edward set off On a
run down the race track toward the
ncrth gate
BY this time he had completely for
gotten the secretary and the work at
the judges stand. With a lot of Bel
slan hares and a pretty cousin on his
mind, Edward had no thought to spare
for anything SO trivial as loosenel
board.
One Of the chief attractions at the
fair that year was spiral tower built
OF gas pipe. the work of local genius,
Up and down this arrangement trained
acrobats rode bicycles and performed
all sorts Of daring feats At night
the final act was advertised to take
place in the midst of glory, with fire.
works spouting from perforations in
the gas pipe and from torchlight ar
rangement on top. The tower had
been tested and been found to work to
perfection.
That evening everything, including
the fireworks, went off as advertised.
and was voted an entire success. The
show over, the delighted spectators
hurried away to secure seats in the
crowded homeward-bound trains. The
persons in charge of the different
buildings turned their attention to
locking up for the night. and by half
past ten hardly twenty persons re-
NAMED inside the gates The grounds
appeared dark and forlorn, for only
he small portion containing the build
ngs was lighted.
Suddenly there was a cry of "Fire,"
ollowed almost instantly by a con- |
lnuous volley of sharp explosions,
coming from the direction of the deser-
ed grand stand
Its the judges stand!" cried the
PRESIDENT, who had rushed to the door
i the administration building. Look!
ts all ablaze! A spark from the tow
r must have got into those fireworks
n the room underneath. but don't
ee how, when the door was on the
asst side. hope the acrobats are all
ut; they use that place for a dressing
DOM, and some of them sleep there"
Hicks" said the secretary, turning
bruptly to Edward, did you nail that
oard on as I asked you to-"
Edward turned white. mo. sir"
aid he, Il forgot it,"
The next second the culprit had
saped down the steps and was speed
ng down the race track toward the
lazing structure. from which rockets
nd Roman candles were still spouting
orth.
Near the 1ire all was confusion. The
lir grounds were long three miles
rom town; the only available way. of
citing water was from the rusty.
nQmp near tho stock
beds. almost halt mile distant: and
I frst no ona thought OF telephoning
or chemical engine.
10 Edward's great relief, the aero