Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1906-01-01

The police force has actually exerted
itself for the capture of the perpetrators
Of the deed. The firemen have vowed to
kill him if he is found. Old men find it
q topic for endless discussion. Young
sleuths stink around the street corners.
seeking to overhear some chance word
that may direct them in a search Some
small boys chuckle with glee over the
remembrance of the joy of that night
Other boys, a little older and little
wiser, are discreetly silent. Occasion
ally they glance furtively at the notices
of the reward For this Is the story OF
how a peaceful and law-abiding town
etayed up all one night with clamor
that was like to the noise of glorious
thanksgiving.
On the memorable night dozen
small boys were trying to devise some
fitting means of celebrating their vaca-
ton. From force of habit they had
gathered in front of the schoolhouse.
The son of the mayor thrust mis-
hands deep down in his pockets.
well, what shall we do?" he de-
manded. There's no fun in sitting
here, guess If you fellows can't think
Of something to do soon, I'm going
home. 1 never saw such lot. You're
worse than the girls
This was a taunt that could not be
endured. The II sat in gloomy silence.
do we al go into this together?"
he inquired. Il mean, if any thing
happens, will all of us take the blame.
share anG share alike? Will you cross
your hearts, hope to die, that you
will?"
you bet!" was the unanimous prom
ise. The others clustered around him
as he unfolded his plan.
81 can fix the telephone and the fire
alarm wires so that whenever anybody
rings the telephone out on the west
circuit the fire alarm will ring. Are
you gamer"
Were they game? Were they boys
"We'll have to wait till nine
O'clock" continued the inventive gen.
Jus. Then I'll fix the wires and we'll
ell skip home Somebody will be sure
to ring up and then the fun will be-
gin"
If anyone had been passing a certain
dark corner on West Main street at
nine Gel 9ck, he would have heard
strange ,'hisperings. and would per-
haps havt seen an agile lad swing him
self up the Zig tree and climb out on
it's branches to where two sets OF
wires intersect each other. But there
was no passerb, 1t ten minutes past
line the town was ominously quiet.
Twelve boys had come in unwonted-
ly early and retired without a single
arumble.
AT exactly 9:14 the fire alarm sound
ed. The sounding of the alarm in this
town is of the kind that would make
a fortune for a melodrama, if it did
not drive all the patrons out of the
theateI first. There are five churches
in the town, every one supplied with
brazeu Changers The Episcopal church
is endowed with chimes. Every school
house has a bell. The courthouse
has a hell. The city hall has a
bell. The fire engine house has a
gong and a bell. In addition to these
the engines in the railroad yards set
UP a toot and clamor of sympathy.
After the first alarm all was still
for at least three minutes. By this
time each one of the u had appeared
fully dressed and eagerly inquiring
where the fire was.
why don't you call up Central and
the mayor asked that dignitary. The
mayor followed the sons suggestion
Two seconds later the second alarm
sounded. By this time the perpetrators
Of the mischief was at the teleph3ne
wildly inquiring of the almost hys-
terical girl at the exchange the loca-
ton OF the second fire. The third alarDs
rang.
The whole town was aroused by this
time. Naturally, telephone was the
easiest means Of obtaining communi-
cation with the sources of information.
It followed that the bells kept rp a
constant clamor. For five hours
they never ceased their ringing.
The fire department had rushed mad
ly all over the place, but not even a
Cloud of smoke rewarded the search.
Who was turning in the false alarms
The police ran up and down the streets.
Men and women can't out of the
houses, inquiring the cause Of the
wild excitement Clang! Clang! Twelve
boys az II telephones kept the fun
going.
The telephone company had loaned
e repairer to the f1re department TO
seek the cause of the alarms when the
fire department insisted that it was a
question OF the wires At two o'clock
he discovered the cause and rep;edied
It.
mo accident" he replied, eersely.
Some one crossed those wires. He
climbed the tree to do IT.
Zone Of my political snemies." says
the mayor.
"Tramps," says the police.
"Wretches," say ali.
But the new alarm is In, and II
boys are going to get caught and sent
to the reform school if they do not
mend their ways and seek more ra-
honal amusemsut-Chicag Journal.
,u+41o n,,llo