Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-29
Their Sunday Cruise.
BY BELLE wooDsIDE.

noon, won't you, please?
Mrs. Drake looked stern.
Indeed 1 will not, sir; you have no ex-
cuse whatever for staying at home Are
your shoes polished nicely, and is your hat
brushed?'
Jimmie shufied over to the table, took
the whisk broom and listlessy swept it
down over his clothes.
ITS no wonder you're always dusty IL
that's the way you brush. Here. let me
have IT.
| of her sons shoulders and theoretically
| removed every visible speck. Then she
| clapped his hat firmly on his head and led
| late"
| Jimmie started down the road, kicking up
| the thick yellow dust and thinking how
| much he wanted to go out into the woods
| and look for chestnuts. He could hear the
| Sunday school bell ringing and every step
| brought 1t nearer.
| Il know it's wicked" he reflected, "but
declare don't want to be indoors this aft
| ernoon."
| "Hullo, Jim,' suddenly sounded in his
| ear, and on turning Dick Baldwin was dis
too, were spotless and speckless and the
shine on his shoes was not to be rivaled
| by any in town.
| ''Hullo," responded Jimmie. "Say, we'd
| better hurry, it's two minutes Of q My,
but hate to go in"
$50 do t. said Dickie, as they strolled
along together.
The bell suddenly stopped ringing. THAT
| means we're late said Jimmie. II re-
| member teacher in school once telling me
| she'd almost rather not have us come at all
! than be late
This put an idea into both their heads.
| Eyes, I know said Dickie. Its awful
rude to be late. Maybe we'd better not"
| he paused and dug at the dust sheepishly.
thoughtfully. Il hate to be rude. don't
you?"
| Like anything. Let's sit down here a
| minute and think 1t over
| The boys went round to the back Of the
| church and seated themselves on a horse
| block.
"Well." began Jimmie, looking at the
ground, "f we didn't go in where could we
go7''
"Chestnutting." said Dickie promptly
| Jinlmie's conscience smote him.
| "Oh, wouldn't dare" he replied. Its
| wicked to do that on Sunday"
Well, then. there's nothing to do round
here" said Dickie, I'VE might as well go
| Just then Jimmie's eyes fell on the open
| cellar door. 1t was warm sitting in the
sun in spite Of the fact that the month was
october, and the dark cellar looked cool
| and inviting.
| Say" he said suddenly, "let's go down
| there and explore I've never BEEN"
| "All right" cried Dick. and together they
cautiously descended the steps. The place
proved very attractive. 1t was full of mys-
ferrous little passageways and sub-cellars
| that the boys had never dreamed Of and
| they had royal time first exploring one
and then the other. No sounds reached
| them from above for the church was big
| one built with thick walls and floors, and
| soon all thoughts of Sunday school had
fed from their minds.
Say. what do you s'pose Is in there?"
said Jimmie, suddenly pausing before a
closed door.
II dunno, let's open 1t and find out" The
boys accordingly turned the knob, and with
q little pulling the door creaked open on
| its rusty hinges.
There was nothing In the room at all, ex-
| cept one broken chair and wooden wheel
| In one corner was built into a stout
wooden stand. There was a rope attached
| passed through hole in it and then disap-
peared. The place was lighted by one
small, round window.
Looks like a port hole" said Dickie
Just exactly. Say, have a fine idea"
exclaimed Jimmie. Lets play boat. This
| can be the pilot house and one of US can be
pilot and !, the other be watch and keep
Great" said Dick, entering right Into
| the spirit Of the game.
| No watch that ever sailed the deep seas
| kept sharper lookout than did Dick.
ship ahoy.'' he cried, peering out into
| the back yard. bring her up on the star
| board tack" and Jimmie obediently threw
| his weight the rusty old wheel, turning
| 1t whichever way was the easiest
"shiver my ttmbers." went on Dick. air
| ing his nautical vocabulary, "but It's
| dirty night. There's stiff northeaster a
| BLOWN. and its question whether we
make port. What do You say, mater"
The pilot. with another wrench at the
| Wheel shook his head obviously, at the
| same time studying an imaginary COM
pass.
Pretty doubtful. my hearty" he replied
| in a deep bass voice.
| All of sudden the watch turned around.
Say said he, Il thought I heard the
| church bell ring. What do you s pose that's
| for?'
| Jimmie stopped turning the wheel and
listened intently.
Don't hear thing" he said. Come
| keep lookout there: the harbor's full Of
ships"
Dick returned to his labors. and the game
progressed finely.
Again he stopped
There Jimmie. know heard that bell
| ring. Maybe It's fire.
Jimmie went to the window and both
looked out. People were seen gathering in
the churchyard, looks OF amazement on
their faces. and all eyes were directed to
the befry.
Jimmie said Dick suddenly in an awful
voice. do you know what we have been
doing? We have been ringing the church
bell every time I turned that wheel! It's
| the way Mr.. Claxton used to toll It, before
they had all the new machinery put in up
stairs"
AS the truth flashed upon Jimmie his face
grew pale.
Gee whiz you're right! WhatIl we do?"
ner In crime suiting the action to the word.
In less time than 1t takes to tell the boys
| were out Of the cellar, and leisurely saun-
tered round to the front of the church. An
excited group met their eyes,
Whats the natter? asked Jimmie, in
differently, of Bonnie Gray.
Natter" exclaimed Benny. his eyes like
two blue saucers. why, that church bels
been ringin' for the last ten minutes, and
nobody can tell what's doin' IT.
Gee. but that's queer" said Dick, all in
terest.
my friends" at that moment began Dea-
con Smith to the assemblage, Il am now
going down into the cellar to search for q
cause of this strange occurrence If any
If you care to accompany me 1 should be
glad of your presence"
Three men volunteered. and the party
went below. Ten minutes later they reap
peared.
1--WE found nothing" said the deacon
1.-The old wheel room. used prior to the IN
PRODUCTION Of the machinery. was undis-
turbed. save for the fact that some OF the
dust on the wheel seemed to have been re-
Gently brushed of. I fear. however that
this offers no explanation of this unnatural
event" The deacon paused. feeling very