La Junta tribune., 1907-08-03

Its dr- storage in the barn and was
at that moment packed solidly in the
bottom OF a hundred or more deep
holes drilled In about forty rocks. each
with fuse leading few inches away
from the top7 And he had told the
truth. for there were only about forty
rocks altogether. He had counted
them. and Mr.. Judkins had not And.
not only that. had not Mr.. Judkins'
words implied that he wanted the
were ready. Well. he would attend
TO 1t and would see that they were set
on before 1t was light enough for trav-
el to commence on the road.
Enos Judkins was an extremely ear
IL riser. sometimes not waiting for the
first call from the barnyard to he up
and out. But the next morning even
the most alert of the ROSTERS was
asleep when there came n crash which
shook the very windows Of the house
Enos Judkins threw himself half mp.
then fell back with n snarl
Them loonatic Fourth o. Julyers."
he g-umbled: they're startln' wuss'n
they did last year I never heerd them
winders rattle 8fore. Folks d think
twas right in the next room stead OF
In village a half mile on. Huh for
another tremendous crash. louder even
than the hrst. again set the windows
to rattling what they got over
there. anyhow. gov'ment artilleries or
Mount Pelees! The cannon they had
last year didn't make quarter that
noise I.-a-n-d," an a succession of half
q dozen explosions. followed by an al
most continuous rumble. with scarce.
Iy an appreciabie space between. shook
the earth. What is the matter. any
how-the world comm to an end?" He
rose hastily and begnn to dress. for the
ROSTERS were now all Growing and the
dogs barking. and from the barn came
n frightened believing and stamping Of
cattle. In the darkness and utter still
ness Of the night the crashes were ter.
rifying. Before he could don his
clothes and get outside there were
dozen or fifteen more explosions. some
coming singiy. others in a long. scarce
ly broken rumble or In one great crash.
But. once outside. the mystery was
partly explained for the air WAS strong
with the smell Of burned powder. II
was the Fourth OF Julyers. as he had
first thought but how In the name Of
reason had they managed to make 80
much noise?
Then came the last crashing explo
sion. and he started. at hrst blankly
then with n sudden comprehension
The crash had not come from exactly
the direction OF the village. but from
the road pasture.
1.-The young reprObate!" he cried
wrathfuiiy Hes been settin' OF them
rocks. an l told him plain they was to
I've let be till all was drilled. l might.a'
scoldin' an then slipped Oh upstairs.
He needs q good larrupin'. that's what
he needs. an I feel jest the right way
now to give II to him" Then some
thing OF the humor Of the situation
seemed to strike him. for be commsnc-
Cd to chuckie. which was. however. In
stantiy suppressed. Didn't he make 4
noise. though" he went on. "Whsw!
He must a. t>en up all night gettin'
that powder ready. wonder what the
village Fourth o. Juiyers are thinkin'
Of bout now. gittin' beat at their own
game by q little farm boy they won't
ask to none O their doin's. I've q good
mind to walk down that way an see
an then come back an give Reub bis
larrupin'. II I want that he didn't
wait like be was told I'd be minded to
let him OF easy Jest for shakin' the
village winders. l amt heerd 70 much
A. a torpedo from there yet. P'rapa
they amt been able to catch their
breath back"
He stood hesitating for 4 few mo-
ments. Over in the east a long line Of
daylight was beginning to appear.
Then came n loud barking from the
road pasture. toward which the dogs
had rushed at the very beginning of
the explosion: then he heard Reubs
Z voice calling the dogs. Well. he WIS
glad the young scamp was not hurt.
though of course there had been no
real danger. He had never known the
boy to be careless about such matters.
Suddenly he seemed to make up his
mind. for he turned and walked rapid
ly toward the village. muttering as he
did SO: 1--WE got to larrup Reub for not
waitin' till all the stones was drilled.
OF course. but I'm glad twas done 30
early. fore travel begun. I've laid
awake nights lately thinkin' bout acci-
dents an damages"
The village was awake. as he had
expected. but none of Its own celebrat-
Ing seemed to have yet commenced.
Apparently its enthusiasm was mo-
mentnrily paralyzed by the unexpected
and tremendous noise which 1t could
not hope to emulate. As he appeared
among them. Enos could see fingers be-
gin pointing toward him from the vari-
Gus groups, and he raised his head de-
Family. He was accustomed to point
Ing fingers and even to hootlng from
the younger boys. He had not been n