The Monte Vista journal., 1907-06-29

use them in China to kill murderers
and robbers. They put wan o thin
big firecrackers beChune the teeth of
a murderer and make him light the
| fuse wild his own hand and blow his
own head of. Thin Chinese is mighty
crool, Mickey, mighty crool."
This vivid description inflamed Mick
ey's desire, which was Casey's motive
in telling It, for the incident occurred
on the eve of the Fourth, and Casey
was afraid that the big firecrackers
would be carried over the national hol
iday and remain loss on his hands.
In order to deepen the impression al
ready made upon the boy Casey per-
mitted him to handle one of the twins.
The boys eyes had widened to
their utmost capacity when he was
outside the window. but now that he
could feel the red jacket his hands
trembled with the eagerness OF pos
session and he would have given ten
years of his life to own 1t.
Take it along wild you, Mickey"
| said Casey, cajolingly. Thin crack
ers were made in Chow CEow. in
China, for the Cooney Island trade.
and want to set rid of thin have
on hand before | send another order
to Waa Lung. the haythin.'
But | have no money" SD } ick-
cy sorrowfully. My ia'hai is soin' to
give me three bunchos of little ire-
crackers and a Iinwheel. but ! know
l.t. 1t.
crackers for me-
Well" continued Casey. you come
down here tomorrow mornin' and
carry In a half ton of coal for me and
III give you the big cracker"
The next morning Mickey was busy
for two hours carrying chestnut coal
In a nail keg and dumping It In Casey's
cellar. Just after noon, with smile
covered with coal dust and bosom
,ull OF chuckles. he received his prize.
No grass grew under his bare feet
ms he ran homeward. the precious
powder mine clasped to his bosom.
Holding the big tirecracker aloft as
he darted through the kitchen door.
he exclaimed:
MblHeI, HdNe ~ an IL Il
beau,y?"
We'll. don't see anything about II
to be maxim fuss over" said Mrs.
Finn. who. like most mothers. had
no love for fireworks. Now. don't be-
bringin' II nearer TO me. as Mickey
ran toward her. Il don't want to be
blown into the middle o next week.
I 3 l,. It,-t.F -,
afeered o me life while you have IL In
your hands! Now. don't be goin' near
the stove wild IT, Arrah. ye little
spalpecn. Will ye take II of the stove?
Take II OF afore ye blow the roof on
the house." and the frightened woman
ran into the bedroom and peered
through the kcyholc.
With the recklessness OF boyhood.
Mickey exclaimed. ms he lit n match
and reduced his mother to Mysteries
by pretending to light the frecracker
stem:
You needn't be nfccrcd. mother. III
nip II out aiorc II goes on"
In this simple fashion the afternoon
OF the Fourth passed away In the Finn
household varied by the boy with oc,
casional visits to the neighbors. whom
he threw into a panic OF fear by pre-
tending to light the big explosive.
Mrs. Murphy and her three children
were gathered around the kitchen
table when Mickey placed the lighted
mammoth In the middle OF the table
Two Of the boys went head firs,
through the window. while Mrs. Muir
ply tried to crawl under the kitchen
stove.
All this excitement afforded the bo,
good deal OF delight. but he re
served for the evening the culmina
tion Of his Joy. lie Intended to blow
his father up as he sat in bis chair on
the back stOop.
Mickey thought II would Be an In
spring sight to witness his father hy
ing across the back yard and plow
Ing up the ground with his nose. Ia
order that he might have an audience
appropriate 10 so great an occasion
Mickey had spread the news amons
all the boys Of the neighborhool. and
at nine o'clock 80 boys sat on tts
fsncs surrounding the back yasd. Mr.
finn, tired Of the excitement Of ths