The Washington herald., 1909-07-04

arm,
ice cream soda" he cried with vim, ginger
ale pop.
peanuts
Patriotism
always on top"
The crowd then made noise like to the eating
OF ham sandwiches and cold boiled eggs, and the
guzzllng of cold tea. Brinkerhon, the very near
nation of patriotism and good humor, made him
self constantly socable; visited here, there every
where to that everybody was patriotic and
happy.
aAh" he exclaimed "the children They enjoy
it--this wonderful day in this wonderful grove.
And It's safe to very safe"
voice, off stage, heard. Papa" said the
little Twomby girl, in the wings, but with painful
distinctness cant go back home now and fire
off hrecrackers? Papa"
The Elphinstone kids followed suit. Mamma"
they suggested "look here. We've both got dol
lar bill. We saved II up all year just for some
powder and brass cannon. That's all. Just for
a cannon. Can't go home and buy just thatT
"sh-hh" The parents exchanged anxious
glances This looked bad The other children
in the patriotic party were growing restive Was
there to be open mutiny? None ever knew. For
suddenly far to the right in an open field, there
rose a sound like thunder.
Boom Boom" The crowd stood, spellbound
whats that?" queried Brinkerhon. II startled
him. For through the smoke in the distant field
he could small boy bending down over an
upright red object
"Who is that boy?" he queried, rs there an IN
terloper in our midst?
ID ANE1s stepped forward sheepshly well I'll
- tell you how it is, Brink" he said, its my boy
I thought I'D let down easy on him this time see
ing as it's the first time / gave him permission
to bring along well, just one or two
told him he must keep away from the other Kids,
that's all. So he went I'm the field. Just one
or two" repeated Banks, in a pleading purring
voice.
For an instant there was silence Then the
crowd made a noise such crowd makes when
1t moves over suddenly toward its respective mo-
tor cars and carriages It climbed into the We
hicles, fumbled for an instant under seats and
then climbed out again
Elphinstone rushed to Brinkerhon with a
paper package in his arms. I'll tell you Brink
he said my kids got dose of getting burned
last year. I'm pretty they'll be blamed care
full this trip and just brought just these
few along just little taste of the
Fourth you see. thought it wouldn't make any
difference, just my kids
"Your kids and the Banks boy, gasped Brink
erhon He looked helpless about him. The crowd
confronted him . . huge group of human
parents, male and female; and every parent with
a package i'm his hand.
"Just nv kid" said each and every parent "just
for a minute. Wen let 'em down easy. Just this
once"
Grove making noise like well, by
George just like Fourth of July. 1t was an hour
later when Brnkerhon sped like deer and inter
ceDted Banks, Sr.. he was driving of in his
double carriage
"Hey. Banks" called Brinkerhoff. the peaceable
patriot mot goin to leave us, are your
Banks rubbed his eyes "Well, in fact he said,
"my kid only had two frecrackers, and
thought I'd just back into town-for more"
'You-renegade," Kissed Brinkerhon He made
his way back to the pavilion. He and his wife
and Benjamin. Jr, sat under the shade of the big
tree. The shadows heightened and as they
lengthened the noise from the nearby field
strengthened Ever and some other rene
gade would sneak into the wagon enclosure and
seize the reins and dash mady toward town.
pop" walled BENJAMIN Brinkerhof Jr, cant
I go out there and have some fun? I want
a rifle got to have a rife"
benjamin" said his father severely you stay
here by me-"
benjamin" said his father, two hours later,
when the dusk had settled down effectively, you
come with me-" He grpped his son by the wrist
his grip like the grip of death-and stole