The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-09-25
By ARTHUR MORGAN LANGwoRTHy

ZOE FISHERS city house possessed
fine fat topped roof. part of
which was rallied off and con-
verted into a little roof garden,
where the family enjoyed itself during
the hot summer days
But this particular afternoon found it
The scene Of a very solemn occasion.
The Boys secret society was in ses-
sion. transacting some very important
business. One of the members was to
be expelled and another member was to
he installed in his place
Ben Jordan was TO be dropped and
Frank Williams was to be elected. all
OF which recalls the enmity between
the two. Frank was spending this
summer with his cousin Joe in the city.
and perhaps you've read about Franks
great city enterprise. the Baseball Bull
letin- Ben had been a member of this
amusement concern. but had treacher-
ousiy tried to wreck it and failed.
Afterward the Baseball Bulletin COM
pany prospered more than ever, report
ing the games on its big score board
on the lot next Joes house. but now
that the home team was away il had
been forced to close down until the
club returned
SO. partly 10 have something to do in
The meantime and also TO show what
was thought OF Ben. the Boys secret
society went into session.
Ben had been notified to appear in
his own defense at , o'clock, but when
half past > struck and no Ben the So
ciety proceeded with great deliberation
TO so through the formality of expul-
sion After Ben had been fired" they
went about electing his successor with
great contrasting hilarity.
Of Z nj ed ~ a
real live goat, which Frank was to
ride
Just before ne was blindfolded Frank
happened TO glance upward.
say. that looks mighty queer he
suddenly exclaimed. remembering it
was not the first time he had met the
object Of his gaze. The big kite had
caught his eye more than once in the
last few days. and as he afterward re-
membeIed the kite line had been di-
rectlv overhead No matter which way
the wind blew. the hidden kite flyer
always seemed To maneuver his line
To obtain this position overhead.
But today something additional was
10 bee observed.
All eyes turned upward TO examine
the kite .ine suspended not 80 feet
above their heads. Three cigar boxes
were strung along the kite cord about
so feet apart. \ separate string from
each one stretched along the kite cord.
but the puzzled boys could not see
who few The kite, as some tall trees
iRterfered with the view. They
watched 81 curiously for minute, and
then returned 10 Frank and the goat,
which was bucking and rearing in the
grasp of its captors.
Frank willingly submitted to being
blindfolded. but the goat was most un-
willing 10 do his part. and only after
rT,T, IL aff.I.r 1ae1 yfr
us forgotten was Frank mounted on
Tie animals back and the ride begun.
Frank had never ridden a goat be-
fore but he ma ma ged to hang on to
his horns while the goat plunged madly
around the dancing circle of yelling
boys.
He had ridden perhaps half a minute
when something happened. Bang. Bang.
Bang, There was q roar like the ac-
ton of 2 machine gun on all sides of
him, and he felt several objects strike
him. while one exploded on contact.
Frank instantly recognized the explo-
sives-giant torpedoes,
This was carrying matters too far.
besides being dangerous. He jumped
OF the goat and angrily tore the ban
dages from his eyes. TO see a most
frightened and astonished crowd of
boys gazing upward, while several
rubbed sore places One of the kite
boxes right over them nunS Win ats
cover open empty
IL had dropped its load of torpedoes
right on the crowd
Even as they looked the mysterious
power controlling the kite started to
wind in il so that the next box began
10 creep over their heads. Frank recog-
aized the threatened danger.
Quick boys, TO the scuttle, Some
body may get hurt" Unfortunately
the little awning that kept off the sun
was rolled UP and there was no pro-
lection from these aerial bombs" The
panic stricken Secret society dived for
the scuttle as one man and got stuck
fast.
II would have been a terrible slaugh-
ter to drop 80 bombs" into that
squirming lot of arms and legs and
wells" But fortunately, the attacker