The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-03-26

TO him. He would annex the island himself
and thus forcstnll competition. 1t was a
brilliant scheme and he instantly put Lucy to
work constructing Aag out Of woven fiber
dyed for the purpose His own part consisted
in cutting down reasonably tall straight tree,
trimming it neatly, rolling ii laboriously TO the
beach, rigging the halyards, and planting it
upright opposite TIN opening in the barrier
reef
The flag being completed proved a fairly
good imitation Of the ensign OF his country.
True, the stars were strangely contorted and
the stripes, Of which there were only ten, ran
in somewhat sn4ky curves, but Lucy was
pleased with her effort, and Lands had no
fault to find.
The ceremony Of annexation perplexed
him not little. That some ceremony was
required he felt assured, but Of the exact form
he had nocertainty. Two ceremonies he had
witnessed ii his time, the launching Of ship
ard the taking Of an oath in court, and after
some thought he evolved a ceremony Of annex
aion BY analogy from these
Lucy brewed a bowl Of native liquor and
when it was ready they repaired 10 the flag
staff Lands bent the flag to the halyards
and placed them in Lucy's hands Holding
the bowl Of liquor, he paused to collect his
thoughts and 20 enjoin silence upon William,
Jr Then raising his right hand he began i'm
prcssiyely:
Since in the course OF human events it has
become necessary to annex this here island to
the United States, do now swear to tell
the truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth in the cause now before the
court
He paused and wiped the sweat from his
how before proceeding.
II, William Lands, of Massachusetts,, a
lreeborn citizen Of the United States, occupied
this here island by bcin' shipwrecked onto it
oti'n the bark Eli Baxter There wasn't no
body lyin' onto it at the time | was ship
wrecked, and | claim the ownership of il by
right Of bcin' the first white man that took
possession Of it,
Such bein' the case, and me bein' the
owner oi this here island now intend for
to annex il 10 the United States
He raised his bowl Of liquor and splashed
itoyer the loot Of the flagstaff, while the small
boy squcaled with delight
Il ohristen her lands Island, cried Ian
dis" hoist away, Lucy-and do declare her
70 be part and parcel Of the United States,
now and forever after, SO help me God
Amen"
Lucy hoised valantly till the flag loated
on the trade wind from the top OF the pole,
while the baby shrieked with delight, and
Lands waved his arms and shouted. Ii was
an impressive ceremony, and Lands felt
easier in his mind once the thing had been
accomplished in proper style.
Now let em come" he cried "They'll
find we've beat 'em TO it,"
-Four days later they came, in the shape OF
trim little secondcla cruiser with wicked
looking guns nosing out OF her barbettes, Two
military masts, and the flag Of younga and
eager Empire at her masthead.
In fact this Empire was so young that when
il opened its eyes upon the family OF nations
il found most Of the earth already in the uos-
session of its rivals But what is an Empire
without a navy And OF what use is navy
without coaling stations Hence the second
class cruiser at Lands Island and the cold
light in her captains eye as he deserted the
nondescript Stars and Stripes that iloattd on
the beach
He came ashore Immediately in a smart gig,
rowed by six sailors who made the landing in
finished style. Lands was duly impressed by
the uniforms and the gold lace and perhaps
more than all by the captains brusque air OF
authority Instead OF maintaining a bold
front in the face OF this unjusthable invasion,
he assumed deprecatory attitude and after
stating TO the captain that the island had been
duly annexed TO the United States by him. the
owner, he presently found himself ignored
Under orders one of the sly sailors hauled
down poor Lucy's clumsy handiwork and
cast il ANONYMOUSLY TO one side Also under
orders he bent on the standard of the Young
and eager Empire, and his five companions
burst into cultural shouts as il ran TO the top
OF the staff.
e The captain raised his cap to the flag and
the guns on the cruiser broke forth in
salute. The captain stepped proudly back
and turned 10 Lands In doing 50 he trod
carelessly upon the already tattered flag Of
colored grasses and noticed ii not But Ian
dis noticed, and his impotent Indignation
swelcd
I" This island is now part of that great and
glorious Empire represented by that nag
said the captain in very ilir English You
vii bc permitted 10 remain in possession TN
less bis Imperial Majesty should need the
island for coaling station. In that case
lle wascd bis hand casually Lands Sas o.
course Of very little importance, and in iact
dil not seem to be listening
Landis was no, listening Ills thoughts
ware upon the bii of erlmpled fabric beng
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