Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-11-17

away walked across the efenking rat.
thing tlu roof to The eisiern. whvse top
rose three feet niovr his head. Icad.
Ing NJ TO the top " the cistcru was n
narrow iron ladder One half of the
| cirt ular It'd of the cistrrn was pfupped
| Open From this opening there pro-
! ccedcd the strange sounds heard from
| below.
what Is itY' asked Mrs. Dillaway
anxiously.
II don't know. Maybe it's the eat"
"The cats In the Kitchen. Samuel.
/ Now. be careful" for MIR Dillnway
/ was propclling his small. round person
up the ladder with dangerous rapidty.
"Hcllow exclaimed Mr. Dillaway
dercrly. pccring inside
"What Is IT." pleaded his wife
"Nothlng much," returned Mr.. Dilla.
way sarcnstically. only one OF my
prize cockcrels chasing his tail around
| down there He's got to get out Of
there tonight or hen run himself to
death Can you get the stcpladder out
TO me- Celia? I've got to climb down
| inside here"
"1ll fetch 1t in minute, Samuel.
The telephones ringing. I'll be right
back. You might just drop down that
three feet and he catching your bird;
/ can get the ladder over to you
with that she was gone, and Mr..
Dilaway waited in vain for her re-
turn. each moment growing more pep
perry as to Il .Iper Having requested
his wife TO bring the stepladder Mr..
Dilaway would not demean himself by
fetching il himself so after period
of impatence he threw himself gin
gerly over the edg, clutched tightly
the rim and swung down inside the
cistern. Then he dropped with a clang-
ing thud to the dry, zinc lined floor of
his cistern.
Around this slippery surface he chas-
ed the elusive cockerel in narrowing
circles until In some inexplicable man
ner he found that he was pursuing
himself frantically around the well
while the cockerel leaned exhausted
against the side. II was an easy mat
ter to capture the bird and tie his legs
securely with n handkerchief.
Cellar called Mr. Dillaway in
commanding voice, He looked up at
the semlcircular opening overhead and
saw the deep blue of the sky and moth
ing else. Celia" he called again.
Where is that LADDER"
His voice echoed with q hollow me
tallic boom and seemed thrown back
upon him. The cockerel squawked
feebly.
Steps creaked slowly across the tin
roof without and some one laboriously
climbed the iron ladder and peered
rosy faced over the opening. 1t was
Mrs. Dillaway.
Where is the stepladder?" demand
ed Mr.. Dillaway irascibly.
"In the house"
"Why don't you bring it out here?
I've got to get out of this
Il should think you'd like to stay in
tits a dreadful nice cistern You
think a lot more of it than you do of
your own daughter" returned Mrs.
Dillaway quietly.
Nonsense, Celia! l won't listen to
'N 80 ''
mere at once.
NoI yer, Sald Ceiia. MOI ull Soh
give your consent 10 SteIia 5 marrying
Joe Meien tonight
IL do no such thing roared MI.
Dlllaway wrathtu4ly. i see noW'
Cella. You put TINS cockerel In here
yourself. It's shameful imposition.
RI In 40
Iou coming ~ tue "euullS ue
lnanueu Cella'
NO. oehoWeo Mr' DliIaWay'
stay mere n!l uoohiSday nrst.
very N"''' Na'Hu''. III crop F""
down som" wedding cake. Inc mta-
lS'et c"ihlo% now. AheJ II be married
at " clock ana H'"'m hoPeu you d
give h"r away ~the ih''a"ayS was az
ways mArFied IN Sly'". YOU Know! Sh'
nuhS bark over hrr shoulder aS s'"
backed down the ladder.
,',. -, 80 ',''- '''' "" w.
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