Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1911-02-15

Bella at the harp playing the two
songs she knows.
When we were ready and gathered
in the kitchen, in the darkness, Of
course, Dial went up on the roof and
s1gnaled with a lantern to the cars
on the drive. Then he went down
stairs, took last look at the draw
ing-r0Om, fired the papers, shook the
powder, opened the windows and
yelled "fre!"
Of course, huddled in the kitchen,
we had heard little or nothing. But
we plainly heard Dial on the first floor
and Flanagan on the second yelling
ere" and the patter of feet as the
guards ran to the front of the house.
And at that instant we remembered
Aunt Selma!
That was the cause Of the whole
trouble. / don't know why they turned
on me; she wasn't my aunt But by
the time they had. got her out of bed,
and had wrapped her in an eiderdown
comfort, and stuck slippers on her
feet and a motor veil on her head, the
glare at the front of the house was
beginning to die away She didn't un-
derstand at all, and we had no time to
explain. remember that she wanted to
go back and get her plate" whatever
that may be, but Jim took her by the
arm and hurried her along, and the
rest, who had waited, and were in
awful tempers, stood aside and let
them out first.
The door to the area steps was
open, and by the street lights we
could see fence and a gate, which
opened on a side street Jim and
Aunt Selma ran straight for the gate;
the wind blowing Aunt Selina's COM
fort like a sail. Then, with our feet,
so to speak, on the first rung of the
ladder of liberty, it slipped. A half
dozen guards and reporters came
around the house and drove us back
like sheep into a slaughter pen. 1t
was the most humiliating moment of
my life.
Dial had been for fighting a way
through, and just for a minute [
think l went Berserk myself But
Max spied one of the reporters setting
UP a flash-light as we stood, unde-
cided, at the top Of the steps, and
after that there was nothing to do but
retreat. We backed slowly, to show
them we were not afraid And when
we we're all in the kitchen again, and
had turned on the lights and Bella
was crying with her head against Mr..
Harbison's arm, Dial said, cheerfully:
We'll, it has done some good, any
how. We have lost Aunt Selma"
And we all shook hands on it, al
though we were sorry about Jim. And
Dial said we would have some cham
payne and drink to Aunt Selina's COM
fort, and we could have her teeth
fumigated and send them to her
Somebody said Poor old JIM" and at
that Bella looked up.
She stared around the group, and
then she went quite pale.
"Jim!" she gasped. "Do you mean
that Jim is-out there, too?"
Jim and Aunt Selinar' l said as
calmly as l could for joy. You see
how it simplified the situation for me.
S'By this time they are a mile away,
and going!"
Everybody shook hands again ex.
cept Bella She had dropped into a
chair, and sat biting her lip and
Breathing hard, and she would not
join in any of the hilarity at getting
rid Of Aupt Selma. Finally she got
up and knocked over her chair.
you are a lot Of towards" she
stormed. "You deserted them out
there, left them. Heaven knows
where they area defenseless old
woman, and-and a man who did not
even have an overcoat. And it is
snowing!"
Never mind" Dial said reassuring-
ly. "He can borrow Aunt Selma s
comfort Make the old lady discard
from weakness. Anyhow, Bella, if
know anything of human nature, the
old lady will make it hot enough for
him. Poor old JIM"
Then they shook hands again, and
with that there came a terrible bang
ing at the door, which we had locked
open the door!" some one com.
manded. 1t was one of the guards.
open it yourself!" Dallas called
moving kitchen table to re-enforce
the lock.
open that door or we will break II
in"
Dallas put his hands in hts pockets
seated himself on the table, anC
whistled cheerfully. We could heal
them comforting outside, and they
made another appeal, which was re.
fused. Suddenly Bella came over and
confronted Dallas.
They have brought them back!"
she said dramatically. 'They are out
there now; l distinctly heard Jim's
voice Open that door, Dallas!"
"Oh, don't let them I'M" walled
1t was quite involuntary, but the dis
appointment was too awful. Dallas
don't open that door,"
Dial swung his feet and smiled from
Bella to me.
Think what solution it is to all
orr difficulties - no said eaSilV