The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-08-21

scared like, and Mis- Homer Jewell herself was as white sheet. But she held her chin up.
 Such awful conditions called for strong meas ures,' she said, and then she asked how many would volunteer to help carry out the plan; and when sel you what that plan was you will wonder-as do nov posed the awfulest thing But the ladies of the Is prcvernet Society rallied around her; and after she had explained the plan 10 old Mis- Ban1ber, who is some deaf, got down to business.
 Ms Jewell set right to work appointing commit tees We stayed there till most eleven o'clock and then home still. Aside from its being secret we didn't ated how soldiers must feel before battle We'll I'll tell the rest just as 1t happened
 When Old Bamber came down to breakfast next morning, there nobody there but Emmy Jane Old Mis- Baber was gone, and Joe Tillinghasts wife was gone, and Mis- Homer Jewell and Alice and Anne Jenkins, and every last member of the Improvement Society Of course it created some surprise; but as of the men knew that anybody elses wife was gone he didn't realize all the awful possibilities of the situation.
 Perhaps the most astonished man in town tha. morning was Abjah Moore when he to unlock mornngs-warm and balmy-and sitting every one of the nine barrels in front of the woman
 On Od Banners barrel was Ms Banioer Shed brought along her knitting, and she sat there just if she was sitting in her rocker with patchwork cushions in the south window of her own kitchen.
 Next to her was Mis- Sawyer. Mis- Sawyer is a of imagination, and she had brought along the awfulest old dime novel she had found hid under Jinlr1ys mattress. It had real bright yellow cover,
 
 Clutch. Mis- Sawyer had forgotten her glasses and she said how she was more than sorry, for she'd grms Progress and Daily Helps and if she had got to be real wicked for the good of the and the up lifting of humanity it stood her in hand to get just as much fun out of it as she could
 They posted the next barrel, next to Abiena Treat who was engaged to the minister. could see that Abilena was scared Perhaps she was afraid it didn't behoove future minister's wife to be carrying things with such high hand.
 Mis- Tillinghast mending shirt for Joe Td- lnghast. It pretty ragged, and Mis- Tilinghast thought maybe if old Joe saw it nended on the four corners-thrust, so to speak, into the public eyehe % ea a1 gye hee sav M sne n n b him
 Phoebe Ayers kind of scrooehed Up against the wall. Phoebe is tnaid little thing and they do say she's set her heart John Jonas Jewell the same as was singing that ungody song about hens. I was sorry for her. Alice Jewell cheering her up. Alice is devoted to Phoebe.
 barrel as if it was throne and she ermine and vel vet instead of clean dotted print When anybody IS born lady, neither barrels, hens any other trying circumstances can't change the fact There was red spot in either cheek, and her mouth set considerable firm
 "Abah was certainly surprised. He didn't say much but he looked eloquent. Mis- Jewell spoke up and says she Good morning Abijah. These are such nice seats and it's such fine day, thought we'd have little outing
 "Abijah looked queerer than ever and his scfaggy red mustachc began to quiver like leaf in strong in Old Ms Banaber and Mis- Sawyer trying 10 read The Deadly Clutch and he into fiis store awful right down cellar. There strange sounds from down-cellar They came out through the cellar windows, and for a minute two some of them thought Abijah had beer took with a ft But knew Abijah of old, and wasn't worried.
 "It got to be half past seven and except Simon Brownes youngest boy and Ezra Williams, the post office clerk and Mir Nate Alien. who kept the Ern- porum, the men hadn't showed up. We set on our barrels and uncomfortable nine women could very well be- Abjah came out and offered to get us chairs from the town hall He said could line up in battle array in front of the barrels and that it would do just well, besides being what were used to; but had every one of made Up minds be martyrs-and martyrs we were, can tell you
 We could look across to the hotel and see Drucia Bronson and Cousin Maria Case and several more in those chairs, and Anne Jenkins and Cornea Grant stood on the corner.
 Well, the must have spread, for pretty soon the begun to arrive from all sides. Old Rambe- made for his barrel and you ought to have seen him when he Mis- Barnber setting there knitting away for dear life.
 Morning JacobY she says; hadn't you better 20 fishing pursue other useful employment this beautiful day-something that will sort of be uplifting to the community?
 "'What are you trying to do, Almry?' asked Jacob, kind of scared like his eye travelled down that line of
 "sP1aying follow my leader, Jacob says Mis- Bam- Der, pertly. Run along home, Jacob
 "Od Joe Tillinghast was approaching It was quite evident that he was bound for the barrel He is but even he couldn't help seeing Mis- Tiinghast and that old shirt. First he looked surprised then some mad
 "sGo home, Marthy." he ordered Mis- Tilinghast, "'No,' says Mis- Tiinghast, firmly; sNo,' Joseph, an't been treated yet. l was thinking maybe Josh Meadows or Jonathan Edwards or Jacob Banber would treat me-.
 Zoe Tillinghast tried to look at her sternly and somehow couldn't help laughing l guess kind of hysteriky, and no wonder. Anyway, Old Bam- ber and he moved off by the post-oflce, where they stood and talked real earnest and made enough