Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1913-01-21

you, daughter!" He looked keenly
ut her.
"Why, no father. I'd be sorry to
do anything in opposition to your
wishes, but you know have a right
to nay happiness" Her voice was
curiously like his own as she spoke
"You mean that you will elope with
him."
"Oh, no; some day you will give
your consent"
"Never!" declared Jacob as he
picked up his newspaper. "By the way,
Alice, you've invited a lot Of people
down to Edgebank for the Fourth,
haven't your"
/ "Yes-and will you please order
the fireworks, father? We want
display for the evening after the big
dinner"
! VERY well, I'll attend to it my.
self"
i It was the very night before the
Fourth when Jacob sellew remem-
bsred the fireworks. His daughter
and the servants had already gone
| OO"A " IuV SOuASAy uOuoCs oAU AS
was stopping at a hotel. There was
new motor car to 60 down, too.
and he had decided to drive 1t him
self as he was q skilled operator and
the roads were perfect.
He ordered the fireworks by tele-
phone and stopped for them with
the new car, for Alice had sent in an
urgent reminder Of their need. A
few minutes afterward he went on
his way, the tonneau Of the car and
every available inch of room in the
seat beside him being filed with
explosives.
Rockets and Roman candles, red
and green fire, set-pieces and cannon
crackers made up the assortment
Jacob Sellew made an annual sac
rtfice Of gunpowder to show his
patriotism.
His trip across the ferry and along
the suburban roads was uneventful.
Things did not really begin to hap
pen until he reached the turnpike and
speeded q little.
The new car worked like q clock
well-oiled. smoothly running clock.
The moon rose and made the road
white and clear. There were still five
miles between him and his home.
He decided to smoke. He forgot that
he carried load Of explosives.
He lighted q cigar and hummed q
little tune. Something went wrong
and the machine wabbled It would
not respond to the steering wheel.
and just as he reached the curve Of
the road that bordered Cyrus Ken
bricks estate the machine swung
into the well-traveled roadway and
entered the grounds Of Jacob Sci
LEWIS bitter business enemy.
To describe Mr.. Sellew's anger
would be painful. He swore as he
tossed his cigar aside and jammed
all the levers and turned the wheel
this way and that.
In his chagrin at the situation he
lost his nerve and sat helplessly. as
the machine wabbled up the avenue,
freakishly turned aside to cross the
lawn, only to stagger to q standstill
in the midst of rose garden in front
Of the big house.
There were people sitting in the
veranda and he heard ordinations
and mans shout.
Then the real performance began.
A rocket Kissed from behind him and
shot horizontally across the park. 1t
burst its flaming way through q
handsome spruce tree and left de
struction in Its wake. Other rockets
shot forth in the most independent
manner. Fortunately most Of them
were headed away from the house.
Roman candles pouted. red fre
blazed luridly and the cannon crack.
ers roared as they wrecked the new
automobile.
Jacob Sellew was on the ground,
dancing frantically around the dan.
gerous display, lodging rockets and
candles with surprising agility.
All at once came some stablemen
headed by Jack Kendrick. carrying
long hose. In three minutes the
blaze was extinguished and Jacob
Sellew was standing by the singed
and smoking machine waiting the
approach Of his arch enemy.
What could he say?
| Jack stood little aside. ...
! Cyrus Kendrick stamped across the
lawn and shook his fist in Mr..
Sellew's bewildered face.
What do you mean, sir, by tres.
passing on my grounds and making
an exhibition like this-eh? Are
you eraxy!"
For the first time in his career,
Mr.. Sellew found himself making
humble apologies to Cyrus Kendrick.
He was deeply grateful when they
appeared to believe his story. He
could have embraced Cyrus Kendrick
when that gentleman told him to
forget It," and led him into the
library to partake Of stimulants.
Truthfully speaking. Jack had
winked at his parent. Otherwise
Cyrus might not have displayed this
forgiving shirt. for his garden was