The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1918-03-21
At The PlayhOuSeS A@H

Of special munitions for the govern
ment."
Gossip expatiated on this theme In
decidedly animated way during the
next week. The old barn had been
surrounded with a high barb-wire
fence. There were signs of danger ~
keep Out!" and the like. Some ma
chinery and ominOus Handle With
Care" casks and boxes were admitted
to the grewsome structure. A sallow-
! faced, dreamy-eyed individual abb
stractedly haunted the place, as If so
engrossed In thought that he appeared
utterly oblivious to extraneOus OBJ
jects.
"Who's your friend, Joel?" ocular
ly questioned an acquaintance Of
Joel's.
Hes an inventor" answered Joel.
'and a good one"
"Inventing something for you?
"He is-for me and the government"
complacently advised Joel.
"What may it be, now?"
"a bomb"
"Shoo what kind of a bomb?"
swell, don't mind telling you. We
call it the Pepper Bomb They've used
all kinds of poison. shrapnel, fire
bombs. The enemy's latest is the mus
tard bomb. We go them one better.
It's my contribution to the war de-
partment. That is, If we succeed in
perfecting a device that will blind an
approaching army, and make the SOL
diers sneeze their heads of. We pro-
pose to make the service a free gift
of formula and material"
1t was four months later that Joel
dismissed his hired inventor, and
strolled the streets of his native vii
lage a proud and happy man. He
might well be, for little item in the
local newspaper covering a dispatch
from Washington recited the fact that
"Joel Bryson Of Rossville had contrib
uted to the government valuable shell
which had stood all tests, and which
entitled him to appreciation Of all pa
triotic citizens"
"It's a thousand dollars well spent"
declared JOEL "Tve done my bit, and
now I'm going to pitch in and hustle
for the approaching election"
1t was Saturday evening just pre-
vious to that interesting event, when
Joel about dusk went out to the barn
that had been transformed into a work.
shop. He carried a lantern, and his
thought was to gather up what was
left Of the powder used in the manu-
facture of the pepper bombs and set
1t off with great flare in the town
square to attract the people to the
meeting Of the Regulars.
Joel set the lantern down careless
ly, never noting until too late that 1t
had overturned. There was a binding
glare, a crash of breaking timbers,
some flying object struck his head, and
he knew no more. 1t was fortunate
that three of his political adherents
reached the house Just as the explo-
sion occurred. PROSTATE and sense1ess,
Joel was the center Of great shooting
masses of fame. He was singed in
face and hands, his clothing was on
fire In a dozen places. They hurried
him to the hospital, and there for q
week he lay, mostly unconscious.
Slowly, under more excellent care
than he realized. Joel Bryson came
back to sensibility and reason. He lis
tened, awed, to the narrative of his
peril and rescue. Then his hand hap
pened to 60 up to his face.
"Why," he exclaimed with q great
start, my beardi"
Burned of In the explosion; hair,
too"
'H'ml Well, I shall have to let II
grow again"
mo you won't" grinned the attend.
ant.
"why notT
"The Regulars won the election"
"Glory!" fairly shouted Joel, weak
as he was.
Better than that. John Wilson, the
candidate for village president, in rec
ognition Of your services to the gov
eminent and your latest misfortune,
vacated the candidacy in your favor,
and you were elected"
81 wonder" said Joel, after deep
thought, "what Edith will say nowr"
"You mean Miss Harperr muir
INJURED the clever attendant. "She has
been here every day to see you. In
fact, sir, she is now In the waiting
room. Do you wish to see her, sirr
"DO-I-wish-to- I" gasp
ed Joel in a delicious state Of long
Ing. "Oh, Edithp
She seemed to float into the room,
an ethereal angel Of mercy and COM
passion. She was kneeling by his side,
crying with Joy.
Edith, have you changed your
mindT he asked softly.
"Oh, JOEL" she fiuttered, "after all
your suffering and your heroic service
for the government, I'll marry you II
your hair came to your waist and your
beard to your feetl"
New Breaking Birdie.