Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-03

tuck that night was disappointed when the par
cells were carried to the study that Bill enjoyed
by virtue Of being prefect But that evening
they transferred everything to an unused wood
rick In Elstow, for the use Of which a
shocked rustic had thankfully accepted shil-
ling. They lived through school. somehow. on
the morning Of the Fourth: It wasn't easy. but
they had no choice. They were free with the
ending of the mornings last lesson. and set out
at once along the Bedford road. leaving un-
suspicious school, incapable of imagining so dire
an insult, behind them. But when they had
gone quarter Of a mile they heard an out
break of shouts and cries behind them.
II guess they've seen I'll" said Bill-and was
proud that he had guessed and not fancied.
Seen what?" said Ted
"Oh, forgot to tell you! put up a notice
the board Just this: The school Is in
vited to attend display of fireworks. to cele-
brate the Fourth Of July. Independence day. at
o'clock tonight And signed our names!"
That's the plu-perfect touch!" said Ted.
"Oh. Bill-don't you ever let anyone make
Engshman OF you!"
II don't believe our dear classmates love US
very much just now," said Jim. "Bill, II were
French I'd kiss you!"
They lunched at the hotel In superb state;
money orders had come for Little and Murray,
as well as the fireworks. from fathers who re-
membered not only their own boyhood but cer-
tain evidences of British condescenson of moro
recent date.
A cinema was tempting but Bedford was no
safe haunt for them that afternoon. They
could trust the school, they knew; that threat
ened show Of fireworks could never come Off IL
they put themselves in the way of being cap
tured. And so, after. lunch they were off, cir.
cling the school widely, striking out into open
country. out of bounds for all save those who
were, like themselves of the Sixth They had
tea in an old thatched farmhouse: eggs warm
from the nest. foamy milk, Strawberries with
clotted cream rock cakes.
Later, as the shadows grew longer, they
made their way back. with infinite caution, to-
ward the school. Scouting parties were out
looking for them; they avoided roads and made
their way through fields Of mangel wurzel and
potatoes, sinking deep In the soft earth. Twice
they watched parties Of the enemy, lying hidden
behind thick hedges But they came to Elstow
at last, somewhere near o'clock 1t was not
dark. But then, indeed, real darkness would
not come at all that night, and it was dark
enough for the fireworks to make a show
They mad chosen their spot and prepared it
against their need It was in a remote corner Of
the playing fields. with the embankment of the
Midland railway at the back and a brick wall
at one side. They had contrived q sort of bar.
ricade of branches to protect their front: tne
other flank was covered by a jungle OF thorn
pushes. Their approach with their burden in
VOWED q double crossing Of the railway
ana double breach Of the sternest of all school
emDdnkment
strictly forbidden But they were dealing in
sheep, now. not in lambs.
SiGV;y they made their way. They had to
wait for two trains to pass. But they were
ready at last. Pockets were planted in the
ground: roman candles, giant crackers sauibs
were piled up; to the brick wall was afIixed the
set piece that was their crowniag glory--a thing
'",,Iss1 to set great American leg ehlaze.
Eagerly they studies their watches They
could near murmur of Voices from the atrec
ton or the flVeS court the
They might have set off their drypav at EIsto,y
and escaped before pursuit could re,~h then,
But it had seemed to them that their ho.or wa.
involved in staying on school ground.
Time" said Bill. at last, and lit the fuse a.
the first rocket. For a moment it hissed ant
sputtered; then streak of fire shot upward.
ana minute later, with bang, the rocket
burst, high above them, in a constellation of red
and green and yellow stars. Ted had lighted
the set pfece already, as the rocket burst, stars
ana stripes were appearing on the WALL
There was yell from the fves court; at once
they saw dark mass charging across the field
They're going to rush u.s." said Bill Aim
the roman candles right at them-and chuck
some squibs to go off at their feet! They won't
be hurt, but fancy they'll stopv'
So they Stood roman candles in their hands
pouring out threatening balls of fire, fingng
lighted squibs and giant crackers There was no
harm In the false fire they flung, but the moral
effect was tremendous. 1t took more than boy.
lsn nerves could furnish to face that barrage:
furiously the great American flag burned bright
ly and the rockets rose.
Come out. you sneaks! Fight fair! You're
trying to put our eyes out"
We'll fight fair II you>will!" That was Ted.
We'll take You on three at time!"
There was another rush. but again the ro-
man candles and the exploding crackers checked
it.
Come on-come on, you cadsv' Bill cried
who's afraid now?"
Turf was flying: stones: fives balls small and
hard, that some genius in the attacking force
had thought of bringing up. But the spirits
OF the Americans scared high, like the rockets
they sent skyward; they were above feeling
pain. And so It went, until. at last, they had
made good their boast, and the last rocket had
flown upward. the last candle been discharged.
The flag was fading out now, as star after star,
stripe after stripe, burned out
The school scented its chance; charged again,
and swept over the barricade this time, to vic
tory. But 1t was a victory hollow and cheap.
The numbers were too great for discrimination
when blows were being dealt friend struck
friend as often as foe. And then the masters,
who had been strangely deaf to all the tumult,
came and discipline came into its own again.
20. come on, fellows!" cried Bill What do
we care for these cads? They can't fight unless
they're hundred to one!"