The Nome daily nugget., 1937-08-20
,lv Go. 1t! Got Way Out Going School Circus Day."

wouldn't we Ill get sent 10 Jdllg
 q aln't meanin' to tie him." said Bill. But supposin' the bell don't ring, then what?"
 But why won't 1t ring?"
 Because 1t won't have no clapper into 1t, that's why"
 Gosh! That's right. But how would you get the clapper out of it."
 "Lissen. Tonight you an me will go down to Waughtals blacksmith shop an hook one of them big pairs of pinchers he holds the horse shoes with when putin the caulks onto 'em, an then we'll climb up into the belfry the night before circus day. an we'll just plumb pry that clapper out of the bell.
 "The janitor's deaf, so he won't know whether it's ringln' or not, an the principal he's pretty deef, too. an never starts from his home till the first bell, an the teachers that gets there first will wait for him, an when he don't come they won't know what to do unless'n they go up to his house an ask him is he sick or something, an by that time 1t will be too late to find us, because we'll all be down lOokin' at the parade"
 The logic was convincing. Those were the days before telephones were invented. and when the hard faced creatures called truant officers were unknown.
 At nine o'clock that night slid down the section of the lightning rod that was near my window, and min. ute later saw dark figure swarm the fence that surrounded his house.
 "Got the pinchers?" I said.
 Here they are."
 How are we going to get into the school house?"
 "They don't ever lock the doors. What Is there in a school house that burglar can want?"
 reasoning mind, had this com. panion of mine.
 The school house door creaked as 1t swung open, but there were no passers by to hear 1t.
 Cautiously we climbed to the top story, and made our way up the ladder that led through a trap door to the belfry. Then for an instant we fell back in terror. A swarm of baby bats, left there while their parents were forth in the search for food. famed the air about our heads, and emitted squeaks that curdled our blood. Even the intrepid Bill started down the ladder. Then his hand encountered one of the creatures and he observed Pooh, bats" But I, scared cold, was glad to notice that his voice trem. | bled.
 We'll, there is nothing much more 70 tell. It was heavy work prying that clapper out, and once. when the pinch. CTS slipped in Bill's hand It hit the bell, which gave forth a solemn single toll which sent us scurrying for the | door.
 But at last we got 1t out, and to make assurance doubly sure, took 1t home with US and buried 1t deep In our back garden, where, for all I know, | 1t still remains.
 All manner of theories were ex. pressed around our breakfast table as to why the bell didn't ring. But when at last the principal had gath. cred his wits together and sent the janitor on a house to house campaign there were no children to be found at home. Nor were they to be found till supper time that night. when they all hungered to tell of the wonders they had seen. but held their tongues ill asked where they had been. an6 then replied: "Oh just walkln' around town, and wishin' we could of gone to the circus"
 And so dear reader. if you, like me. have held the value of poetry in light regard, here is one truthful instance of It's value to humanity. For had 1t not been for Rose Hartwick Thorpe. . hundred or more deserving little chil. dren would never have seen . truly marvellous circuA
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