Part 17 (2/2)

”Probably they knew he was so unpopular he wouldn't say much to the other fellows,” explained Ned.

”Anyhow we've seen what we wanted to, though we can't make head or tail of it,” came from Fenn. ”Let's go on after the flowers.”

”The men are going away now,” Bart reported. ”They've gone back in the woods, and Sandy is there on guard again. He needn't worry, we'll not bother him.”

The boys remained on top of the hill some little while longer and then, finding a place where there were a number of beautiful wild flowers, gathered large bunches, wrapping the stems about with leaves, wet in a spring, to keep the flowers fresh.

They went through the woods so as to skirt the edge of the clearing but not near enough to it to be seen by Sandy, as they did not wish to get into a quarrel with the youth.

”Let's make some inquiries when we get back to town,” suggested Bart, ”and see if anyone has heard of a trolley line being extended, or of any surveyors at work.”

”Whom can we ask?” inquired Ned.

”You ask Judge Benton, Frank,” said Bart. ”You know him, don't you?”

”Yes,” was the answer, and Frank looked at Bart sharply, as if to see whether the suggestion was made with any particular motive. In fact Bart had mentioned the lawyer's name to see if Frank would volunteer anything about his visit to the judge's office that day. But Frank said nothing.

Rowing back was easy work, with the stream's current to help the boat along, and, early that afternoon, the boys tied up at the dock.

They took the flowers to the church, in the lecture room of which the entertainment was to be held. Miss Mapes met the boys there.

”This is very kind of you,” she said, as she took the blossoms. ”They will make the place look beautifully. I hope you didn't have much trouble.”

”Not a bit,” Frank a.s.sured her.

”I'm sure you ought to be rewarded in some way,” the teacher went on.

”We didn't do it for pay,” said Fenn.

”Of course, I know that,” responded Miss Mapes, ”but I would like to show you how much I appreciate it. Won't you come to the entertainment to-night?” and she held out some tickets.

The boys' faces showed how glad they would be to come. There was to be music, singing and tableaux, and, while the lads had money enough to buy tickets, they were glad as are most persons to get complimentary ones.

”Are you sure you can spare them?” asked Bart.

”Why I am only too glad to give them to you,” Miss Mapes said. ”I'm sure you boys deserve them if any one does. All the members of the arrangement committee get free tickets, and I appoint you special members of the flower committee,” she ended, with a laugh.

The entertainment was much enjoyed. There was good music and a number of popular songs were rendered. The affair was to close with a series of tableaux in which several young persons were to pose as famous characters. Considerable time and work had been put into this feature and everyone was anxious to see it.

Lincoln delivering one of his speeches, Was.h.i.+ngton reading his farewell address, and Pocahontas saving the life of Captain John Smith, were given with much success. The last one was to be a patriotic group, called the ”Spirit of '76,” which is often shown in pictures, the three figures, an old man and two younger ones, playing martial music on drum and fife while all about them rolls the smoke of battle.

To give the proper effect it was planned to burn a quant.i.ty of red fire back of the group to represent the mist of smoke caused by the guns, while the explosion of cannon was to be simulated.

As the curtain went up on the group there was a burst of applause when the tableaux came into view, for it was a surprise, and not down on the program. The red fire was touched off and a great cloud of smoke, made lurid by the chemicals, rolled out. Then the curtain stopped, with but half the figures in view.

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