Pluck And Luck (no. 477) (1907 07 24)
The text was read from the page scans by machine (OCR), so it has mistakes and its columns may run together. See the pages · About this title · At the Internet Archive
Page 1
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 2
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 3
2 LIBERTY HOSE. “Why did you throw that egg?” asked one of the men. “Tet me go!” howled the youth, both frightened and angry at the same time. “I didn’t do nothin’.” “Yes, you did, and this proves it,” said Ned, pulling three or four eggs from the coat pocket of the prisoner. “Now, what have you to say for yourself?” “T ain’t got nothin’ to say,” answered Jack, sullenly. + “What shall we do with him, Liberties?” inquired Tibbits, turning to his men. “Duck him in the horse pond!” “No—put him under the pump!” “T have a proposition to make, gentlemen,” said Ned. “Hear—hear!” cried several. “Order—order, Liberties!” said Tibbits, as the hubbub of yoices continued. : In a moment there was silence. Hven Jack Rann, with mouth wide open and msicnded eyes, stood still to hear his fate. “You are all aware,” began Ned, “that there is a pig-pen close to the Smashers’ engine-house?” “The engine-house itself is a pig-pen!” shouted a voice. “Ty. is dirty enough for one, at any rate,” said Tibbits. “Well, the owner of the pig-pen is old Ben Thompson, who lives in a shanty close to his property. He will be ready enough. to lend us one of his pigs for a mere trifle. To this pig we will lash our friend here and send him on to the Smashers! ” “Good—good!” shouted one ie the men. “A pig is-too good for him!” cried another. “Tt know it,” said Ned, quickly, “but then we can’t find anything worse.” “Brave—bravo!” cried several. “How are we to get the pig here?” inquired one. “Ben can bring it to us in his dog cart. I will go and speak for it if the rest of you will take care of the prisoner.” , Ned was soon on his way. Ben Thompson’s habitation was about a quarter of a mile off. As the foreman passed the engine-house of the Smashers, he could see the members, clad in dirty red shirts, uproarious- ly talking and laughing as they sat on benches smoking and drinking. There was a whole demijohn of grog on a table there, with cards and dice. “Hope: Jack will get rid of all his. eggs,” said one of the ‘men, as Tibbits, whom they did not recognize in the dim light, passed the open, door. The others laughed. “Te ’twasn’t agin the law, I’d like to throw a bombshell in among them Liberties Bree of eggs!” said another of the - members. : / Ned, with a quiet smile, Passes on. He knocked at Thompson’s door. The proprietor in ‘person opened it for him, and the bargain was soon made. Tibbits went habk to the Liberties, and half an hour later Thompson, who was a Welshman, brought the hog—an enor- mous one—which he dumped in the very door of the engine- house. ‘ / A “Her has brought you the pig,” he said, “but if you hurt it, her will have to charge for damages.” ‘So saying, he drove away, while some of the men, having ‘seized the hog, held it Lian in a of its struggles to break ae away. At Jength Jack Rann was firmly lashed to it with ropes, and away went the hog, squeaking ew oracle as it staggered ‘along with its load. Some of the Liberties followed it. part: of the way. \ looped from the ceiling. 2 ¥ qt made Bersightt for. the’ ey ay athe baleen wvhere: tts], pen was located, its unwilling rider kicking, squirming and howling in his vain effort to free himself. There were but few houses on the road, but theewindows of these flew open, and faces were seen peering out inquisitively. The Liberties roared with Jaughter, especially when an elderly German lady came running out of:a small building with a broom in her hand, and for a while made futile efforts to stop the hog. _ At last the young firemen saw the animal approach the engine-house of the Smashers. ° Out came the latter on hearing the din to discover the situ- ation of one of their members. — ' Words were inadequate to describe the rage of the half drunken gang. They shook their clenched fists in the direc- tion of the quarters of their rivals, and gave utterance to diabolical threats and curses. CHAPTER II. THE FIREMEN’S BALL. On the. following night the Liberties met to talk over their arrangements for a ball, which they intended to give at the : Plattsville Hotel—a large old-fashioned house, kept by a Ger- man and his wife by the name of Schwartz. z “Yd recommend each of you to bring a club there, and to fill your pockets with stones,” said Ned, laughing. “Why?” inquired Tom Loper, a spirited young fellow on his right, whose sister Tibbits had always admired as the prettiest girl in the village. “On account of the Smashers. not leave us alone.” j “Schwartz has promised to have policemen there.” _ “I know he has promised it, but I also know he is too stingy to keep his word. Perhaps he thinks his wife is equal to two policemen.” - “She’s a whopper, that’s a fact. Do you remember thé time she whipped one of the Smashers for breaking her singer beer bottle?” i ee “Yes; she could whip two men any day. She is as strong as an elephant. “Wouldn’t be a bad plan to have her for one of our members.” : } “That wouldn’t do. She weighs nearly two hundred, pounds, and could fight better than she could run.” “Well, laying ‘all joking aside, I hope Schwartz will have | the police there, for the ladies’ sake. They would be fright-— ; ened to death in case of trouble.” : As Ned spoke, the beautiful face of Fanny Loper, whom he — intended to escort to the ball, arose before his mind. He did not like the idea of anything occurring to frighten her or mar her pleasure in the slightest degree. “The worst of it is there are no policemen within ten ities” of here,” said Tom Loper, “However, to make a sure thing of it, I will go and engage a few to come, after I oe ae office.” “That will not be until six o’elock; the ball opens at has Ze “T think I can get back in time.” its Ag all the other men had business which would keep them ny until a still later hour, Loper’s plan was agreed upon. i. On the next day, at nine o’clock, the ball party was present. It was held in a large room on the second floor, decorated with garlands of flowers, and with the words “Liberty Hose” handsomely worked in gilt letters on festoonb, oF wee ae Depend upon it, fey will The vine? and their fends numbered about a teins
Page 4
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 5
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 6
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 7
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 8
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 9
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 10
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 11
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 12
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 13
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 14
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 15
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 16
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 17
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 18
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 19
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 20
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 21
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 22
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 23
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 24
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 25
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 26
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 27
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 28
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 29
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 30
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 31
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 32
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 33
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 34
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.