back home-第17部分

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t　there。　　Right　spang　in　the　way　of　the　scraper。　　Isn't　that　a　woman　all　over？　　A　woman　and　a　hen；　I　don't　know　which　is　…　Well；　hel…lo！　Where'd　you　come　from？　　How's　all　the　folks？　　Where's　Lizzie？　Didn't　she　come　with　you？　　Aw；　isn't　that　too　bad？　　Scalding　hot！　Ts！　Ts！　Ts！　Seems　as　if　they　made　preserving　kettles　apurpose　so's　they'd　tip　up　when　you　go　to　pour　anything　。　。　。　。　Why；　I　guess　we　can。　　Move　over　a　little；　Charley。　　Can　you　squeeze　in？　　That's　all　right。　　Pretty　thick　around　here；　isn't　it？　　There's　the　band　starting　up。　　About　time；　I　think。　　Teedle…eedle　umtum；　teedle…eedle；　um…tum。　　〃Hiawatha；〃of　course。　　What　other　tune　is　there　on　earth？　I've　got　so　I　know　almost　all　of　it。

First　is　…　let　me　see　the　program。　　First　is　what　Mat。　King　calls　〃the　juveline　contest。〃　　It　says　here：　〃Run　with　truck　carrying　three　ladders　one　hundred　yards。　　Take　fifteen…foot　ladder　from　truck；　raise　it　against　structure〃　…　that's　the　judges'　stand　…　〃and　boy　ascend。　　Time　to　be　taken　when　climber　grasps　top　rung　of　ladder。〃　　They're　off。　　That　pistol…shot　started　them。　　Why　can't　people　sit　down？　　See　just　as　well　if　they　did。　　New　Berlin's；　I　guess。　　Pretty　good。　　He's　hanging　out　the　slate　with　the　time　on　it。　　Eighteen　and　four…fifths。　　Oh；　no；　never　in　the　world。　　Here's　the　Mt。　Victory　boys。　　See　that　light…haired　boy。　　Go　it；　towhead！　Ah；　they've　got　the　ladder　crooked。　　Eighteen。　　That's　not　so　bad　。　。　。　。　　Oh；　quit　your　fooling。　　He's　nothing　of　the　kind。　　Honestly？　What！　that　old　skeezicks？　　Who　to；　for　pity's　sake？　　Well；　I　thought　he　was　a　confirmed　old　bachelor；　if　anybody　ever　was。　　Well；　sir；　that　just　goes　to　show　that　any　man；　I　don't　care　who　he　is；　can　get　married　if　he　…　Who　were　those？　　Are　those　the　Caledonia　juveniles？　　I　don't　think　much　of　'em；　do　you？　　Seventeen　and　two…fifths。　　I　wouldn't　have　thought　it。　　So　their　team　gets　the　first　prize。　　Well；　we　weren't　in　that。

What's　next？　　〃First　prize；　silver　water…set；　donated　by　Hon。　William　Krouse。〃　　Since　when　did　old　Bill　Krouse　get　to　be　〃Honorable？〃　　Yes；　well；　don't　talk　to　me　about　Bill　Krouse。　　I　know　him　and　his　whole　connection　and　there　isn't　an　honest　hair　…　〃Association　trophy　will　also　be　competed　for。〃　　Oh；　that's　the　goldlined　loving　cup　we　saw　in　the　window。　　Our　boys　have　won　it　twice　and　the　Caledonias　have　won　it　twice。　　If　we　get　it　this　time；　it　will　be　ours　for　keeps。　　〃Run　with　truck　one　hundred　and　fifty　yards；　take　twenty…five　foot　ladder；〃　and　so　forth　and　so　forth；　Dan　O'Brien's　the　boy　for　scaling　ladders。　　He　was　going　to　enlist　in　the　Boer　War；　he　hates　the　English　so。　　Down　on　them　the　worst　way。　　And　say；　what　do　you　think？　　Last　year；　at　Caledonia；　he　won　the　first　prize　for　individual　ladder　scaling。　And　what　do　you　suppose　the　first　prize　was？　　A　picture　of　Queen　Victoria。　　Isn't　that　Caledonia　all　over？　　there's　a　kind　of　rivalry　between　our　boys　and　the　Caledonias。

Here　they　come　now。　　Those　are　the　Caledonian。　　Tell　by　the　truck　　。　。　。　。　　Do　you　think　so？　　I　don't　think　they're　anything　so　very　much。　　Nix。　　You'll　never　do　it。　　Look　at　the　way　they　run　with　their　heads　up。　　That　shows　they're　all　winded。　　Look　at　the　clumsy　way　they　got　the　ladder　off　the　wagon。　　Blap！　　The　judge　thought　it　was　coming　through　the　boards　on　him。　　Oh；　pretty　good；　pretty　good；　but　you　just　wait　till　you　see　our　boys。　　Look　at　the　fool　hanging　there　on　the　ladder　waiting　till　the　time　is　announced。　　Isn't　that　Caledonia　all　over？　　Yah！　　Come　down！　　Come　down！　　What　is　it？　Twenty…five　seconds。　　What's　the　record？　　Twenty…four　and　four…fifths？　　Oh；　well；　it　isn't　so　bad　for　Caledonia；　but　you　just　wait　and　see　what　our　boys　do。　　Hear　those　yaps　from　Caledonia　yell！　　If　there's　anything　I　despise　it　is　for　a　man　to　whoop　and　holler　and　make　a　public　spectacle　of　himself。　　　　Who's　this？　　Oh；　the　Radnors。　They're　out　of　it。　　Look　at　them。　　Pulling　every　which　way。　　That　ladder's　too　straight　up　and　down。　　Twenty…seven　and　two…fifths。　What　did　I　tell　you？　　。　。　。　　What　time　does　your　train　go？　　Well；　why　don't　you　and　your　wife　come　take　supper　with　us？　　Why　didn't　you　look　us　up　noon…time？　　。　。　。　　I　could　have　told　you　better　than　that。　　（They　went　to　the　Ladies'　Aid　dinner。）　　Well；　we　shan't　have　much；　I　expect；　but　we'll　try　and　scrape　up　something　more　filling　than　layer…cake。　　The　idea　of　expecting　to　feed　hungry　people　on　layer…cake！　　It's　an　imposition　。　。　。　。　　I　didn't　notice　which　one　it　was。　　Doesn't　matter　any　way。　　Only　twenty…eight。　　Ah；　here　are　our　boys。　　They've　got　blue　silk　running…breeches　on。　　Well；　maybe　it　is　sateen。　　Let　the　women　folks　alone　for　knowing　sateen　from　silk　a　mile　off。　　How　much　a　yard　did　you　say　it　was？　　Notice　the　way　they　start　with　their　hands　on　the　ground；　just　like　the　pictures　on　the　sporting　page　of　the　Sunday　newspapers。　　Here　they　come。　　Oh；　I　hope　they'll　win。　　That's　Charley　Rodehaver　in　front。　Run！　　Oh；　why　don't　you　run？　　Come　on！　　Come　on！　　Come　on！　　Come　on！　　COME　ON！　　COME　ON！　　COME　O　…　O…oh！　　See　Dan　skip　up　that　ladder！　　Go　it；　Dan！　　Go　it；　old　boy！　　Hooray…ay！　　Hooray…ay；　ay！　What's　the　time？　　Twenty…four！　Twenty…　four　flat！　　BROKE　THE　RECORD！　　Hooray…ay…ay！　　Where's　Caledonia　now？　　Where's　Caledonia　now？　　Oh；　I'm　so　glad　our　boys　won。　　There　goes　the　Caledonia　chief。　I'll　bet　he　feels　like　thirty　cents；　Spanish。　　Ya…a…a…ah！　　Ya…a…a…ah！　Where's　Caledonia　now？　　They　can't　beat　that；　the　other　fellows　can't；　and　it's　our　trophy　for　keeps　。　。　。　。　　Oh；　some　crank　in　the　next　row。　　〃Wouldn't　I　please　sit　down　and　not　obstruct　the　view。〃　Guess　he　comes　from　Caledonia。　　Looks　like　it。　　You　stand　up；　too；　why　don't　you？　　Those　planks　are　terribly　hard　。　。　。　。　I　didn't　notice。　　Yes；　that　wasn't　so　bad。　　Twenty…five　and　two…fifths。　　But　it's　our　trophy。　　There　goes　Dan　now。　　Hey；　Dan！　　Good　boy；　Dan！　Wave　your　handkerchief　at　him。　　Hooray…ay…ay！　Good　boy；　Dan！

Next　is　a　wet　race。　　Now　look　out。　　Let's　see　what　the　program　says：　〃Run　seventy…five　yards　to　structure；　on　top　of　which　an　empty　barrel　has　been　placed　with　spout　outlet　near　top。　　Barrel　to　be　filled　with　water　by　means　of　buckets　from　reservoir〃　…　That　big　tin…lined　box　opposite　is　the　reservoir。　　They　are　filling　it　now　with　a　hose　attached　to　the　water…plug　yonder　…　〃until　water　issues　from　spout。〃　　What　are　they　all　laughing　at？　　Which　one？　　Oh；　but　isn't　she　mad？　　Talk　about　a　wet　hen。　　Why；　Charley；　the　hose　got　away　from　the　man　that　was　filling　the　reservoir　and　the　lady　was　splashed。　　Why　don't　you　use　your　eyes　and　see　what's　going　on　and　not　be　bothering　me　to　tell　you？　　Ip！　　There　it　goes　again。　　Oh；　ho！　ho！　ho！　hee！　hee！　didn't　I　tell　you　it　would　be　fun？　　See　it　run　out　of　his　sleeves　。　。　。　。　I　always　get　to　coughing　when　I　laugh　as　hard　as　that。　　Oh；　dear　me！　Makes　the　tears　come。

These　are　the　fellows　from　Luxora。　　Oh；　the　clumsy　things！　　Let　the　ladder　get　away　from　them；　and　it　fell　and　hit　that　man　in　the　second　row　right　on　the　head。　　Hope　it　didn't　hurt　him　much。　　See　'em　scurry　with　the　water　buckets。　　Aw；　get　a　move　on！　Get　a　move！　Why；　what　makes　them　so　slow？　　〃Water；　water！〃　　Well；　I　should　think　as　much。　　Not　for　themselves　though。　　Those　fellows　at　the　bottom　of　the　ladder　are　catching　it；　aren't　they？　　Oh；　pshaw；　they　don't　mind　it。　　They　get　it　worse　than　that　at　a　real　fire　when　they　aren't　half　so　well　fixed　for　it。　　Why；　is　there　no　bottom　to　that　barrel　at　all？　　Why；　look！　。　。　。　　Say；　the　judge　forgot　to　close　the　valve。　There's　a　hose　connected　with　the　bottom　of　the　barrel　to　run　the　water　off　after　each　trial　and　he's　forgotten　to　…　。　。　。　　Well；　isn't　that　too　bad！　All　that　work　for　nothing。　　I　suppose　they'll　let　them　try　it　over　again　。　。　。　。　　That　man　must　have　got　a　pretty　hard　rap。　　They're　carrying　him　out。　　His　head's　all　bloody　。　。　。　。　Wapatomicas；　I　guess。　　Yes；　Wapatomicas。　　I　hope　the　valve's　closed　this　time。　　Whope！　did　you　see　that？　　One　fellow　got　hit　with　a　water　bucket　and　it　was　about　half…full。　　It's　running　out　of　the　spout。　　Yes；　and　it's　falling　on　those　people　right　where　you　wanted　to　sit。　　Hear　the　girls　squeal。　　Talk　about　your　fun。　　I　don't　want　any　better　fun　than　this。　　Look　at　'em　come　down　the　ladder　just　holding　the　sides　with　their　hands。　　They　couldn't　do　that　if　the　ladder　was　dry。

Ah；　here's　our　crowd。　　Come　on！　　Come　on！　　Come　on！　　COME　ON！　　Oh；　don't　be　so　slow　with　those　buckets！　　Aren't　they　fine？　　Say；　they　don't　care　if　they　do　spill　a　drop　or　two。　　Why。　　Why；　what　are　they　coming　down　for？　　It　isn't　running　out　of　the　spout　yet。　　Come　back！　　COME　BACK！　　Oh；　pshaw！　　Just　threw　it　away　by　being　in　too　much　of　a　hurry。　　That　judge　looks　funny；　doesn't　he；　with　a　rubber　overcoat　on　and　the　sun　shining？　　See；　he's　telling　them：　〃One　bucket　more。〃　　They'll　let　'em　have　another　trial；　of　course　。　。　。　。　No？　Oh；　that's　an　outrage。　　That'　s　not　fair。　　The　Caledonias　will　get　it　now。　。　。　。　　Yes；　sir；　they　did　get　it。　　Oh；　well；　accidents　will　happen。　　What？　　〃Where's　Caledonia　now？〃　　Well；　they　got　it　by　a　fluke。　　What　say？　。　。　。　　Well　only　for　…　Oh；　pshaw！　　Now；　don't　tell　me　that　because　I　was　there　and　…　　Well；　I　say　they　didn't　　。　。　。　。　I　know　better；　they　didn't　。　。　。　。　Oh；　shut　up。　　You　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about。　　I　tell　you　…　　Now；　Mary；　don't　you　interfere。　　I'm　not　quarreling。　　I'm　just　telling　this　gentleman　back　of　me　that　…　　Well；　all　right；　if　you're　going　to　cry。　　If　there　was　any　fouling　done　it　was　the　Caledonias　that　did　it；　though。

The　next　is　where　they　〃run　three　hundred　feet　from　the　judges'　stand；　raise　ladder；　hose　company　to　couple　to　hydrant；　break　coupling　in　hose　and　put　on　nozzle；　scale　ladder；　and　fill　twenty…five　gallon　barrel。〃　　Only　the　Caledonias。　and　our　boys　are　entered　in　this。　　Now　we'll　see　which　is　the　best。　　All　right；　Mary；　I　won't　say　a　word　。　。　。　。　Say；　for　country…jakes；　those　Caledonias　didn't　do　so　badly。　　I　give　them　that　much。　　Look　at　the　water　fly！　I'll　bet　those　folks　near　the　judges'　stand　wish　they'd　brought　their　umbrellas。　　Now　you　see　why　these　are　the　best　seats；　don't　you？　　I　told　you　I'd　been　to　Firemen's　Tournaments　before。　　What？　You'll　have　to　talk　louder　than　that　if　you　want　me　to　hear　with　all　this　noise　。　。　。　。　Oh；　that'll　be　all　right。　　They'll　be　so　hungry　they　won't　notice　it。

Here；　be