Show BI flakk B if there was a wilder specimen of reckless tough hided humanity in the world than bud bradley the residents of the sandy sun dried little western town of Love locks know it everybody knew bud like a town pump and they all ired they know any good of hua dt this massaid more in a good nathiol spirit than from any ill will they bore him for he was known to bs like most of his clasa full of fun i and generous to a fault when bud wu in town the town generally lanew it there was sure to be a cloud of dust sailing around in his wake he was ever on the move and when ha moved the earth trembled that is to a halted extent and it came to be s saying among the people of that region when any disturbance was afoot its either a stampede of cattle or bud broke loose again some of the quietly disposed members of the little community hoped biarum fellow would get a lesson some day that would tone him down a and give their nerves a rest and he got it it was on the glorious fourth of july and bud was not only jolted nearly to a jelly but he was mortified beyond measure and all through his own inane efforts to fittingly celebrate the anniversary of our national independence according to his preconceived notion buch a thing as a fourth of july celebration was never thought of in that part of the country it was too far away from civilization there were firearms and fi enough but fireworks were not to be had without ending abroad for them the cowboys sometimes had what they termed little flar eup a sort of bacchanalian with gunplay gun play trimmings but this kind of demonstration waa too tame for bud and he made up his mind to introduce a change in the pro gramme and some days beforehand he laid his plans and warned the boys to be on the watch for there was going to be such a display in Love locks on the coming fourth as would cause the american eagle to flap his wings and crow yankee doodle the fourth of july came around and found Love locks as quiet drowsy and dusty as on any other day of the year and with the exception of an occasional knot of two or three cattlemen lounging about alie doorways of the stores there was nobody astir thus FOB THE 0 the almost torrid day dragged through to its close and the loungers began to wonder what had become of bud and bis promised exhibition they lingered on until the lights began to glint here and there in the windows and just as they had abandoned the hope of seeing buda they were brought up ding by the rush of something down the main street that to their startled resembled a six tailed fiery comet with skyrocket attachments on rampage it was only bud ye no mistake about that and auch a spectacle they never had witnessed he was astride a wildly charging steer to long horna were tied a couple of tall stream auk flags and at whose tail hung a huge bunch of exploding firecrackers from end to end the frenzied creature was be decked with streamers of red white and blue bud himself sight to behold uia face was streaked la redskin anil blue a dozen small flags were stuck round his hatband and in each hand was monster roman candle belching forth balls of variegated fire at every jump of the maddened animal he bestrode through the town the blazing apparition streaked it accompanied by the unearthly yells of its moving spirit and urged on by the fusillade of pistol shots and chiea which its appearance had awakened but alas there was chaos lurking pi the gloaming into the I 1 open doorway of A neat little cottage at a turn in the jubilant bud waa cast headlong and away to its na tive heath bolted bis terrified steed and hwo at nil chan fallen eldoy was deposited in a tangled mou at the feet of the only girl in the world choso whoso love he cared to win bud made his escape and vs not seen in town far sera dayi when he did show up he sported a paten on his face and a limp and when interrogated concerning his great july celebration with great he ejaculated ah cope off but he got the girl all right |