From  the  long  veranda  of  the  hotel  after  supper  that
evening  the  two  friends  witnessed  the  crude  display
of  holiday  fireworks  in  the  street  below.  Half  a  dozen

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Abner   Daniel

big  bonfires  made  of  dry-goods  boxes,  kerosene  and
tar  barrels,  and  refuse  of  all  kinds  were  blazing  along
the  main  street.  Directly  opposite  the  hotel  the  only
confectionery  and  toy  store  in  the  place  was  crowded
to  overflowing  by  eager  customers,  and  in  front  of  it
the  purchasers  of  fireworks  were  letting  them  off  for
the  benefit  of  the  bystanders.  Fire  -  crackers  were
exploded  by  the  package,  and  every  now  and  then  a
clerk  in  some  store  would  come  to  the  front  door  and
fire  off  a  gun  or  a  revolver.
All  this  noise  and  illumination  was  at  its  height
when  Adele 's  train  drew  up  in  the  car-shed.  The  bon
fires  near  at  hand  made  it  as  light  as  day,  and  she  had
no  trouble  recognizing  the  two  friends.
"Oh,  what  an  awful  racket!"  she  exclaimed,  as  she
released  herself  from  Alan's  embrace  and  gave  her
hand  to  Miller.
