The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-06-03
.,geleeteA Story.
PERILoUs HEIGHT.
Thrilling Adventure on a chimney-Top.

Thrilling Adventure on a Chimney-Top.
The most intensely exciting narrative
we have read for many. day, is the tol-
lowing story from a new London maga-
zine, entitled the Qaiuer - -..
A man will go blind, and mad too, from
fear" I have seen it happen, and if you
don't mind listening, will tell you the
story. was; apprenticed to builder
when I left school, and soon got to like
the trade very much, especially when the
work. was periloas and gave me a chance
to too out do the other lads in daring. "Spi-
der,n was my nickname in those days,
givenrpartly on account ofamy long legs,
for I had outgrown my proportions, and
partly because they said | could crawl
along a roof like my namesake. When
Iwas about three-and twenty l was work
ingrwith the famous DIR. -, and went
down to Swansea with his picked hands
to carry out n contract he had taken IN
that town. While there L fell in love
with the prettiest girl | had seen in
Wales, and that is saying q good deal.
For time iaheied she liked me, and
that was getting on very we'll with my
Iove-making, but l soon found my mis-
take, for an old lover of hers joined our
men, and Mary gave me the cold should
or directly. You may believe this sweet
heart of hers (who was called Ben
LloydD and were not the best friends
in tho world; but l am not the sort OF
fellow to harbor malice, and when the
biddings to the wedding vent round, and
1 knew that my chance was gone. made
the best of it; | kept my sore heart to
myself, and determined to boat down
jealousy by being great chums with Ben.
Il went to the wedding; and there were
uot many days when 1 did not steal half
an. hour to, sit by his freside, which was
as bright and cosy and home-like as, you'd
Wish 10 sce-Mary being the soul Of order
and industry. 1t is not, perhaps, the
usual way Of driving out envy, to go and
look at the happiness another man has
done you out of, but you know the pro-
verb says; I"What'is Que mans meat is
another mans poison = and so it was, |
got To look upon Mary as Il sort OF Sis
ter, and Ben had no cause for jealousy,
Though there were plenty Of evil tongues
ready to put him up to it.s.7far I:ipt.r
The contract was nearly up when
lightuing conducLorupon QUO OF the high
est eliimneys over at Llanclly sprang,
and. the owner of the works offered our
master the job.
ats Just the sort of thing for you,
Harry" said Mr.. -, when he told us
of it. touched my cap, and accepted it
off.hand, and then Ben stepped up and
said he'd volunteer to be the second man,
two being required. H ETl
'sAlI right" said the master, 'you arc
the steadiest headed fellows have The
price is a good one, and every penny OF
it shall be divided between you. Well
not fix day for tho work, but take the
first calm morning, and get it done quiet
ly."
SOFT was that, some four or five morn
ings after, VIC found ourselves at Llanel-
ly, and all ready for the start. The kite
by which the line attached to the block
was to be sent over the chimney was
flown aud did its work we'll the rope
which was TO haul up the cradle was
ready, and stepping in, Ben and l began
the ascent.
There had been very few people about
when we went into the cradle, but as we
got higheri saw that the news had
spread, and thatth streets were filling
with sight-seeers.
'There's plenty of star. gazcrs, Ben," ]
said, waving my cap to them; 81 dare
say they'd like to see us come down with
a'rur." ........'
."Cannot you keep quiet ?" answered
Ben, speaking in strange tone; and
turning to look, l saw that he was dead
ly pale, and sat in the bottom of the,cra-
die, huddIod up together, with his eyes
half shut.
"Youre not frightened, old chap =" I
asked. i:
aWhat's that to yeu?"
sob, nothing; only we are getting up
pretty quickly, and you'd havo a better
head for work if you'd get gradually used
80 the height" .'.1
He said nothing and never moved.
Then looking up saw we were close to
she top-a few yards more and we would
be there, yet those who were turning
continued with unabatcd speed. A sud
den chill run through my blood and set
my flesh creeping. They had miscalcu-
lated the distance, ard with the force
they were winding at, the rope must in
evitaby break when the cradle came in
contact with the block There was no
time to attempt signal, only an instant
to point out the danger to Ben, and then
to get hold of the rope, and by going
hand over, reach the coping before the
cradle came up. This was done almost
quicker than can tell you, Ben follow
ing.
The cradle came on; then, as I antici-
pated, the rope gave a sbrill, pingng
sound, like rifle ball passing through
The air, and snapped. Down went the