The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-12-29
Where shall the ban

NOur ascension 1T bNO y CIoCni "iVN - -
now quarter past One?
1T IS" exclaimed Steele, in surprise !
Then must be off instantly" he moved
toward the door. but suddenly turned and
came back. I've . thought, Thavies
Go up in the balloon with me, wont you
1t is a rare offer. | know the ropes rs well
as do nv own name. and there II be no
danger. The fact is, want to talk with
you"
Thavies was taken little aback.
II should like to try such an adventure,
he said. What time will we come down, |
and whereY"
Any time, anywhere Some time and |
somewhere all right, be assured. Come! |
After a little further hesitation Thavles |
agreed. They set off for Green's Gardens |
at once, stopping by The way only to pur-
chase some bottles Of rum and box Of
sandwiches, and on their arriving at their
destination found the balloon already IN |
iiated and the crowd gathered TO see it oil. |
Just in the nick of time" said Steele.
Jump in. old boy" Thavies stepped
into the swaying basket, feeling very GU
rious and doubtful and the aerOnaut fol
lowed. A band of music commenced to
play, and the multitude cheered Justify.
|Cut off, shouted Steele. We've got
everything, l believe. Yes; ali right.
Now, don't be nervous, Harry; take hold
of the valve rope; that'll do. Give way.
And swaying slowly from side to side,
up they went. Thavies chung to the edge
of the basket, at first in great alarm, but
Steele laughed.
Pooh you can't pitch me out he
said Look at met sit very calmly on
this tlying-trapeze arrangement, and drink
your health"
He opened one of the rum bottles and
took huge swallow.
Now to business Is the ballast al cor
rect? Quite, Ell? Everything i'll its
place. l believe? Yes. Then let us make
ourselves comfortable
But this advice was quite tllrcwn away
on Thavies.
"Idon't feel very comfortable. | must
confess, Joe" he returned, Clinging to the
side of the basket with both hands. "
wish | hadn't come"
They were rising at a great rate now.
No speed in the world could have been as
rapid
Pshaw, that sort of feeling will soon
wear off | experienced it at first
" But it don't wear off in the least"
Higher, higher, and higher they few.
Suddenly, Steele, who had been devour
ing the sandwiches and disposing of more
rum, cried out:
Look over the edge, Harry"
Thavies, by a great effort Of will,
steadied himself with his feet and p eped
down The sight was strange beyond de-
scription. All New York in one vast pic
ture, far below
ITS grand" he murmured.
Grand, is it, repeated Steele, glancing
down from the side OF the car. so it is"
He got up md stood with folded arms.
"Now, dear boy, let nae tell you some
thing; you will never see New York
again"
He burst into wild peal of laughter.
~ didn't ecci,1 anxious when | asked you
to take voyage with ne, did /? But
was My heart stood still While you were
making up your mind"
Thavies stared AT HIM perfectly unable
to comp ehend He had fallen into the
extremity of dread and terror. His blood
seemed to freeze in his veins.
Yes, old boy, your time has come. You
will never go back to Mary Graham again.
We are alone here. shall pitch YOU out,
then sink down comfortably myself, and
say you stumbled over rope and fell.
Who will know the difference"
Then the whole truth flashed upon
| Henry Thavies-his companion was a
mailman.
Get up, friend of my soul?' continued
Steele, with horrible laughter, rolling up
| his sleeves; eve are called upon the stage"
and then addressing an imaginary audi
ence, Ladies' and gents, you will now
witness the rare fete of strength, produced
only On this occasion, entitled n Fight for
LifeI"
Thavies still held on the basket, par
alyzed
There is no time to lose, Harry. The
higher we rise the further we fall. If you
drop heels upward YOU viii bc likely to
have headache aftcrward. Come on
His voice was growing husky, and he
staggered a little. Clearly the rum he had
swallowed was taking It's effect.
well. then" said Thav;es, family,
"you must allow he a drink to nerve my
self, you know am not in condition for
good wrestlen
Steele instantly poured on; tulnblerfull
of the spirits, and handed it over. Fhavies
drank it with cagerness. He waited q
while TO recover his balance by means Of
the draught, and then stood up deadly
pale.
Heavens have mercy upon me-" he
prayed.
The mad aeronaut made one spring, his
hand open and ewes wildly staring; but
Thavics caught his shock fatty, Then
the dreadful struggle commenced. They
held each other with grips of iron, neither
yielding an inch, and both pushing with all
| their might toward the edge OF the car.
The basket swayed from side TO side. and
the bottles craunched under their feet
But Thavics felt himself giving away ;
his enemy's strength was beyond all oppo-
stion Yet still they fought, the weaker
going backward until both stood on the
very brink.
Your hour has come, Harry" shouted
Steele Goodbye, old friend, I'll take
your love to Mary"
The wife's name decided the contest.
With one superhuman effort, Thavies
darted down between the others. legs
! tripped him, and in another instant, the
mailman, with desparing cry, fell headfore-
most into space!
| 1t was sometime before Thavies
managed to lower himself; but no anxiety
on this score equaled that which had gone
before.
MIR. john +. FOSTER, of Nashua, n.
| H., has in his possession castlron fire
back, three feet in length by two in width,
and one inch thick, br ught to this coun-
try by Governor Endcott, who settled
near Salem in 1923, and used by that fam
lily for many years. More than hundred
years ago it was purchased by member of
the Foster family, and has remained in
their possession until a few days since. Ii
is in good condition after @is years wear,
and is capable of withstanding fire for
many years to come.
THE Belfast, Mo, Journal says one of
the German clothing dealers in that city
! recently sold man pair of boots. A few
| DAYS atterward the man returned with
them, and said that he went out in the
barn yard to work, where twas a little wet,