Morris tribune., 1881-01-06

king post there were five of them along
the beam. 1t did not seem hard, but then
there was that first beastly post to get round,
setting right square on the beam like all the
rest. There were three ugly knots in 1t,
that, like human face, grinned at me. I
could barely reach an arm round it. Iswore
it should not stop me, that would circum-
vent it. went back to the first post, got
on the roof, found some bits of scantling,
got down my post again by means of the
rope, walked along again. and nailed q cleat
not more than four inches wide on the
beam, just below where the post was NOR
tised into it, and so got to the next one.
had slid down the middle one, and there
were, as have told you, five Of them in ALL
two on each side. That job took me until
10 o'clock mailing cleats, as could only
carry one bit of scantllng at time. 1t was
wonderful how in short time I got used to
| it. Mind you, l had done that much of the
business without having had any breakfast.
So, feeling kind of hungry, came down
again, and the men all hlved around me.
Just as l was going out of the building to
get something to eat, for was ravenous, I
met the manager.
Seemed to KIND of enjoy yourself up
there. Shouldn't be surprised if, after all,
it was the best place to see the show. It's
an idea-I think will make reserved places
up there" and he snickered.
eff had broken my neck-and I came
within an ace of it-you would have been
my murderer" said I, fairly mad now, a.
feeling as if 1 should like to bite him.
'Pooh-poOh! young fellow. l knowed
going agin your contract. But why don't
you stick to your work? Mind you to-mor-
row night at them lights has got to blaze
and eclipse the sun, or l am down on you.
There amt no time to lose"
81 haven't breakfasted," says I.
"Not breakfasted;;- and you was fool
enough to do that on an empty stomach? If
you had had any sense you would have ia
ken an ye-opener before you started, for,
now that is over, l will confess it was kind
of dubious work.
"Your eye-opener might have been my
neck breaker. I never took drink in my
life."
'You didn't; well it's all the same, for
good liquor is sometimes wasted You
come and breakfast with me at my house.
1t amt in the contract that I should feed
you though"
I consented, and he took me to his house
in the neighborhood of the building, and I
had an excellent meal I was back in the
building in half hour and was at my work
again. Walking the beam was nothing to
me. Lit cigar and made myself quite at
home, rugged pully and worked rope
and hauled up my wire, and stretched it all
along, most of my day being passed Lying
flat on the beam and crawling along it with
the wires. My IL lamps were all properly
hung next day. 1 was as independent about
it as a wood-sawyer. I got kind of fool
hardy over it and could cut caper on the
beam. used up three pounds Of chalk on
my soles. I didn't know whether it was
useful or not then, but, thinking over it now,
I fancy it was.
When the night of the exhibition came,
and the electro dynamic machine was
a-humming with her 900 or ZOO revolu-
tons minute, and the carbons were all in
order, those II lights started off Oh the full
bust like blazing comets, and the people
just shouted. They kept on splendid for
an hour. There was really more light than
was necessary; twice as much, in fact as
was wanted. The illumination had COM
menced at $50 o'clock. About 8 O'Clock
one COMPOUNDED light blinked and filtered,
and then went out dead.
That manager found me out in minute
II want - lights, says he, there is on
ly IL. 1t won't do. My contract calls fol
the whole dozen, and I want my contract
or I don't want nothing at ALL
You wouldn't have me climb along that
break-neck beam tonight, with the lights
dazzling my eyes, would your" I asked
, .''There amt but II lights, says he
''Well, if you insist on it I will 90 up,
said I. "But before I do I will make a lit
tie speech to the people here. There are
some 1000 present, and will just state the
, circumstances that because you were toe
, mean to give me ladder you want me to
run risk of killing myself
! ''Shouldnt care snap Of my finger il
you did make speech. See here you,
t lights amt worth cent if a man can't clint
tree-or any SIGH thing as require climb
: ing-by night as we'll as by day. It's Il
, lights sot down in writing, and about II
, there aim no mention"
Just then pretty girl came near the man
ager, and says she, 'sPa what lovely light
, 1t just beat daytime all hollow. It's great
t success. It's Splendid
. ''Your pa don't think so, Miss" says
''for because there are only II lights now
burning, and not -, he wants me to clint
along that beam and straighten out some
wire, or some small fixing that's out Of
| kelter"
cts mighty dangerous looking, to be
, sure" says she.
mo prettier than it looks" says I, want.
ing some sympathy.
| ''But, haven't you been up there before
and fixed it?" she asks.
eyes, says I, Sin the day time
''Pa," says she, APPLYING with boquet
was there any agreement about this kin(
of thing?"
Agreement, Lucy, rather think Their.
5 was. His people agreed with me for 1:
2 lights: the contract calls for that, neithe
} more nor less"
E "Oh! if there was a contract, he can't d.
less than light up the other one," said Lucy
| "And there is penalty of SIS, 900 if it ain
l right" Clipped in the manager.
And - lights is advertised in the pro
t granny said she a-smelling of a rose
D young man, you are bound to do it. You
amt afraid, are your"
am rather kind of spooney on prett,
v girls and this was just as nice looking
t young lady as I ever saw, but her pa hat
= probably brought her up to believe in con
y tracts. I was mad, tell you, and thos,
Y last words of hers soured on me. I wen
for that roof, and it was mean crawling
a along it in the darkness, the light, though
occasionally squirting out between the dis
t jointed places in the roof. Once had slit
down the king post had left the rop'
| tueTe-tue elcCG WIS ht Htd(
;" reeled. Just below I saw the young lad,
with her opera glass looking at me as uncon
I cerned as if I we're fly on a ceiling. TIL
S band was a-playing and the drums a-beat
e ing. The lights seemed to dance-ther
e was the glow and glare Of the sun, with al
4 it's flash and fire. Great dancing, luminou
rays, like the northern lights, shot upwards
: binding me. Then an awful misshapel
n shadow made by me stalked away upward
hundreds of feet long. The low crackle o
;; the incandescent carbons reached my ears
: thought of those hellish lights the will O. tn
q wisp' that lured man on to death, and shud
dered. had changed my working dress
e and had on frock coat and tight boots witt
high heels. got sick over the job; M
k head was swimming. knew must fall
f What if interrupted the circuit somewher
;. with my feet on the wires, and received
: shock which should send me whirling int
It space below? I took single stride from
d the first post, balancing myself, and wa
"A teetarinU Nv knees were Weakening. wa