Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-11-25


Il think you had better wait"
Now don't get naughty | must
90. want to go. Why there's two
hundred dollars in that crowd, any
how my manager would be crazy il
did not walk. Besides I contracted
to do one street walk every tive
weeks in addition to the lofty CEN
! ter-pole act every day. Why. I've
done the lofty five hundred times
and never lost my head, and why is
there danger now ?"
but it is more difficult to see the
rope at night, !" he persisted
Il never look at my feet when !
walk"
You are feverish and nervous.
1T will make me all the more
careful"
"Well, walk them said Golson,
with a shrug of his shoulders
Now, Colby, don't look that
way"
He became cheerful and beaming
in moment. The manager appear
ed on the opposite roof, and signaled
the girl to proceed. The attendants
at both ends examined the fasten-
ings Of the rope to see that they were
properly secured. They produced
trays in which TO burn colored fires,
and heaped Jumps of the combustible
material upon the parapet. Zoe
mounted the parapet with elastic
step, and threw kisses at the shout
ing crowd below as the red fires
brought out her frail form. She
looked very charming and pretty,
standing smiling in the intense glare
of the light.
"Give me the pole she demanded
smilingly of Golson, holding out
small, pretty hand and dimped arm
He picked up the cubersome bal
ancing pole, and placed it in her
hands. She found the center, shook
hands with Golson, threw kisses at
the crowd, and stepped firmly upon
the rope. She soon found a safe
pose, took few steps and halted.
She glanced back at the attendants,
and anxiously regarded the pile of |
fire.
"You are burning it too FAST" she |
said. Goodbye, Colby" and she
picked her way over the narrow
bridge that spanned the yawning
chasm beneath. She was graceful,
and walked with considerable ease
apparently, stopping occasionally to
shift the pole and steady herself.
"She is walking slowly and shaky |
Tonight said enc Of the men.
SIS she not walking as well as us
usual ?" asked Golson, hurriedly, as
he looked at her steadily, His glance
never left her a moment.
NO; she can beat that. | think
she must be III the sulks."
Golson paid no attention to the in
suit, and watched her with fascina-
ted gaze. His face was somewhat
paler than usual, in spite of the red
glare. He did not move a single
muscle Zoe had passed the middle
of the street.-The most dangerous
continued her walk to
ward the other end; She toiled up
the incline, the rope depressing I'M
der her tiny, nimble feet, and atlast
jumped safe and sound upon theop-
posite roof
A tremendous deafening STOUT
arose from the mob, and the plcky
girl threw bunch of kisses at COL
son. The color had returned tC his
face with unnatural intensity, and
the look of anxiety had passed. His
chest was broader, and his eyes
brighter. He simply smiled at Zoe,
and did not even applaud her per-
Torrance
The shouting below continued.
The men made no preparationto re-
move the rope, but Golson started
for the ladder.
Hold on; she's coming bad,"
said one OF the attendants.
Golson stopped as though he lad /,
been shot through the brain. Che
hard, anxious look returned, and he
deadly pallor came back.
Il did not know that" said le,
calmly and resgnedly.