The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-01-12
- 9 = =" =
he WAS COLD,
And He Went Out to Get Some Wood,
and as Result He was
Very Cold.

A down town attorney experienced a
trying ordeal yesterday morning, rope
tition of which he is quite sure would end
his worldly existence; at any rate he
would rather die right now than think of
going through it again. This legal light
is bachelor and he has comfortable
suite of rooms in one of the best known
business blocks in the city. AT about 5
o'clock yesterday morning the fire in his
room became low. and thinking only of
present comfort, he leaped from his bed
and without stopping to put on any gar
ments he slid the door latch back and
started down the hall, in the rear of
which lie kept his cut wood in bin. He
was within few steps of the wood box
when he heard his door slam shut, and q
thought of horror rushed through his brain
as he heard the click of the spring lock
upon the inside. He could not believe his
ears for the moment, in fact he did not
want TO believe them. and he gathered his
wood as if nothing had happened and
welt back to the door; he touched tke
latch an pushed, but the door re-
fused TO yield. There he was; he
had left his keys in his pantaloons
pocket, and the only protection
from the cutting winds that howled
up the stairway and along the desolate
hall was his cotton night shirt He felt
as if he was alone in the world, with the
door of his own house closed against
him. BY this time the frost began to
nibble at his toes and then his lower
limbs The cold chills chased each other
up and down his back as if in high slee,
while the winds kept up a hcdious howl
ing that appeared to the unlucky lawy er
like mimicry Of his anything but en-
viable situation. He thought of all the
accounts he ever read OF daring exp!ora-
lions in the Arctic regions; no man
would ever attempt that who had been
locked out Of his room at o'clock III the
morning with the lherp ometer 30 below
zero, and without any clothes at that
thought he. What o do, he did not knog
at any rate it was not time TO stop anG
think he could not kick The door opel
as he had no boots on-s!aS, they were
locked inside with his brooches.
| By this time he was past feeling tht
cold a numoness had passed over his en-
tire system; lie thousht he was lying, hu
he attempted 10 rally las thonghts ant
collect them together once more
as last resort He remembered
the ianitor lived 10 the next block there
was now one Of two alternatives, ethel
TO perish right where be stood and il
| front Of his very door, or 20 over there
and arouse the janitor The latter idea
impressed him as the more favorable
and off he battered down the icy stairs
his bare feet sticking TO every step. lie
did not let the grass grow under lis
feet" in getting up to the janltor's quar-
tiers He tapped at the door, but no an
swer; then he pounded, and out from IN
der the bed clothes oh, what would not
he give TO be there just now-came the
muffied response:
What do you want7'
"Ww-want you right away, escaped
his shlvering lips.
who are your
G. -. and | want l-l-ladler .
"House on fire."
mo. but | want ladder"
s'Well, wait till daylight"
Until daylight thought the attorney
as his chattering teeth kept time to his
shivering legs. Holy smoke and he put
his mouth to the keyhole and in as few
words as possible made his situation
known to those within The door was
quickly opened and a ladder furnished,
while the halt dead lawyer went back to
his room. which he entered through the
transom Next time he goes after wood
If he ever does, he will put on his clothes
first aud then fasten the door open.