Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-07-06

EalQ the nAtterB a1lL1l4lt do ne mo-
toned rs to follow hun through o door
leading toward the basement.
At the end Of a passage under the shop
front was a little room with sloping
roof. Side by side were two easy chairs,
beneath each of which was winch for
raising or lowering the chair to any re-
quired height. My companion took his
seat at once. he was evidently used to
the ways of the place. Then the assist
ant strapped him in by means OF two
thick leather bands with massive buc-
kles, one at tho neck and the other at the
waist. Then the shopman suddenly
opened little trapdoor II inches square
in the low, sloping roof OF the apart
ment and worked away actively at the
winch. The chair rose, and the head of
its occupant disappeared through the
little trapdoor to the shoulders. Then
the man turned large nut which was
affixed to the back Of the chair and mo-
toned me to take my seat in the other.
"Why do you strap MS INF" said to
the man as / took my seat.
you'll know why, governor, by the
time you've earned that half a crown, I"
he said with malignant grin. "Now,
look here" he continued, "if you want
to sneeze or cough or anything, get it
done now, and don't you go a-larfng or
larking with the boys at the window. II
you do, it will be deducted for"
Then he began to wind me up, and !
made my first appearance in Mr.. Will
kins' shop front to round of tumultu-
GUS applause from crowd Of idlers in
the street who stared into the shop win.
dows. Then somebody carefully fitted
q hat onto my head and gave it know.
ing cock. Then the mahogany arrange.
ment was drawn up close to my neck,
and there l sat, perfectly comfortable,
staring at the crowd of idlers in the
street. And then draft Of cool air be
gan to flow through the holes that sur.
rounded my neck. Mr.. Wilkins really
took wonderful amount of trouble te
insure our comfort.
At first the novelty of my situation en-
tirely occupied my mind. felt inclined
to laugh as ! thought of myself as 9
bodiless head wearing ventilating hat
The boys in the street, too, made gri
maces at me. Then looked at my fellow
victim out of the corner Of my eye. HI
was evidently already suffering from the
effects of his unventilated hat. His
teeth were tightly set. He looked any
thing but happy. Great drops of per
spiration already stood upon his brow
! didn't trouble myself very much abour
him.
The time passed pleasantly enough ant
heard the clock of Shoreditch chnrcl
at length strike 4. AS it struck 1 wa
startled to hear the wearer of the un
ventilated hat give hollow groan.
looked at him once more out of tn
corner of my eye. He had become ghast
ly pale. He looked as if he were meltin,
gradually. In fact, thepoor fellow seeme'
very i'll indeed. Strange that a badl,
ventilated hat should produce sucl
marked effects. Well, it wasn't m,
business.
The clock of Shoreditch church struc.
4:3O. heard footsteps in the room be
low, and at the same time was dc
prived of my ventilating hat. A bran
new hat was placed upon my head, an
the show cards which stood behind on
respective heads were exchanged. Th
drafts of cool air which came throug
the innumerable little holes in the ms
hogany flooring around my neck sudde1
ly ceased. A current of heated air SUI
| piled its place. l looked out of til
corner of my eye at the other heat
The face wore an ecstatic smile. Th
easy chair in which / was sitting bega
to grow warm, and finally became ae
tually hot -unpleasantly hot.
| I saw through the whole fiendish trio
at once. was to be tortured an hou
and half for the amusement of an i'd
crowd in order that the public might /
gulled into the purchase of the SO calle
| ventilating hats of the fiend Wilkins.
| I felt-but I will not dwell on m
agonies; / will not dilate upon the no
rible sufferings endured. was beir
gradually cooked alive, and l felt thi
concentrated boiling gravy was cour
ing through my veins. My featur
were contorted with agony. The crow
in the street outside applauded.
I tried to break loose. AS did SO
voice from the room below uttered ii
following dreadful threat, "It's 100 no,
my man, and if you move I'll make
1902 shed tears of rage, indignatit
and agony. endured the most drea
full tortures an hour and half. VIII
, / left Wilkins establishment with ha
! crown in my pocket, I was more de;
than alive.
3. 1t is the dream Of my life that 7 al
, Mr.. Wilkins, the inventor Of the ven
lating hit, may meet in some lone
place. / am not a revengeful man, b
I feel that I owe Wilkins debt that
: should like to pay.-Exchange.