The herald., 1894-05-04
BEWARE THE BOMB"

smoking room of Paris cafe. My eye
CHANGED to fall upon the Echoes of the
Stage" column, and I exclaimed aloud
cat it againp'
A Frenchman sitting near me looked
up in wonder at my petulant tone, so
fastened to explain, speaking fluently in
very bad French:
Round the World In Eighty Days
is on the boards again Will they ever
have done with that absurd affair? They
seem to think it feat equal to the Ia
bors of Hercules.
The Frenchman looked shocked.
''Phileas Fogg was no better than a
tortoisep' 1 cried boastfully. Il could
do much better than he''--
"You can go around the world in less
than 80 days?" asked my nearer slowly,
and answered in the same tone:
81 will go round the world in 70 days
II you like.
81 take you upP' he cried.
"What do you bet?"
give Thousand francs.
'Done," said /, and we exchanged
cards and bows.
That was how it came about that /
left Paris for the east on the 9Th Of JAN
uary and stepped ON board transatlan-
tic steamer from a New York pier on
the 9Th of March. So far had not lost
a minute, and now it only remained to
be seen whether ! should reach Havre in
seven days, as the steamship company
promised 1t would be close shave at
best. A variety of detentions might &C.
cur. A slight accident to the machinery
and all would be lost
/ was nearly consumed with anxiety,
but the ship acted up to her reputation,
and on the 18th of March l stepped once
more on to French soil.
/ cast the ship a look of gratitude as
she lay at the Havre pier letting off steam
from her monstrous boiler.
Then l glanced at my watch. 1t was
"A in the afternoon. There was plenty
time for me to dine at my ease and catch
the $40 express. That would bring me
to Paris at half past l.
I took out my time table to make
sure AS I ran my eye on the column of
figures, an inspiration came to me.
where's the use of starting this
EVENING"" l said to myself "If I get
there too early, it will look as if were
afraid of losing the wager How much
better to arrive at the very last second,
with brilliancy and dash and dramatic
effect, just rs they do ON the stage That
would be worthy of genius! Now, here
is train which leaves Havre tomorrow
morning at 6:55 arl reaches the st.
Lazare station at 1870. The time fixed
for me to meet the fellow at the office of
The Semaphore just behind the Stock
Exchange is before the first stroke of
noon. I can easily go from st. Lazare to
the Exchange in eight minutes in a cab,
so there is nothing to prevent my appear
ing in the nick Of time, just as Phileas
Fogg did, after making every ones heart
palpitate with suspense. That's settled
shall not 60 on until tomorrow
Accordingly l went with my baggage
to the best hotel, dined comfortably, took
a walk through the town, smoking
cigar, and returned at 10 to go to bed.
81 must take the 6:55 train tomorrow
morning" said to the hotel proprie-
tor. "Can you have me Weakened in
timer"
''We have trustworthy man on pur-
pose for that work, 4" was the reply.
''That may be, said 1 specifically;
"but, after all, if you could let me have
an alarm clock, l would feel more safe. "
II will lend you my own, although l
assure you it is unnecessary, said the
host, and accordingly carried the tiny
clock to my room, wound the alarm, set
it at 6, stood it ON little table beside
the bed and went to sleep with a quiet
mind.
/ was in heavy slumber when felt
my arm being shaken violently.
whats the natter" I grumbled
without opening my eyes.
:. s'You have only just time sir, said
o voice in my err.
''Time for what?" I asked, looking
up drowsily.
''To catch your train, was the reply.
sat up and glanced at the clock. 1t
was liaif past 6
Without another word, leaped from
the bed with such precipitation that L
threw down the table with the little
clock, dashed into my clothes, crowded
my few bes.asgings into my trunk fran
tically, flew down the stairs four at a
time, sprang into the stage which was
awaiting me, hardly drew breath until
/ was ON the train.
OUT! What close squeeze! Two min
utes more, and would have lost my bet.
However, alls well that ends we'll l
had my ticket; my trunk was on the
train; the whistle sounded Twas off for
Paris.
When entered the ST. Lazare station,
the hands of the big clock pointed TO
half past IL. Ihailed cab and learned
that there was time for me to take my
trunk with me-
At that moment it appeared in the
arms of two porters, who were carrying
1t with the greatest care Confound
them, how slow they We're! What fool
ever accused the railway companies Of
handling baggage roughly? fastened
toward the men, exclaiming:
s'Be quiclz Iiow''