Connecticut western news., 1894-05-24
BEWARE THE BOMB

Mary E. Wilkins in St. Louis Republic. BEWARE THE BOMB" I was looking over the papers in the smoking room of Paris cafe. My eye chanced to fall upon the Echoes of the Stage'' column, and exclaimed aloud:
 ''At it againl'
 A Frenchman sitting near me looked up in wonder at my petulant tone, so hastened 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 la bors of Hercules. ''
 The Frenchman looked shocked.
 ''Phileas Fogg was no better than a tortoisep' cried boastfully. II could do much better than he"-
 ''You can go around the world in less than 80 days?" asked my nearer slowly, and I answered in the same tone:
 'I will go round the world in 70 days if you like.
 1T take you upP' he cried.
 "What do you bet?''
 "Five thousand S--.acs. "
 ''Done, said I, and we exchanged cards and bows.
 That was how it came about that left Paris for the east on the 5th 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 minute, and now it only remained to be seen whether I should reach Havre in seven days, as the steamship company promised. It would be close shave at best. A variety of detentions might oc- 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 stepped once more on to French soil
 I cast the ship look of gratitude as she lay at the Havre pier letting off steam from her monstrous boiler.
 Then I glanced at my watch. It was 4 in the afternoon. There was plenty time for me to dine at my ease and catch the GAO express. That would bring me to Paris at half past II.
 I took out my time table to make sure. As I ran my eye on the column ot figures, an inspiration came to me.
 "Where's the use of starting this evening"" I said to myself. ''If I get there too early, it will look as if I were afraid of losing the wager. How much better to arrive at the very last second, with brilliancy and dash and dramatic effect, just as they do on the stage. That would be worthy of geniusl Now, here is train which leaves Havre tomorrow morning at 6:55 and reaches the St. | Lazare station at 11:30. The time fixed 1 for me to meet the fellow at the office ot The Semaphore just behind the Stock Exchange is before the first stroke oi noon. I can easily go from St. Lazare tc the Exchange in eight minutes in cab, so there is nothing to prevel.S my appear ing in the nick of time, just as Phileas Fogg did, after making every one's heart palpitate with suspense. That's settled. I shall not go on until tomorrowi"
 Accordingly I went with my baggage l to the best hotel, dined comfortably, tool walk through the town, smoking { cigar, and returned at 10 to go to bed l ''I must take the 6:55 train tomorrow morning." said to the hotel proprie tor. "Can you have me wakened il | time?''
 "We have trustworthy man on pur pose for that work, !" was the reply.
 "That may be- said I skeptically ''but, after all, if you could let me hav' an alarm clock, I would feel more safe.
 ''I will lend you my own, although assure you it is unnecessary" said tn host, and accordingly carried the tin. clock to my room, wound the alarm, SC 1t at 6, stood it on little table besid the bed and went to sleep with quie mind.
 I was in a heavy slumber when I fel my arm being shaken violently.
 What's the matter?'' I grumblet without opening my eyes.
 "You have only just time, sir" sai' voice in my ear.
 'sTime for what?'' I asked, lookinj up drowsily. .....
 'sTo catch your train, was the reply
 I sat up and glanced at the clock I was half past 6! .-
 Without another word, I leaped iron the bed with such precipitation that threw down the table with the littl clock, dashed into my clothes, crowde, my few belongings into my trunksfran tically, flew down the stairs four at time, sprang into the stage which wa awaiting me, hardly drew breath unti was on the train.
 Oufl What close squeezel Two min utes more, and would have lost my bet However, all's we'll that ends well. had my ticket; my trunk was on tn train; the whistle sounded. Twas off fo Paris
 When I entered the St. Lazare station the hands of the big clock pointed l half past II. Ihailed cab and learne that there was time for me to take m trunk with me.
 At that moment it appeared in th arms of two porters, who were carryln it with the greatest care. Contour them, how slow they werel What fot ever accused the railway companies { handling baggage roughly? hastene toward the men, exclaiming:
 "Be quick nowp'
 I had hardly uttered the words whe heavy hand was laid on my shoulder and turning round to see the cause such familiarity I found myself face : fano with q saf1dartnA