The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-04-25
BEWARE THE BOMB"

''BEWARE THE BOMB"
1 was looking over the papers in the
smoking room of Paris cafe. My eye
CHANGED to fall upon the Echoes of the
Stage" column, and / exclaimed aloud:
''At it again!"
A Frenchman sitting near me looked
up in wonder at my petulant tone, so l
fastened to explain, speaking fiuently in
very bad French:
g Round the World In Eighty Days
is on the boards again. Will they over
have done with that absurd affair? They
seem to think it a feat equal to the Ia
bors of Hercules.
The Frenchman looked shocked.
"Phileas Fogg was no better than q
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 answered in the same tone:
Il will go round the world in 20 days
if you like. -
81 take you upr' he cried.
"What do you bet?"
give thousand francs "
Ozone, " said I, and we exchanged
cards and bows
That was how it came about that
left Paris for the east on the 9th of Jan
NAVY oDd ctanpa1 IN, boord a fpapso an.
tic steamer from 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 a 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 stepped once
more on to French soil
/ cast the ship II look of gratitude as
she lay at the Havre pier letting off steam
from her monstrous boiler.
Then / glanced at my watch 1t was
time for me to dine at my ease and catch
the $40 express. That would bring me
to Paris at half past ],
/ took out my time table to make
sure. As ] ran my eye on the column of
figures, an inspiration came to me,
where's the use of starting this
EVENING" / said to myself IF / get
4l,o,,,, boo oorl,, II will looly ae if xDora
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 genius! Now, here
is a train which leaves Havre tomorrow
morning at 6:55 and reaches the St
Lazare station at 1880. The time fixed
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 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
pa1pitate with suspense. That's settled.
Accordingly l went with my baggage
to the best hotel, dined comfortably, took
o walk through the town, smoking
cigar, and returned at 10 to go to bed.
''I must take the 6:55 train tomorrow
morning." said to the hotel proprie-
tor. "Can you have me Weakened in
time?''
1--WE have Trustworthy man on pur-
pose for that work, was the reply.
'"That may be, said / skeptically;
"but, after all, if you could let me have
an alarm clock, would feel more safe. "
81 will lend you my own, although !
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 quiet
mind.
was i'll a heavy slumber when felt
my arm being shaken violently.
"What's the natter" | grumbled
without opening my eyes.
"You have only just time, sir, i" said
voice in my ear.
"Time for WHAT" | asked, looking
up drowsily.
'To catch your train, " was the reply.
I sat up and glanced at the clock. 1t
was half past 81
Without another word, i leaped from
the bed with such precipitation that
threw down the table with the little
clock, dashed into my clothes, crowded
my few belongings 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.
Ouf What close squeeze! 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 the
train; tho whistle sounded. Twas off for
Paris.
When entered the st. Lazare station,
the hands of the big clock pointed to
half past II. Ihailed a cab and learned
that there was time for me to take my
trunk with me-
A.Tsnat moment it appeared in the
arms of two porters, who were carrying
it with the greatest care. Confound
them, how slow they werel What fool
ever accused the railway companies OF
handling baggage roughly? fastened
toward the men, exclaiming:
BE quick nowr'
had hardly uttered the words when
heavy hand was laid on my shoulder,
and turning round to see the cause OF
such familiarity found myself face to
face with gendarme.
"What is the matter with your" /
asked in amaZement,