St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-04-05
BEWARE OF THE BOMB. u

the smoking room ola 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, speak
ing huently in 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 a
feat equal to the labors Of Hercules. "
The Frenchman looked shocked.
"Phileas Fogg was no better than
a tortoise!" | cried boastfully.
II could do much better than be"
"You can go round the world in
less than eighty days?" asked my
nearer slowly, and l answered in the
same tone: Il will go round the
world in seventy days if you like"
81 take you upF" he cried.
What do you bet? ?"
Give thousand francs"
Done" said L, and we exchanged
cards and bows.
! left Paris for the East on the 5th
ofJanuary, and stepped on board a
transatlantic steamer from a New
York pier on the 5th Of March. So
far l had not lost 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 occur;
a slight accident to the machinery
and all would be lost.
| was nearly consumed with anx-
iety, but the ship acted up to her
reputation and on the 10Th of March
l stepped once more on to French
soil.
Least the ship look of gratitude
as she lay at the Havre pier letting
off steam from her monstrous boiler.
Then glanced at my watch. 1t
was four in the afternoon; there
was plenty of time for me to dine at
my ease and catch the $40 express.
That would bring me to Paris at
halfpast eleven. l took out my
timetable to make sure. AS l ran
my eye down the column of figures,
an inspiration came to me.
whats the use of starting this
EVENING"" l said to myself, IF | get
there too early, it will look as if
were afraid of losing the wager.
How much better to arrive in the
very last second, with brilliancv and
dash and dramatic effect, just as
they do on the stage. That would
be worthy of a genius! Now, here is
a train which leaves Havre to-mor-
row morning at 655, and reaches
the Saint Lazare Station at II 80.
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.
can easily go from Saint-Lazare to
the Exchange in eight minutes, in
cab, so there is nothing to prevent
my appearing in the nick of time,
Just as Phileas Fogg did. after max
ing every ones heart palpitate with
suspense. That's settled. I shall
not go on until tomorrow"
Accordingly, I went with my bag
gage to the best hotel, dined COM
fortably, took a walk through the
town smoking a cigar, and returned
at zen o'clock to go to bed.
II must take the 6.55 train to-
morrow morning." l said to the
hotel-proprietor; "can you have me
awakened in time ?''
1--WE have a trustworthy man on
purpose for that work." was the
reply.
"but, after all, if you would 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 L carried
the tiny clock to my room, wound
the alarm, set it at six, stood it on
little table beside the bed, and went
to bed with quiet mind.
l was in heavy slumber when
felt my arm being shaken violently.
Whats the matter ?" grumbled
without opening my eyes.
You have only just time, sir,
said voice in my ear.
Time for what ?" l asked looking
up drowsily.
ITO catch the train" was the
reply.
sat up and glanced at the clock.
1t was halfpast six"
Without another word, l leaped
from the bed with such precipitation
that I threw down the table with
the little clock; dashed into my
clothes; crowded my few belongings
into my trunk frantically; few
down the stairs, four at a time;