The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-04-27
'BEWARE THE BOMB"

was looking over tho papers in tho
smoking room Of Paris cafe My ego
CHANGED to fall upon the Echoes of the
Stage" column, and exclaimed aloud:
"At it againi'
a Frenchman sitting near mo looked
up In wonder ut my petulant tone, so
FASTENED to explain, speaking fluently in
very bad French:
Round the World In Eighty Days
is OH tho boards again. Will they ever
have done with that absurd affair? They
seem to think it feat equal to tho Ia
bors of Hercules. "
The Frenchman looked shocked.
"Phiieas Fogg was no better than a
tortoisev 1 cried boastfully. ri could
do much better than he'-
'You can go around the world in less
than so days." asked my hcarcr slowly,
and answered III the same tone:
81 will go round the world in 70 days
if you like. -
81 take you upr' he cried
"What do you bet:'
Give thousand francs
"Donc, 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
nary and stepped on board transatlan-
tic steamer from New York pier on
tho 9th of March. SO far had not lost
q minute, and now it only remained to
be seen whether should reach Havrc in
seven days, as the steamship company
promised. 1t would be close shave at
best. A variety of detcntions 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
moro on to French soil
cast the ship a look of gratitude as
she lay at the Havrc pier letting off steam
from her monstrous boiler.
Then glanced at my watch 1t was
4 in tho afternoon. There was plenty
timo for mo to dino ut my case and catch
tho GAO express. That would bring me
to Paris at half past II.
took out my time table to mako
sure. AS ran my eye on the column of
figures, an inspiration came to me.
where's the use of starting this
EVENING"" I said to myself. eff I get
there too early, it will look as if I were
afraid of losing the wager. How much
better to arrive at the worry last second,
with brilliancy and dash and dramatic
effect, just as they do Oh the stage. That
would be worthy of a genius Now, hero
is train which leaves Havrc tomorrow
morning ut G:55 and reaches tho ST.
LaZarc station at 1880. The timo fixed
for me to meet the fellow at the Office of
Tho Semaphore just behind the Stock
Exchange is before the first stroke of
noon. 1 can easily go from st. Lazaro to
the Exchange in eight minutes i'll cab,
SO there is nothing to prevent my appear
ing i'll the nick of time, just as Phileas
Fogg did, after making every ones heart
palpitato with suspense. That's settled.
I shall not go on until tomorrow
Accordingly went with my baggage
to the best hotel, dined comfortably, took
walk through the town, smoking a
cigar, and returned at 10 to go to bed.
IT must take tho G:55 train tomorrow
morning. said to the hotel proprie-
tor. "Can you have mo walzened In
time?'
1--WE have trustworthy man on pur-
pose for that work, " was tho reply.
"That may be-" said 1 slzeptically;
"but, after all, if you could let mo have
an alarm clock, would feel moro safe. I"
II will lend you my own, although I
assure you it is unnecessary, said tho
host, and accordingly carried the tiny
clock to my room, wound the alarm, set
it at @, stood it on little table beside
tho bed and went to sleep with quiet
mind.
was in q heavy slumbcr when felt
my arm being shaken violently.
what's tho matter2' I grumbled
without opening my eyes.
"You have only just time, sir," said
voice in my ear.
"Timo for what?" I asked, looking
up drowsily.
''To catch your train, was the reply.
sat up and glanced ut tho clock. 1t
was half past 6!
Without another word, leaped from
the bed with such precipitation that /
throw down the table with tho little
clock, dashed into my clothes, crowded
my few belongings into my trunk fran
tically, flew down tho stairs four at n
time, sprang into tho stage which was
awaiting me, hardly drew breath until
l was on the train.
Ouf What close squeezed Two min
utes more, and would have lost my bet.
However, ALPS we'll that ends we'll. ]
had my ticket; my trunk was on the
train; the whistle sounded. Twas OFF for
Paris.