The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-10-26

~U claimed aloud:
SgW 'At it again!'
A Frenchman sitting near
me looked up in wonder at my pet
ulant tone, so 1 fastened to explain,
speaking f1uently, in very bad French:
Round the World in Eighty Days
is on the boards again. Will they
ever have done with that absurd af-
fair? They seem to think it feat
equal to the labors of Hercules"
The Frenchman looked shocked.
"Phileas Fogg was no better than n
tortoise!' 1 cried boastfully. 1 could
do much better than he"
you can go around the world in
less than eighty days?" asked my
hearer slowly, and 1 answered in the
same tone: Il will go round the
world in seventy days if you like"
81 take you upv' he cried.
what do you bet|"
give thousand francs"
Done" said I, and we exchanged
cards and bows.
That is how it came about that l
left Paris for the East on the 5th of
January, and stepped on board
transatlantic steamer from New
York pier ON the 5th of March. So
far | had not lost minute, and now
it only remained to be seen whether
1 should reach Havre in seven days
as the steamship company promised.
1t would be close shave at best. A
variety of detentions might occur;
slight accident to the machinery, and
I'll would be lost
1 was nearly consumed with anN-
iety, but the ship acted up to her
reputation, and on the 18th of March
pfn ont Er.nrl lplN
I cast the ship look of gratitude as
she lay at the Havre pier letting off
steam from her monstro1s boiler.
Then 1 glanced at my watch. 1t was
i'm 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 half.past
eleven. l took out my timetable to
make sure. AS l ran my eye down
the column of figures, an inspiration
came to me.
"Where's the use of starting this
evening" l said to myself "if 1 get
there too early, it will look as if |
We're 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 u
train which leaves Havre tomorrow
morning at 6:55. and reaches the
Saint LaZare Station at IL 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. l can easily
go from Saint Lazare to the Ex-
change in eight minutes, in a cab, so
iS I'M fo
pearing in the nick of time, lust as
Phileas Fogg did, after making every
ones heart palpitate with suspense
That's settled. 1 shall not go on un-
til tomorrow
Accordingly, 1 went with my bag
gage to the best hotel, dined com
fortably, took walk through the
town smoking cigar, and returned
at 10 o'clock to go to bed.
81 must take the 6:55 train tomor-
row morning." l said to the hotel
proprietor; ''can yo- have me wax
ened in time?"
I'VE have a trustworthy man on
pl rpose for that work." was the
reply.
'"That may be-" said 1 skeptically,
"but, after all, if you could let me
have an alarm-clock, 1 would feel
more safe"
II will lend you my own, although
/ assure you it is unnecessary" said
the host and accordingly l carried
the tiny clock to my room, wound the
alarm, set it at 6, stood it on a little
table beside the bed, and went to
sleep with quiet mind.
1 was in a heavy slumber when /
felt my arm being shaken violently.
ho< fha 10,
without opening my eyes.
"You have only just time, SIR" said
a voice in my ear.
Thine for what?" I asked, looking
up drowsily.
ITO catch your train," was the re-
ply.
sat up and glanced at the clock.
1t was half-past six!
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 frantically: flew down the
stairs, four at time; sprang into the
stage which was awaiting me, and
hardly drew breath until / was ON the
train
Ouf! What a close squeeze! Two
minutes more and l would have lost
my bet. However. all's well that
ends well; had my ticket. my trunk
was on the train. the whistle sounded,
Il was off for Paris.
When l entered the ST. Laza,e sta
ton the hands of the big clock
pointed to half past eleven. L hailed
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 carry
ing it with the greatest care. Con
found them, how slow they werei |
What fool ever accused the railway |
companies of handling baggage rough |
ly? I fastened toward the men ex-
claiming:
BE quick, nOw!''
I had hardly uttered the words
when a heavy hand was laid On my
shoulder, and, turning round to see
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