The herald., 1895-01-01

water; am burning and choking. Yes.
l know ell about it, said the giant, but
don't be alarmed. You are not going to
leave the earth right away. will
keep you going awhile - till get
through with you, never fear. 1t was
you who caused my ruin and death, and
have been waiting for chance to even
up with you this many q day. What do
you think of the reception have pre-
pared for you? Don't like il, eh? But
brace up then: will revive you. The
torture must be prolonged
With this he turned to big black
door in the wall near him and gave
growl that seemed to come from the
very bottom of hell. In q moment the
door began to move slowly toward me.
When it had travelled about half the
distance it shot straight up into the air
as quick as a fash and disappeared.
And whether you believe it or not,
gentlemen, standing in the doorway OF
what appeared to be q big office safe. l
saw our old book-keeper, Jack Sim
mons, who had been dead nearly yesr.
l knew him at once, though his old ~
miliar smile had gone, and in its place
look of ouch helpless misery that l for
got my own danger and suffering
through pity for him.
tried to 20 to the doar old boy-he
had been a good friend OF mine-but
found that my feet were fastened to the
floor in some mysterious manner, and
all that could do was to reach out my
heart and hand toward my old friend
and sway my body back and forth.
Pretty soon Jack walked sorrowfully up
to where l stood, and without looking
me in the eye, hung q big brass ring,
with folding ladder attached toit, over
my neck.
He then stepped to one side and q
procession of little fellows about q foot
high, each carrying a coal hod filled
with crushed ice, came trooping out OF
the safe and walked rapidly out to me.
There must have been twenty and
strange to tell, recognized every one
of them as bar tenders in different jag
factories along my route. As soon as
the first one OF these little gin-slingers
got to the foot OF the ladder he moved
it as quick ss cat, and ran up like a
fash Of creased tightening.
When on a level with my parched and
swollen lips, which opened without any
effort on my part, he threw tho crushed
ics, nod and all, down my throat, and
before could bring my extended jaws
together, the reckless little fend jumped
in after it.
Well, the ice was cooling enough.
you may be sure, but before
it had been long in contact
with nay burning throat it bsgan
to melt with a Kissing, sizzling sound,
and by the time the water reached nv
stomach it was boiling furiously and
generating steam enough to heat any
thing you ever saw. Before the second
man gained the top OF the ladder a
loud report shook the building
till the piles of coffins tumbled
down with deafening crash and caught
fire from the candles. At the same time
there was terrific explosion, and the
little hod carrier, who had disappeared
down my throat, was shot out OF my
mouth with the force of cannon ball.
As / bounded back like l00.pound gun
that had been fred without being well
braced, had the satisfaction of seeing
the squirming misaile strike the aston
ished giant square in the middle and
break him clean in two.
Landlord Bring me strong. hot
whisky, will you? l feel a cramp
coming on, and nothing else will
aevs mo from whole lot OF
suffering. II the other boys want
anything in the way of medicine let
them have it on me.
Yes. that was little the worst dream
I ever had. When awoke l was in n
Turkish bath where the boys had
steered me to Hober up. Ah, thanks.
That goes right to the spot, or near it
mighty near it.
Well, good night boys. and good luck
to you till fetch round again, mex
month. I'm off on the early train, you
know. So long.
And the weary Mac Sail was sooD
sleeping the sweet and peaceful slum Der
of the cass-hsrdeEad liar, while
bright visions of stuffed orders.
raised expense accounts aud mixed
drinks, blended beauteously in one
pleasing panorama that foated through
his fertile brain.