Evening journal., 1896-03-27
FIVE SECONDS or TERROR.
CholIie Had a Grain Of superstitlon in His
Make Up, and It Got In It's Work Upon
Hia youthful Nerves.

CholIie Had Grain Of superstition in His
nIako-Up, aud It Got IN It's work Upon
His Youthful Nerves.
Some weaks ago two well known young
WIlmiogtonlans decided to enFsgs in the
ssle Of bicycles They rented store Of
which they could not get possession until
March 2j Not wishing TO lose go much
valuable time they cor ciuded 10 rent
temporary quarters
An undertaken had an excellent stand
with more room than no need. d, and ne
wss waited upon by ono Of the parties
interested.
Now lookee here, old man. we want
60 20 into tho bicycle business AZ
want part Of your store he said. "You
are having q pretty stiff time Of it aud
We want TO help you Out. The combina-
tlon will ba q great one. Wen break the
pockets. the bike will bresk the necks,
aud you'll get the funeral ard break the
relatives
The agreement was made, but not
exactly along those lines, aud the
bicycle men took possession It wss
necessary 20 have boy. No bicycle
store is complete without one. He Is one
of the regular sppointments-a part ana
parcel OF the good win and hxturs
they got one-a tall, angular, loose
iointed, good natuIed uneophistlcated
innocent, with optics like the OK eyed
daley, dimple Ia his cheek and the
additional charm of dckle, come and
20 blush that is 20 fetching
when the down OF callow youth
FIRST makes It's appearance on the upper
lip. Tbs boy was jewel and early
next morning he was heard proclaimlng
20 all comers that the Blaok-and--fan
roadster was the lightest, swiftest, most
durable ard cheapest wheel en- the
market That was before the shock
came
"Cholie, 60 down and bring up some
coal said the junior member OF Che
firm, who was proud Of his protege, bu.
! fully determined not to allow his feeling
Of affection 20 Interfere with the business
routine Of the office. "Nou had bette
take match with you and strike it after
! you Get down 10 the cellar. There are
several boxes there aud you might fsl
over them while hunting fer the coal
pile
Chollie (with pronounced accent aud
! impsdimont on the frst syllable took th'
scuttle Ia hand and went down into the
depths Of darkness The iunlor partner
heard the dull thud OF Chcllie's fairy
| like feet a. they beat like trip-hammerl
upon the cellar steps He heard tE'
viudictive scratch Of the match against
the dungeon wall BE has faint recol
lection Of four boards in the hoor bulginl
as Cholliea hair went up on end, tn
rattle Of q galvinized iron scuttle on th
comented floor Of the cellar, aud mat
center-rush on the stairway. Then
vision of terror-stricken youthfalnes
burst upon him. Ohollls's eyes wer'
almost out Of his head His face was ~
white as a.abaster and he trsmbied Tx
a sensitive plant.
Whistle the matter % asked the JUNO
psrtuer.
"ocnirs r faltered Chollle
"Wen2f
"BlacK c,mls. brown ccfiins, Whit
cofiins, gro VII coliins and baby cotii as I!
stammersd Choliio.
l. Was too much FOR his youthful an
over Wought nerves and be saak back II
the nesrest chair While he Was comm
70 the junior partner carried up the SO
a.ton iswels and the rattle Of Goals h
the open crate restored Ohollle to con
ssousness.