The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-04-09

cinnati. That was about the time /
went out with the circus. You've heard
of Blondin, the great rope-walker?
Il believe | have-yes."
why, YOU know, the fellow who
walked tightrope across Niagara falls
with a man riding on his back?"
"Oh, yes: certainly"
The lightning dentist expected that
Doc" would claim to be the I, ID who
rode on Blondin's back. but he -lidn't.
We'll, one day BIondin was in Gin
cinnati, and he came down to the gym
nasium and watched me practice |
didn't know who he was until | came
down off the rope, and then some of the
boys introduced him to me. He said TO
me: Horne, if YOU keep at il and prac-
tice, you'll make a better rope-waIl<er
than l am Well. | laughed. and. of
course, | appreciated the compliment
but | wasn't thinking of walking ropes
in those days. That was the time |
was interested with some eastern cap
italists in establishing a southern
branch for big implement factory.
If | remember correctly | cleared up
about ten thousand on that deal"
Why don't you try some time now
to see if you can walk rope?" asked
the dentist.
oh, haven't thought of it for years
| suppose my feet are tender. too. When
used to work in those thin gym
nasum shoes the soles of my feet were
so hard you couldn't drive a tack in
them"
Doc" smiled reminiscentIy. and the
dentist, who did not wish IT, tax Docs
powers on the very first day, changed
the topic of conversation.
$50 you lost your sister?" said he
Yes; poor Louise. hadn't seen
her very often in late years. but when
she was 20 years old she was admitted
to be the most beautiful girl in eastern
Ohio. She was very weli-prcservcd
woman up to a few months ago. when
her health began TO fail. l didn't tell
you. did |, that she left some of her
property to me?''
No. Doc you didn't; but am glad
TO hear it,
she was a widow. had no children.
and she left her property to be divided
between my brother, Col. Mortimer
Horne. of Palermo, and me. Did you
ever hear of Col. Horne?"
'I-believe | have"
Hes very prominent meusbcr of the
bar in Ohio. 1t is supposed that Mort
| gave Gen. Grant the outline of the
Nicksburg campaign. | have a clippiDg
somewhere in my trunk in which he
| tells about il. Wonderfully interesting
| man, Mort is
Did the estate amount to much -
! asked the dentist, who could not con
/ ceal his curiosity
We can't tell yet. until we get mat
| tiers Strengthened out. Most of the
| property is in land and lots. Ny share
may amount to-oh. don't know-SI2,-
| 0Co. may be $4,000"
We'll. great Scott! Doc let me con
\ gratulatc YOU. That's great pickup
/ and the lightning dentist beamed as ne
| shook Docs" hand.
Yes. that helps" said Doc"
| thoughtfully. as hc fingered his tuft OF
| chin whiskers. Still, it doesn't lool.
| 50 big 10 a man who has been accus-
| toned 10 dealing with large sums all
| tIS life. 1t isn't much compared 10
| 50 hat made on that {. II. * ID. deal: vet
ut the present juncture, as 1 say, Al
| helps
The lightning dentist knew that for
! two years Doc" had been living from
| hand to mouth. relying on a SNAP Job
| in the city hall. Therefore the picture
| of'pOc" holding SI5. 900 between thumb
| and fOretin%er and smiling at it indir-
! ferently was by far the most pictur-
| csque performance ever given by the
remarkable old gentleman.
Il suppose you'll 90 back there and
| settle down." Nentured the dentist.
NO. sir! No. I'll do nothing of the
! Kind. I've got a cousin down there who
| offered to give me one whole end of his
| house, but | couldn't stand it. 1t wa
| too quiet. They went to bed at sun
| down and got up in the middle of the
night. The street ears ran two miles
| apart, and when Id look down the
| street I'd see about four people. III
| tell you | got uneasy before | left. |
! wanted to be back among YOU boys,
| where I could see people passing IN
| front and hear an elevated train once III
| awhile. May be, when I'm older, I'll
want to go out on side street in
| country town and sit down and vege-
| tate. but up to this time I'm as much of
! a city man as | ever was. No. sir: YOU
| can't get rid of me. I'm here to stay