Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1899-12-07

from his mind the picture OF what he |
had seen-there at the lions feet.
When he found his nerves had !
grown steady again he retraced his |
steps to the ladder. This he hurriedly |
unfastened from its tackle and raised !
until 1t stood on end upon the narrow
edge OF the great building.
AS the crowd below, intentlv watch
ing him now, OWNED his intention,
mighty cheer arose-then silence
reigned.
Needless of this demonstration, the /
man lowered the ladder until one<end
rested upon the cornice of the Board
OF Trade. The alley between the
buildings was but twelve feet wide,
and as the ladder was eighteen feet in
length it was necessary for him to span
the distance diagonally and at such
an angle as to make the poles of the
ladder rest unsteadIly.
Then the eager aud expectant watch
ers saw the man test the trmness of
this improvised bridge with his foot.
1t wobbled frightfully, and those in the
crowd who had glasses announced the
1ECt 10 tHt OtllcIS, WHO uClu luelI DTcatu
and grew nervous.
For u moment the man hesitated.
and then, drawing himself to his full
height, he started resolutcly dcross
the ladder, like tiny spider walking
from building to building on a Single
thread of its web. Those with the
glasses saw with shudder that the
ladder careened from side to side, like
ship in storm. But with his arms
extended to balance himself, the man
stepped from rung to rung, conf
IDENTIFY but carefully-so carefully'
Below him, for four hundred feet,
was nothing but thin air and then a
pressed brick pavement. But the man
did not see the pavement, nor yet the
white faces gazing up at him in awful
silence; he saw only the end Of the
ladder, but few feet distant, and he
walked steadily forward.
And those below, with Lushed breath
made never,.a sound, but watched,
with strainlng nerves, that wee black
speck move slowly across that treach-
erous bridge and safely stand at last
on the roof of the Board OF Trade
Building
Then the tension relaxed, and q
cheer. long and loud, arose-a cheer
which sounded faint aud far off to the
man on the roof, who quietly dragged
Il, IL 20 II u
slide along the edge of the cornice IN
til he reached point Immediately
above the pedestal upon which the
lion stood Then he lowered one end
and, quickly descending, stood beside
the gigantic metal figure.
he paused aud removed his shoes
for there was tin beneath his feet an(
he dare not make the least noise fol
fear
At this instant q woman appeared a
little square window on the twentieth
story, the sill of which was scarcely
foot above the pedestal. Her face wa
marked with the lines of heart break
ING anxiety.
The crowd held its breath. an(
scarcely murmur arose from the up
+ turned faces as the man crept stealth
, lily along the pedestal, close - the
body OF the animal. until he reached
It's massive head. while the woman a
the window stood motlonless an,
dumb. watching him with pallid face
Then fov an instant-au age /
{ seemed to those below he stood yer,
! still. casting his eyes upward. a
though in prayer, Silently, slowly. h
lowered himself to his knees, to his
elbows. to his face. until lie lay prone
! upon his breast on the narrow edg'
!, of the pedestal then, with hi
left hand firmly clasplns the uplifte'
paw of the lion. he let his right han,
fall with sudden and powerful grll
+. upou something white and motionles
which lay. like thing that Is dead
! al the fee, OF the animai-somcthln:
which gave a Sudden. convulslv
c gasp. but could not move. 50 tlghtl.
! did lie hold IT, lii moment more Ii
stood erect. the lltt!e white bandl
claspcl close 10 his breast.
Then the man waved his nat + II
! cheering thousands. who grew vii,
with Joyous excitement. for agains
his rough, brown face was pressed tb
$ soft. pink cheek Of 4 little girl
littIa girl in white dress, WHO
! wandering IN her play, lad passe
! through tne open window. ont upo
; the dizzy pedestal. and, stretchin
:. at length at the lions feet, had falle
: asleep and had slumbered PEACEFUL
far above the dust and the noise G
I the city, uumindfni alike OF II
5 staring. excited crowd, aud the silen
q River Of Death, which glded 80 nea
so very near.
> And vet moment longer l.ngere
!, tie crowd fingered until they sa'
e the man pass the little Glrl thro,iE
G the window and lay her II the arms Q
i her mother. the wife Of the .spitor {
) tie building. whose apartments con
4 tanned the square window wAlc
opened out ilpon the pedestal
i BIZ, to this lay tLe .an.t":s It'll
I daughter has reye! learn,l the nan-
A. of the boy in The sailor sUlt. r4l!-
n lelpLia Saturday Evening Post.