The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1900-06-15

"Tell him to slide down." said the
sectionman.
Hes too little. The water might
catch him below and carry him away"
said Ed Conlin. Hang on, sonny!
Don't be scared'
Then he rush ed through the Dugan
cabbage patch to the wen aud cut the
rope from the spindle and got back
to the bridge before the Barry boys
had half aroused the mothers with
their elamors.
Out on the bridge the lineman made
a moose and prepared to east IT over
the pole. But he thought better of
ii. "No; can't DO that, he said.
briefly. "We could never swing that
pole shoreward or keep the lad from
being Knocked off if she hit the
bridge"
That's So" said the section man,
staring at johnny. Organs red stock
ings. "She'd break this rotten rope
snip. snap" "... ..
He stared down at the yellow tide
of the river, and just then Mrs. Du-
gan's walls and the cliidren's chorus
came family down the track.
I'm going TO climb the pole" said
Ed Conlin, thinking OF how Dugan
would be coming across the bridge
that evening looking for Johnny and
the others. 'I'm going TO climb 1t
ii the whole concern goes into the
river. You come down the bank aud
catch him if 1t falls near shore"
Over the bank went Ed Conlin and
the sectionman alongside of Burns,
the policeman, who had run across
lots TO see what the matter was. They
scrambled down the soft hillside close
to the abutment and out through the
water at the base of the pole. There
Ed Conlin tightened the cumbrous
straps around his legs and glanced up
at johnny Dugau, silent as squirrel
on his lofty perch, with his jacket
blowing out like woful signal of
distress.
''Eh, lad" SAID the sectionman,
yen never get ashore again in that
current with them iron togs on ye,
If it falls, and / think it will"
"With the ropes help, Dugan's
boy may" said the lineman. Then
Ed sunk his spurs into the white, soft
wood and won't up, carrying the we'll
rope with him, while Burns and the
sectionman waited nervously and
watched the debris drift by under the
stone arches. Up went the lineman
with exaspera;ing deiberation, stop
ping occasionally to adjust the rope
and glance downward.
Hes a cool one, said the section
man to the policeman.
Lets hold the pole up for all we
are worth, Z" replied Burns.
Then they braced themselves
against the trembling stick. thinking
how futile would be their efforts when
its eighty odd feet crashed over and
threw Johnny Dugan aud the lineman
halfway ont to the first stone pier of
the bridge.
After a while Johnny felt the steady
movement OF the spurs. and the men
below heard his quaver OF fear and Ed
Conhn's deep voice telling him not TO
mind. The pole was pressing against
their bruised shoulders, and they
struggled nightly against il, and at
last its base seemed TO be pushing
from them through the oozing mud.
Then the sectionman shouted to Ed
Conlin to slide.
"He'll never slide without Organs
boy, said Burns. 81 know Conlin."
The two heard a cry, and Mrs.
Dugan came scrambling down the
bank. johnny, Johnny, my darlin'"
she was gasping, and the sectionman,
glancing up, saw Johnny sliding swift
ly down the pole, with rope under his
arms, while the lineman. seated on
the cross-arms, was paying out the
rope. As Johnny Deared the waiting
arms, Ed COulin dropped the rope
and clasped the slender pole, for the
tall shaft had now swung with his
weight toward the water and was COM
ing slowly down.
The sectionman grasped Johnny
Dugan aud threw him far mp among
the maddy bushes. Then he darted
back from the base of the pole. which
was tearing mp great hole in thesoit
bank. II came heavily down with a
mighty splash on the sIllen water,
with the lineman clingiug Ike cat
half. f.way up its white sides; and then,
while all except the butt was buried
in the yellow food, the sectionman
dived ont along the side with therope
iu his hands.
"CrackyW said the policeman. els
be ever coming up?'
But out OF tue troubled water Ed
COnlin's steel-clad boots rose 10 view,
and the sectiopman was after them in
frantic haste. He had the rope
around the lineman in a minute, aud
by tue time The pole was moving
ioward its rush under the arch. Ed
COnlIn himself, covered with mud,
and his face bleeding from number
less scratches. was sitting weakly
among the alder-bushes. with the Sec
emitting tie straps from his
ankles. .a
"Well, wouldn't that beat yer' said
the policeman, with enthusiasm.
Yes" said FL Conlin, "but keep
the Dugan boys of the bridge after
thisi"