Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-10-16

| ways gaining by being to the fore on
public occasions.
"'And finally says ', I'm sorry
| you won't take bite with us on the
chimney-top, Mr.. Macklem.'
"'But l WILL says he, and thank
you
"'Tis a brave little sowl he has in
his little onaisy body! So you see tits
all settled, and I've bespoke the mater
ials, and a high time We'll have that
day, anyhow"
A week later we were on the top
Of the chimney at about one o'clock,
a party of six, awaiting the upcoming
| of Mr.. Macklem and young George
| Stacy, whom we had last seen at the
| foot of the stairs on the ground floor;
the elevator was not yet running. We
sat with our feet dangling inside the
| great fue, and the void gulf at our
! backs.
A thick plank laid across the coping
supported the viands. The wind was
| light, the day sunny. Ouc eyes ranged
on an immense prospect from far
renee northward to the dim blue Law
rentian hills beyond the Ottawa.
We We're all at ease, for all had
grown used to being on high during
the upward progress of the building,
except Mayor MacDew, who seemed
devoid of nerves and perfectly con-
| tented.
Stacy had just remarked, I'm 'feard
the stairs has played puck with Mr..
Macklem's polite acceptance" when
that aspirants head came through the
| hatchway on top of the stair tower
He was ghastly pale. We could see
him trembling as he tottered to the
ladder and laid hands on rung.
Behind him came young George
Stacy, looking very serious, and then
frowning fiercely up at two or three
who were grinning at Macklem's plight
and chatting him.
George told me afterward that he
had tried to dissuade Macklem from
coming up out Of the stair tower, for
| the higher he mounted the palmer
was his fright. But of coursa he was
my fathers guest" George explained,
land 1 could not stop him by force.
He would come on-he said he had
promised, and MacDew would laugh
if he backed out. l was sorry for the
| little man, and when l heard those
| two jeering at him. l felt like going
up and kicking them off the chimney"
| Macklem's grasp on the rung seemed
| TO steady him for few moments, and
he came slowly up, hand over hand
and foot past foot, well out over the
abyss. But he was in shocking state
of fear. We gazed at him breathless-
ly, realizing his danger.
His face was clammy with a cold
sweat, he seemed not to respire, his
white lips We're fixed wide in n death
like grin that showed the gold filings
of his teeth, and his eyes were tight
shut and wrinkled. as If he were striv-
| ing to close them more completely
lest he should by chance glance down.
Clearly he might collapse at any mo-
ment, and yet he came slowly CULVER
ing up the slanting ladder.
by the powers, he's brave man"
whispered old Stacy, sincerely.
Then he called down encourag-
ingly:
You're doing fines Mr. Macklem,
and there's what'll do you good up
here waiting"
Probably the words and tone helped
the little man, as Stacy intended, by
slightly distracting him from the hid
eous fear against which he strove.
George" old Stacy called to his son.
who had began to ascend, you had
better be coming right close after Mr.
Macklem, close, SO as to give him a
boost at the top" But the old mans
real purpose was that his strong son
should catch Macklem instantly if the
man collapsed. If he should fall back.
ward from the height OF six feet above
Georges broad shoulders the young
man might be hurled down with his
fcther's guest
AS Macklem felt the ladder tremble
under young Stacy's quickened move
ment he stopped with an inrticulate
cry, as if believing that the ladder had
given way, but when George called
out, I'm coming up closer after you
Mr.. Macklem!' he seemed to under.
stand, and clutched for q new runa
above him.
Old Stacy and all Of us We're as pale
as Macklem when at last he put his
hand on the coping in reaching for one
rung more.
well. done, sorr said old John
ust put up both your hands and I'll
relp you up by the shoulders" He
was afraid Ia take hold Of Macklen
without such warming for th.