Evening star., 1901-09-21

or canada, where one can see them best
The immensity of the thing, which grows
upon one gazing, did not daunt but fasci-
mated them; perhaps the very insignifi-
canoe of any human atom going down that
watery road made the thought of the de-
scent less terrifying. Yet even to those
daredeVlls the attempt could have prom
ised hardly better than magnificent death.
bowers tells me that his companion talked
strangely, when he talked at all, and that
there was look upon his face all day
not to be understood.
He was genuine product of the streets
and the water fronts, without a settled
trade. and without relatives, so far as
can learn. 1t is said that he had tried un-
surely had the courage. Unsuccessful in
most things, he no doubt had been a street
arab who dreamed. young man who pick
ed UP livelihood, as Curley said, doing
odd Jobs Of work and the minor feats Of
daring. 1t was not the training to make him
refuse when Sktters came with his gilt
tering oners to find him money and noto-
riety II he would pretend to do the hugest
feat OF all Westerman was as much a
piece OF drifting wreckage in the current
as though he had been drawn into the
from the city above. But the more that
he watched and studied the river the more
did the strange fascination of 1t, and the
longing to conquer it-and 1 cannot helm
thinking also certain deep honesty of
nature-preserve him from the fakir's part.
He and Skitters. on the whole were work
ing at cross purposes and with very differ
ent minds.
For skitters in the meantime had been
making his arrangements for the fraud
with cheerful, tireless industry Day
a1ter day had seen him down at the scene
OF action taking measurements and "fx-
Ing people The pneumatic suit had in
deed been sent successfully over the Cana
aian aa falls: Skitters. l believe, had persuad-
cd certain men upon that side that the
same thing would merely be done again
TINS Gay; artful stage management and
the GIT OF CAB would make 1t appear that
man had been inside the suit this time.
and such, truly enough was the progra m
as Skitters planned 1t. The one element
to interfere, the infatuated daring of
teas OF eanG 5he od ont German[c war sk
thing needs head like mine to do n -
said he when he saw me come and he
Inoppeo a scanning brow, ''but it's ali fig
gered out now"
I arrived upon the stage In time to see
but not to take part. The characfers
were already grouped for the piay-which
might become tragedy-it was too late
Tor me to interfere with the performance
mad known how. AS Skitters and T
walked up past Table Rock he pointed
ahead toward the wooded shore that bor-
ders the Canadian rapids. We looked across
VINO waters, and saw even at that moment
Two men come suddenly out Of the bushes
close by the river and bend over Something
which lay between them on the ground
That's him." said Skitters, "and the Pro
lessor, old crank! he's SO dead afraid that
MS suit may git hurt. He doesn't care so
much about the man." For the inventor
also, 1t seemed, was in the cast and his
part was to put Westertion, and afterward
TO let him out again, not SO publicly-an
easy thing to do with nobody very near. A
car on the trolley road had stopped some
distance away and the people In II were
staring supiciously. and with that half hyp-
motto bewilderment which q mystery causes
See 'em rubber" Skitters said comnIac
emily, ''They think that this is genuine
Wen be In the papers tomorrow" He
rangements. for he had boat all ready on
the lower waters to assist In the decepfion
Westman had instructions to hurry down
along the bank and be- f1shed out of the
stream below. and the press agent would
do the rest.
But just above the point where one enters
the elevator met Curley Bowers, and his
eyes were alight with a strange excite
ment He swears he's goin' to do It: he
swears he's goin' to do it," cried the lad
IN IN something between terror and delight
line with the cataract and stared at n
rather blankly. while the spray drenchefi
and the roar deafened us. Before us we
could see the point where the precipice re-
treats and forms almost a funnel, the apex
or the socalled Horseshoe fall. Volume of
water was what Westerman desired. and
out there the water wall was green with
depth whert, the lakes went toppling down.
There are hours OF the day when the Ca
madam shore appears almost deserted, and
this was ono of them. The few people walk
ing about seemed like little puppies; We our
selves seemed puppets, In a stage scene
and with that scenery! The whole business
was unreal, with those two burly figures
up the river bank. the little silent people
In the trolley car looking on. and Bowers
and the while obliged to move along de-
hberately, keeping I'D Appearances. and To