The suburban citizen., 1901-08-24

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public occasions.
"'And finally says :, I'm sorry
you won't take a bite with us on TIC
chimney-top, Mr.. Macklcm.'
But l will,' says he, ard thank
you
"'Tis a brave little sowl he has in
his little onaisy body. So you sec tits
all settled, and I've bespoke the mater
ials, and high time wen have that
day, anyhow"
A week later we were on the ton
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 ct cur
backs
A thick plank laid across the coping
supported the Yiands. The wind was
light, the day sunny. Oul eyes ranged
on an immense prospect from far
south Of the broad, green st. Law
renee northward to the dim blue Law
rentian hills beyond the Ottawa.
We were all at ease, for all had
grown used to being on high during
the upward progress Of the building
except Mayor MacDcw, 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 tcttered tO'fhe
ladder and laid hands on a rung.
Behind him came young George
Stacy, looking very serious, and then
frowning tiercely up at two or three
who were grinning at Macklem's plight
and chatting him.
George told me afterward that he
had tried to dssuade Macklem from
coming up out of the stair tower for
the higher he mounted the palmer
was his fright. But of course he was
my fathers guest" George explained,
land l could not stop him by force.
He would come on-he said he had
promised, and MacDew would laugh
If he backed out. ! 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 a shocking state
of fear. We gazed at him breathless-
ly, realizing his danger.
His face was clammy with cold
sweat, he seemed not to respire, his
white lips were fixed wide in a 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 slantins ladder.
by the powers, he's a brave mani"
old Stacy, sincerely.
Then he called down encourag-
ingly:
You're doing fine, Mr.. NIdcklcm,
and there's whatll do you good up
here waitingw
Probably the words and tone helped
the little man, as Stacy intended, by
slightly dlstracting 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
fathers guest.
AS Macklem felt the ladder tremble
under young Stacy's qulckened move
nent he stopped with an lnarticulate
'ry, as If believing that the ladder had
given way, but when George called
)ut I'm coming up closer after you,
Mr.. Macklem" he seemed TO under
stand, and clutched for a new rung |
lbove him.
Old Stacy and all Of us were as pale
is Macklem when at last he put his
land on the coping in reaching for one
ung more.
well, done, sorr said old John.
ust put mp both your hands and III |
'elp you up by the shoulders" He
vas afraid to take hold of Maclem
Without such a warning, Tor the