Evening star., 1901-09-21

der no one hain't and 1 shouldn't wonder
bit If they'd be doing it, a-following on
my my footsteps" :",, He glared around with an
| injured air. This year there's big induce
ments to do it. This amt the year for
| small fakes"
! At Prospect Point we found Curley Bow
| ers awaiting US. He was alone, but ex-
planned that his friend was across in Can
! ada, looking at the river. For myself he
had already begun to seem almost a myth,
this singular being who wanted to go over
| the falls. We three choSSed the bridge and
| stopped to gaze upon the view. Then on
! down the bank Of the Canadian side. and
| saw there a lonely figure seated upon
! wet rock, and staring fxediy up at the
cataract. Curley approached and touched
| him; then with a graceful wave Of his
paw, said: Let me make you gents ac-
quainted," and did so.
Westerman was. as now remember him,
| short and very thicksct young man in
| whom the life lay deep. He appeared to be
somewhat stolid. yet at the same time in
| terested me. The curious, absent look in
his eyes impressed me even then. and he
/ had also an expression which is. I believe,
| characteristic Of those who love daring
ventures. If you have ever watched man
| about to try, say high dive, you will
| know what Westerman's constant manner
was. He spoke very little, and appeared
either sullen or shy, but kept turning his
eyes toward the cataract above us. Seen
| from down there, one could imagine that
the waters Of all the lakes were being tip
| ped over upon one out Of the sky; and the
] ClOuOS aDOy6 vanished behind that
/ hanging brink.
"Aw," remarked Bowers at last "Give
| us something simpler. Better go down n
take swim in the whirlpool, jake n let
! her go at that"
| DO you really think" questioned Wes-
terman, that any man could go down
| that place and live?"
Well" replied he. thoughtfuly. "up
| there 1 can't help thnkin' that there'd be
| a kind Of a chance. The American Fall
| is no good, and besides they've spoiled it
! drawin' the water off, This fall here is
| lower than the American, and there's lots
more water to float in, and that, 1 guess
would be my chance. There's a place up
| there where the curve is that I've looked
at good deal. Water seems friendlier
somehow, and it keeps a-goin' over and
self with an effort and became sullen
again. But I'll tell you what" he added
to Skitters, you'll have to get that rubber
rig and send it over first. 1 want to see
| how she stands it,
oh, yes; of course, of course" Skitters
| replied. He had not been looking at the
falls, but at Westerman and the rest of U.S.
Presently he drew me apart.
"Wen said he, and cooked his head on
one side like a bird.
"Pooh," replied I, its mere madness.
Niagara means DEATH
"Death?' said he, cheerfulIy 'I should
say 1t did. Death and your bones mashed
up What's that got to do with US? Now
that we've got the man and the machine
for the public to look at, all that we need
| Is good management, and that's where
your little friend comes In Yes, sir,' he
cried, and sweiied with the sublime ideal,
Just little good management and we've
got the fake Of fakes.''
Il refuse said 1, with proper severity,
ito become party to any fraud upon the
| public
"Oh, WELL" he replied, still cheerful.
well arrange 1t some way" Skitters and
/ rode back to Buffalo together, leaving
! the two others to lurk about the place and
enjoy their own society.
That was the last that / saw for some
| little time OF skitters and his Niagara
again he reported that arrangements were
| being perfected; that he had a rowboat ali
| ready below the falls and a scheme worked
| out to put the supposed swimmer into the
river above. And we've tried the rubber
| suit" he exclaimed one day. 1--WE sent It
over by moonlight. night before last It
got bumped bit, but stood it pretty well.
Gflls. though, Is such an old fogy, always
afraid that his invention is going to git
hurt. I've got Westerman down there.
the suit. All he needs to do is seem to get
/ in above the falls and then seem to get
took out below. and then-Oh. mamma, the
world Is oursi'
'TI have some people fixed all right" he
| used to hint mysteriously. And the motto
/ Steve Brodie."
| He began to be afraid, horribly afraid
| that some one would be before him. There
/ were indeed. as may be remembered vague
rumors of attempts upon the falls. for such
IDEAS seem at times to come like con
tagion. Skitters got so at last that he
would eye the people who got upon the vel
| low cars with positive hatred. He saw q
| rival In every traveller and chafed at the
! hight OF hours. Some one VIII beat III