The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1902-09-17

the door, stai.,,,5 minute with me
hand on The l... tlnkln'. Twas no
picnic of mine. ui coarse, but couldn't
help feelin' that sumethn' was wrong
that somebody was tryn' to croak and
that it was Up to me to save 'em If
they was To be saved, That settles it,
| draws IN two bagfuls OF wind and
opens the door again, slidln' across the
floor to window and raisin' the cur
tain, and then / tumbles. There's a
girl on the bed and letter on the ta-
ble-the same old layout | tries to
raise the window, but It won't bulge
1t didn't take me all summer to find
the leak. The stencil was comm from
a hole In the wall where pipe-one
of these things TINT sticks cut about
foot-had been busted off. She must
have hung her whole weight on that
thing and jumped up and downl But
she'd got an elegant flow of gas--'way
ahead of what she'd have got by turn
In ON the burner, and the beauty of 1t
was that nobody could turn It off
| couldn't see nothln' else to do but put
me thumb over the hole, and that's
what | done, takin' short breaths till
enough of the yapor had got out ut the
door to let me pump somewhere near
normal, and them
"And them" Mr.. Kelly had planted
his elbows upon the table, contemplate
Ing Mr.. Dawson fixedly.
"And then-I waited. What else
was there to do? / couldn't sneak,
lcavin' things that way, could I? I'd
have been ashamed to look an honest
man In the face forevermore If I'd
done that. And after awhile hears n
patti-pat In the hall and dopy voice
say, Seems to me l smell gas You're
dead right, me friend calls Hustle
In here, and don't strike glim for
your llfer
And then has the pleasure of max
In the acquaintance of the Honorable
James Van Altren. He's In his pajamas
and his hair is towseled and his feet
have no GOVERN and his eyes are
bllnky. Ills two minutes maybe before
he can shake himself together. The
first question he asks is double
header, Who are you and what Is the
meanin' of thisT he says. I'm thief
says /, and the young Indy on the bed
there Is one too-at least she's been
tryin' to rob the world of her presence
My Gawdp says he, seem what's up
| And what are you doln'T I'm holdin'
me thumb over this gas well,' says /,
and I'm gettin' weary
Oh says he, and skips over to the
bedside, He shakes the girl, and she
sits up. starln' like a wild thing. Then
he turns TO me again. How long have
you been hereF he says. L don't
KNOW says !. but plenty long enough
to save the young lady's life. This
room was II fright when | got here.
VIII you stick your thumb over this
hole till can rest me arm bitF And
he sticks his thumb over the hole and
| bids him Il courteous adleu and
slides, leavin' him there | didn't stop
for nothln'. not even me lantern.
was sick ! was afraid | wouldn't be
strong enough to get to n safe place
| before I'd have to stretch mesclf May
be you remember, Muggsy, how groggy
| was foI time after got hereT'
| Yes" responded Mr.. Kelly, with
succession of mods; II remember"
"Wel, That was the string had on
Van, and after I'd served what
| thought was II fair time for what I'd
done TO Snapper Griffin | writes to the
| governor. recallin' to him the circum-
stance. And he comes down handsome,
| as | was sure he would. He gives me
| the honor of n personal Interview, and
| he falls on me neck In sort of mild
way and tells me that he believes me
story regardless of the court, and he
sends me n pardon, and that's all"
Gee" said Mr.. Kelly after a
thoughtful interval. "Supposin' Van
hadn't been electedr
Don't" said Mr.. Dawson. 1T gives
me horrible pain to think of it!'
"And the glrl-what was the matter
with herr" persisted Mr.. Kelly.
II didn't ask" responded Mr.. Daw-
son. "'Twas none of me business"