The Indianapolis journal., 1903-06-21

and watched the river with its mud-banks
so far beneath.
1t was a dizzy depth. and in the half
light OF declining day it looked even great
er. But he had level head and enjoyed
the sensation awhile.
Then gradually he began to think about
the accounts OF suicides from this bridge
Without exception they were suffocated by
that soft and noxious mud. 1t was fear
full death to contemplate. and. injured to
danger as he was, even he began TO feel
eerie and uncomfortable.
AS the light faded from the sky the river
and slime took on livid pallor that was
horribly suggestive. With a shiver he
dropped his spent cigar and leant further
over to watch its descent. 1t seemed as
il 1t must strike the stream, but he waited
to see.
Suddenly he was grasped by the legs
and sent over. He had no time to save
himself yet instinct made him clutch at
the open ironwork and hold on for all he
was worth.
AS he looked through he saw his rival,
DR.. Murphy. facing him and laughing
madly. At the sight of that reasonless and
hateful face Graham felt that his hour
was come. His feet were dangling in spece
so that he was completely at the mercy of
the maniac, who, while laughing shrilly,
began to kick frantically at the clutch
ing fingers.
The pain of those kicks was more than
human endurance could stand. Graham did
the only thing he could under the circum-
ra1a on ho nd
took grip lower down out of reach of the
murdeous feet.
He was now for the moment safe, but
he was hanging on the lowest eldge with
arms taut and 245 feet of drop between
him and that choking mud. With his wits
preternaturally active, he felt that the luna
tic would be at him again with his stick
in another instant, and that he must drop
presently.
THAT was the most thrilling moment of
my life" he said quietly, as he puffed out a
mouthful of smoke. IL looked up and saw
him glaring down on me from the rail and
screaming at me In curses. / shouted also
as loudly as 1 could, trusting to attract at
tention. Would Evelyn come. 1 thought,
in time to see fall. The idea sickened
me.
"He was prodding at me now with his
stick, but as he had to stretch from the top
it was too short to reach my bleeding hands
While he did this he spat in my face, then,
in fit of extra fury, he flung the cane at
feel the stroke; only saw it fall. and felt
the mark of 1t afterward.
"An at once he turned his face, and from
xba 7
ing.
:" 'Ha, too late, Evelyn Howard! he yelled
at the pitch of his shrill voice. We are
going to die together. your lover and the
man he ousted.'
81 knew what was going to happen next,
and made a swing toward the bridge. That
move was only done in time, for the next
moment his hand made grab at my head
and missed--as he shot past me into that
awful space.
Evelyn and perhaps more help were COM
ing, but for the life of me l could not help
watching that falling body. 1t was turn
ing round and round, making Catherine
wheels, and seemed to take hours before IL
reached the mud. But at last it struck, feet
first, and sank UP to the neck. / could see
the small face. like decapitated head float
ing on the slime. ! can see 1t now almost
as plainly. and 1t was appalling. Another
shrek made me raise my eyes. and there
was Evelyn looking at me with horror.
Don't faint. Evelyn, or I'm lost ]
cried, hurriedly. L can hang on bit longer
if you have anything to make a rope with
but be quick about 1t, for heavens sake
''The plucky girl showed her grit and
speaking she had whipped off her serge
skirt and had torn 1t into five wide strips
which she rapidly tied together and reached
over to me. 1 caught the end with my
teeth while she fastened the other end to
the ironwork.
Her next action showed what a proper
women she was to be an explorers mate
/ need not go into details as to what she
took of. But she worked at express speed
and presently flung down to me q varie.
gated cable in the form of a swing with
the two ends fast to the bridge. 1t came
low enough for me to test IT first by sitting
on IL, then when I found IL strong enough
I got my knees In 1t, reaching to where ]
had first held on.
1.-The danger was over. was able to
draw myself up to where her dear. strong
arms were waiting to receive me, and in
another moment she had tainted on my
breast in q state Of deshablle that I shall
not describe. could hold her to me, but
that was all could do for time, for the
| strength had all gone out Of me.
Fortunately. the bridge was deserted al
this moment, and had my Inverness on, sc
| when 1 recovered somewhat 1 wrapped my
darling in this, and. laying her on the
ground, staggered over to the dollhouse
where found the man nodding on his seat
He had heard nothing.
"A cab was on the road little distance
away, so hailed it, and, getting a jug OF
water, l went back to Evelyn and found
her just coming round. She had too much
vitality to remain long In faint. We go,
her safely back and up to her room withou,
being noticed, as the visitors were dressing
| for dinner at the time. A wash and a
brandy put me to rights. so that could tel
my story and have dinner with her brother
She didn't appear that night. but next
morning came down calm. IL q little pale
OF course, there was considerable excite
ment In the hotel over the affair, and the
description of my sensations while hanging
on, with my enemy lungins at me, gave
most of them the thrills
"It was a thrilling moment and no mis-
al