Oxford Democrat., 1903-09-08
CHAPTER l.


r TOW great events depend on
- trlvialities! A chain Of cir
cumstances in themselves in
significant brought US togeth-
er, Il little group of strangers. and drew
us finally into that tragic adventure
of which so much has been said and
written. The first Of these clrcum.
stances was no doubt my stopping to
speak with Skitters. B. G. Skitters OF
Buffalo. one day in April last.
Skitters since have known him has
always been full of enterprise and or
schemes more or less crazy to make
Il fortune In an hour. But the spring
of the Pan-American year. with It's
dazzling possibilities. which affected
some stronger heads. seemed utterly to
turn Il head originally none too steady.
When saw him that morning he was
lettering feverishly on the corner OF
Niagara street and Main and glaring
like tiger at the crowds which went
TO and fro. There was feel In the
air of adventure and success. and the
man on the corner seemed to be mad
dcned by it.
He began to rave. "Three good
things gone wrong" said he-"three
elegant. gilt edge. safe IDEAS all gone to
smash in u week."
How so!" inquired.
"Oh. the same old fogles! Men that
| tried TO get interested wouldn't take
'cm up. No more nerve In this town.
But. say. for heavens sake. II you
know Of anything real good that's do
ln-. let me in. will you?"
Same here" remarked weary voice
beside us. A youth with Il derby hat
ON the back of his head and u cigar
stump in the corner Of his mouth had
paused in his aimlcss strolling. | recog.
nized him us distant acquaintance,
one Curlry Bowers. somewhat well
known among the east side gangs
Curlcy has Imagination and even cult
Yates the muses.. | made the suitable
introductions and happened to remark:
MIR. Skitters here Is interested In
some an-Americnn enterprises"
Not now" he answered darkly. Il
wouldn't touch such wildcat schemes.
Haven't the time anyway; too busy"
His mood had changed. and he eyed
with certain pitying melancholy the
people that went past Us. ephemerals
of the hour.
Look ut EN-" said he. land every
other one has got some kind OF bee
bu.zing notions and side
show fakes. anything. anything to coax
Il dollar out of the poor visitor. They q
better get on to one of the big yellow
cars and 20 down to Niagara falls and
float over"
Young Bowers had moved leisurrly
AWAY. At this casual remark he half
turned rou,d and said. II know OF Il
fcllcr in this town who says he can do
the trick"
.Do what?" asked Skitters. What's
he talking about?
Go over the falls" replied Curley.
"Shoot Niagara. Course he'd need
somethin' to do it in." He spoke WITH
n tired. diSpassionate air and drifted
ou.
Would be quite scheme. wouldn l
itf" said Sk.ttcrs. and his eye lighted
titfuily as it rested for moment on
one of the yellow cars. What an ad-
ycrtlsemcnt.~ And we talked Of some
thing else.
But tle very next day he (Skitters)
rushed into the office where | was.
1--WE found it! I've found it,! he ex'
claimed.
Found whut?" | asked.
He dropped into a chair and lowered
his voice, but lie was quiverlng all over
with eagernesS. like hound that
points the game. "In this town." said
lie solemnly. up near Black ROCK.
there's an old fellow that's an inventor
md he's had hobby for years. He
works In Il bicycle repair shop. but
night times he works on the hobby-an
invention. And. by gad"-his voice fell
to a whisper-"I most believe that he's
rot something there ut last. Where's
that young fellow" Skitters cried,
that we were talking to yesterday"
"Who? Oh. young BowersT said l.
what do you want Of him"
"Do you remember what he said.
Skitters replied. about knowing fel.
low who wanted to so over Niagara
Well. by heavens. I'm going to give
him the chance"
went to the telephone and called
M grocery store out on the east side
OH corner opposite to Gugglehelmers
old saloon. Around that corner. as
knew. relics Of one Of the old street
gangs of Buffalo still loafed and lol'
tered through the heavy hours.
"Hellow said in the telephone. I'll
Curley Bowers Ia near there. will you
please ask him to come downtownF
And gave the name and number.
Skitters meanwhile had sat down by
the window. From that window one
can see two empires facing the waters
of Lake Erie. wide and blue. and the
point where those waters pass so quiet
" and unexpectedly into the Gluten
of the strongest of rivers. Skitters
gazed upon this scene with new ap
probation.
Looks quiet and gentle enough on,
there. doesn't it?" he observed "Who'C
ever guess what there was few miles
down yonder! What chance fol
somebody" He went of into deer
musing and presently came out OF 1t tt
chant kind Of song to me. the song Of
the "Dollar Hunter"
After awhile Curley Bowers saunter
ed In. still doing the dignified. Like
some of his kind. In the presence ol
strangers ne afrecte0 ponte ana iort!
indifference. his notion Of good man
ners. We explained that we wanted
particulars about the man who though
he could swim Niagara.
"Well." replied Curley. "he's feile
nameI Jake Wes.erman. Dutchman
Your CoWS to breed, esp