The Delmar news., 1904-05-20
cns Ysst to one Of tfe roof trusses.

1hen he boldly walked out on IL ano
sat down, allowing his feet to dangle
over the end Of the board.
Although it bent in manner most
frightful to the onlookers, who were
filling the street below. Knocker knew
the plank was of yellow pine, and
/ would bear five times his weight.
A moment later the crowds attda-
tlon was attracted toward the street
corner below
Knocker also looked in that direc-
tion, and saw the leading band swing
ing round the corner into the street
Close behind came company of per
haps a hundred men, dressed in gray
caps and blouses. Knocker at once
recognized them as the iron workers
who had just completed the erection
of the Claypool Building,
| The boys recent disappointment
was Instantly forgotten as he became
filed with enthusiasm at the sight Of
this company leading all others in the
parade. These sunburned men from
the Claypool Building would have re-
ioiced an old erection boss; to Knock
er each one Of them was hero. The
boy. forgetting where he was, began 10
spring up and down on his airy seat,
keeping time to the music of the band
as he waved his hat and cheered.
But all at once, when the band was
directly underneath and the Claypool
company half a square away, Knocker
became aware that something was
wrong with his seat. Letting go his
hat. the boy bent over and clutched
the end of the board with both hands.
When the plank came to rest, Knock
er found his end had sunk down three
feet below the edge OF the building;
and although he had ceased to spring
up and down, it still continued to sink
Like a snail it crawled past the angle
of twenty, then thirty degrees while
the boy sat clutching the board in
horror.
He realized what was happening. In
his excitement in tying down the other
end of the plank, Knocker had used,
instead of the square hitch he had in
tended, the terrible granny. Slowly
but surely it was giving way.
AT last the boy opened his eyes In
relief to find the board had come to
standstill. He remembered that in
one end OF the flashing he had used
there was hard knot. Thinking this
knot had travelled up to the granny,
and that the latter was now as safe as
a square hitch, Knocker began TO
squirm back up the plank. But this
proved an indiscreet move, and al
most fatal one,
The granny had not been stopped by
the hard knot, but merely by frayed
edge on the rope. Hardly had the boy
made his. first move when this pulled
through and the plank gave little
lurch downward
Knocker had all but overbalanced,
and saved himself barely by again
clutching the end of the knot. 1t
seemed then as II Knocker had ruined |
his only chance for life. The plank
slowed down again to its former move
ment, but it continued to sink under
the boys weight
Below, the parade came to halt, all
but the leading band, which, uncon-
scious of the pending catastrophe,
went marching gaily up the street.
All other eyes were gazing at the
helpless boy. AS the plank passed the
thirtieth degree and seemed fairly to
stand on end, some turned away their
faces. unable to watch longer.
Among the iron workers were men
who had witnessed some fearful falls
and terrible accidents. but even they
were rendered helpless at the sight of
their youthful friend in such posi-
ton.
There was one exception, however.
A big man, with courage and determin-
alton showing in his clear blue eye
and square Jaw, sprang from the ranks
and pushed his way swiftly through
the crowd A moment later he reach
ed the high board fence which shut
In the Claypool Building from the
street. With agility that would have
done credit to a sailor. Big Jim scaled
the fence and disappeared inside the
enclosure. , /
Meanwhile, with each instant
[Snocker found his position harder to
splinters from the pine board
pierced his hands cruelty, but the boy
only set his jaws and gripped the
harder.
He knew he had one chance left. II
he hard knot came in contact with the
granny before the board reached a
sliding position, he might be saved.
There seemed little hope of that,
however, for the plank had already
passed the forty-ifth degree. Knock
IRIS weight on the end would have
,tarted It sliding down that had it
lot rested in a slight indentation in
he pine, caused by the rough iron on
he edge of the building.
Then slight quiver ran through
he plank. Under other circumstances
lnocker would not have noticed IT; g
nut under the high-strung condition OF S
lis nerves he felt It quite distinctly, 6
nd grew sick at heart. The boy clos I
d his eyes. e
1t was only the hard knot coming in J
ontact with the granny that caused J
he plank to CULVER. An instant later
Zig Jim arrived on the spot. Readily
is quick eye took in the situation,
nd he knew in an instant what TO do S
0 save the boy. b
Like one in dream Knocker, who o
ad now given up all hope and was a