Los Angeles herald., 1906-01-28
Lom's Experiment


>, "Ot course ] wouldn't" said Tom. "Oniy
there there isn't any such high place anywhere
d, ''Pshaw, nowl You wouldn't do any such
Emhng .iIng 1ou wouldn't go down half such
high place-nor a quarter. You wouldn't
house"
"Wouldn't 1? That's the very thing I'm 60
,.'When?" asked Phil, in doubling tone.
Any time. Now This is just as good
time as any other. Come up TO the garrett
with thine, me, and III go out that window"
What II you should get hurty' asked Phil.
IL don't. expect to, because / know what
I'm about"
Phil followed Tom into the house. and, not
having arrived at such knowing age, looked
admlrllngly on while he selected the largest
umbrella from the hatracL in the hall, with
out a suspicion that, in the bottom of his
heart, Tom was conscious of wish that his
mother might in some way learn what he
proposed doing, and forbid it, But she was
nowhere near, and the two mounted to the
garrett.
Now, you see," smaid Tom, as he opened
window and stepped out upon ledge form
ed by the jutting out of the lower edge Of the
mansard roof "there can't be any mistake
about the thing, for Nature never makes mis-
takes. The pressure of air under the umbrella
fail"
Whether Tom said this as much to prop up
friend cannot be known, for he will not be
likely to tell. But certain it was that he was
beginning to wish very earnestly that any
thing might bring his mother up stairs. If it
had not been for Phil he certainly would have
given up his venture; But how could he back
out after having said SO much? He had been
standing up bravely for Dame Nature and her
laws; surely she would do her part in stand
ing by him.
Dear me, don'tl" implored Phil, his head
getting dizzy as he took peep down into
the garden below you'll be sure to break
your arm OF. something. It's dreadful ways
down there"
"Pshaw!" said Tom. "TNat man went down
a hundred feet. This isn't more than, say,
twenty-five feet or so. Mother, are you down
there?" he cried.
But no mothers voice answered.
'"Now watch,' he said. I'm going to make
for that little plot of grass"
He would still have drawn back if he had
not said much With desperate mental
effort of faith in Nature he tightly clutched
his open umbrella in both hands and sprang
out upon nothing.
| But alas for Toni Good old Dame Nature
stood ready to do her part, and did it,; but
how could the maker Of that umbrella have
anticipated that it would ever be called upon
to do duty as parachute? At the first strong
downward pull, crack-hap-up went its ribs
showing that the fully-reed-on pressure of
air had not failed.
There was helpless movement of the feet,
a gasping for breath in the quick rush of air,
dreadful iarring fall, and then Tom lay
stunned and motionless in the middle of the
pansy bed.
In great terror Phil rushed down through
the house and stood at Toms side.
ooh, Tom, are you killed? Are you hurt?"
Tom looked about him with a dazed express
sion, then tried to get up. but fell back with
a moan.
The jar of the fall had thrown his hip out
of joint, and all he suffered and all he thought
before he was again able to work in the gar
den will probably be lifelong benefit to him.
II am as sure / was before, though" he
said one day to Phil, when he came to see
him, ''that If that old umbrella hadn't gone
back on me l should have come down all
right"
s"Then are YOU going to try it agan?" asked
Phil.
L.