The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-04-24

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only the side planks on which the
horses stood. The shock had moved
one of these planks two or three inch
es, so that a leg Of the horse upon II
just overhung the edge. A little more
and the horse wonld topple into the
shaft, taking its support from the
board on which / sat and hurling me
down to frightful death.
81 was practically glued to my place.
If tried to reach either horse, the
chanches were that should jar the leg
clear. My only safety consisted in
keeping absolutely quiet
"In front rose the steel wall, with
the dolly hanging against it. The
smooth metal offered no handhold.
Could I have stood upright and been
sure of firm footing, | might have
risied a leap to the beams of the next
floor; but any attempt to gain my
feet on that ticklish board would in
vite the very disaster | dreaded.
81 knew that had been seen and
my peril understood. The building
was on a crowded business street
and the crash of the falling beam had
attracted the attention OF hundreds o.
people. A great silent throng soon
| blocked all traffic. could see their
upturned faces and an occasional
pointed finger Their very stiffness
terrified me- for knew that 1t was my
mortal danger that held them SPELL
bound.
at was extremely hot. The sun
beat down fiercely. My head was pro
tected only by light cap and the heat
set my brain boiling. The great iron
framework, with its white figures and
letters painted on the beams to show
their dimensions and places, swan
dizzily round me. | closed my eyes,
but got little relief. A warm red light
glowed before them. seemed to be
swaying regularly to and fro. Actual
ly, was as nearly motionless as
fright could make me, but to my reel
ing head I seemed to be oscillating
like pendulum.
"a blast of wind passed through
the skeleton frame, jarring me slight
ly. l looked down toward the leg of
the horse. 1t had certainly moved a
trihe Another blast might dislodge
it altogether. I sickened with terror.
The crowd below appreciated my
danger A quick, convulsive gasp Of
pity rose to me from hundreds of
throats.
But there was one in that throng
who did something more than SYM
pathize. He was a sailor en- shore
leave from a United States battleship
in the harbor Running into store
he obtained hundred feet of new.
strong rope, looped 1t about his shou
ders and began to clamer toward me
AS there were no ladders left he was
forced to swarm up the steel uprights
"At first, however, did not see
him, for close to me something hap
pened that drove everything else from
my mind.
"a barely perceptible movement fas-
tened my eyes on the leg cf the horse
Painfully scrutinizing the spot where
it rested, saw that the rlank was
being pushed slowly but surely along
by the lateral pressure of the other
legs. watched it fascinated. It was
only question of very short time
when should be hurled into the pit.
Suddenly. three stories below, I saw
a man climbing toward me. He was
dressed in a blue suit and fat can
edged with white letters. A coil of
rope hung around his neck. Up he
came like monkey, arms, legs. hands,
feet, all doing their part. Would he
be in time to save me? He was
swarthy Spanish-looking fellow, not
very tall, with black moustache and
good-natured face. Two stories below
his cap dropped off, revealing his
thick curly hair. Several times he
slipped back slightly, and I noticed
the dull red smears on his clothing
from the freshly painted beams.
81 watched him tensely. He glanced
up and caught my eye.
ShCCi up, lhutC' hO
I'll have a rope round you in jiffy!'
Another slight movement of the
plank. groaned. The bluejacl1et
heard me, and 1t stimulated him to do
his utmost. It was race between
him aed the retreating wood. On his
1.-THE muscles my life depended.
''The leg now hung on its support
by the merest fraction of fits width.
1t might slip off at any second. I no
longer saw the sailor. The sound OF
his climbing and his heavy breathing
came to me, but did not dare to turn
my head.
II closed my lids for an instant
When l opened them the leg was en-
tirely off the plank. The horse tip
ped and the board under me tilted
downward.
"I gave one last despairing glance
at the steel wall and at the dolly sus-
pended by its chain. Could those
small, rusted links support one hun