The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1907-03-08
Seleet Storp.
A THRILLING ADVENTURE.
QUINCY LARSON RoEHsHELN.

adleu TO the old shop ana lis varied asso-
Citations, and stepped out into the world
my own master, and to be the architect OF
my own fortune
had applied myself to my chosen pro
fession with all the assiduity that a love.
amounting to almost Il passion, for It,,
stimulated, and | felt, therefore, con
sciousness of superiority.
Among my shopmates was one Ned
Wilson, pattern Of that class of mechan-
les who apply themselves only when being
overlooked, and are never particular how
their work is done, so that it is done. He
hid conceived a deep seated dislike to me,
because of my rapid progress in the mys-
teries of my art, and being consequently
often the recipient of commendations from
our employer. Oftentimes have | caught
him gazing intently upon me, his face
wearing a malicious smile, and lit up by a
vindictiveneSs hardly to be supposed capa-
BILE Of considering the usual meaningless
expression it bore. Although havirg no
fear of him physically, yet [ must confess
that when at such times [ have detected
him thus eyeing me, | would feel an un
defined dread, as [ could see below the
surface, and read there a resolve to DO me
an injury, assassin like, if ever an oppor
tunity occurred. Such were my feelings
when | left the shop, and was glad to
be freed of his companionship.
Time worn on, and by judicions in
vestment of my little capital, had become
possessed of shop and the necessary sur
roundings peculiar to my business. Grad
ually, but surely, was winning my way
to the front ranks of my profession.
One day, about four years after | had
bid adieu to the old shop, l was called
upon to make an estimate for painting the
church and tower situated on B-street.
AS knew that to secure the job would be
the forerunner of a profitable line of SINH
lar work, | became quite anxious to be the
successful bidder, and to such an extent
had the contemplation of my securing it
worked upon my nervous system, that |
became quite feverish, and seated in my
cozy parlor, my wife and cherub long since
retired, gave myself up to Fancy's sway,
and many the airy castles that were there
built, to be as speedily dashed to atoms. [
realized that through the kind Intervention
of some friends | had secured the coveted
contract, and without unnecessary delay
entered upon its completion. Employees
were scarce, and as the agreement required
me to have all completed within given
time, began now to experience new fear
that, through an inability to secure the
requisite help, l might blast all my con-
tingent hopes by failure to comply with
the terms of the contract.
| had forgotten Wilson; in fact, since
my establishment on my own account |
had never seen him, and as Time effaces
many of the animosities which under the
influence of an hour possess us, so with me
had the recollection of the ill ll-feeling
evinced towards me by him, given place to
a feeling of commisseration for, and lastly,
to forgetfulness of him.
One day, while almost in despair of
completing the work in the required time,
for want of workmen, [ was startled by
the appearance of man whose face bore a
familiar expression, and which [ soon re-
called to be no other than Wilson, A
long persistent course of dissipation had
told sadly on him, and want spoke through
the tattered garments of its continuous
presence. He soon made known the OBJ
ject of his visit by an application for work.
Under other circumstances an indignant
refusal would have met this proposal, but
as | saw in his presence means to assist
me in the completion of the church, and
forgetful of his old malice, and deaf to the
inward monitor that bade me hesitate, |
engaged him to commence work on the next
day, taking occasion, however, to require
strict abstinence from Intoxicating liquors,
as Il condition to a continuation at work
At the usual hour on the morrow, Will
son was at the church with brushes and
kettle prepared to begin work. My
hands had given the first outside coat of
paint to the tower, and on that morning
were to begin the application of the second.
High up in the clouds reared the spire,
and from its top humanity below assumed
Lilliputian proportions. The scaffolding
had been placed in position the evening
before, and nothing prevented my work
men from pursuing their labors.
half suspected, or some unexplained
intuition told me, that Wilson had been
indulging in liquor, though nothing in his
manner indicated it; yet the impulse was
irresistible, if such had been the fact, to
object to his working at that altitude. In
stead of receiving my kindly meant admo-
milton in the spirit in which it was given,
his face assumed the aforementioned ex
preston of deep, intense hatred. Then
rushed to my recollection old shop days,
and his threats of future revenge for fancied
wrongs.
Fear for the consequences of his wrath
induced me to order him below, assigning
less dangerous position in the chancel to
him. Sullenly he gathered up his brushes,
and muttering to himself, slowly descended.
Necessity now compelled me to take his
place on the tower, and to avoid the re-
naming workmen from observing how far
| was annoyed at the occurrence, | placed
a trestle from window on the opposite
side of the tower from where they were
at work. This trestle was so framed that
by turning screw it would widen or close
at will by means of groove, so as to fit
to any window, and by removing the screw
it could be taken apart. I had fitted it to
a window, and securing short ladder to
it, was at the top of the ladder busily en-
gagged in my labors, my mind, however,
creating disturbed fancies, the result of my
encounter with Wilson.
How long a time elapsed | do not know,
but suddenly feeling of insecurity pos
sessed me- I essayed in vain to dispel it
as an illusion produced by the excited state
of my nerves, but the more tried to be-