Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-05-08

. per free. Still careful, lest the move ment might hurry him to the eager pavement below, Steve separated the paper into two parts. Hope in his heart, prayers on his lips, Steve let go his grasp on the half paper. It sank slowly toward the earth. And now 1t touched, and rested calmly on the curb-three blocks from the man who watched.
 For Steve had watched, had watched praying. From the moment he launched his messenger, he held strained eyes on the floating, vacillat- ing bit of paper. As he saw it waited farther and farther away, so his hope thinned, and when 1t paused at last, remote, futile hope ceased.
 But pluck survives reason. He chose to try yet once again. But this time he would not drop the paper. Instead, he would simply wave it back and forth. The regular movement of the huge sheet might catch the attention of some one ere night drew down. He swung the cracking pages to and fro. hoping ever to see the gleam of face upturned to note his signal-hoping in vain.
 Martin, too, had passed day of tor ture. He had carried with him the burden of guilt. It seemed to him that his only hope lay in flight, and yet he could not flee. He dared not return to his room, he dared not go to Mary. And always before him was dread vision-that scene of man outlined against the sky falling into an abyss of death, struck to his doom by his hand. But the vision fascinated him by the very terror of it. A dreadful longing grew in him to see the place again. As the sun sank, he slouched furtiyely around a corner and stood trembling, looking across the street and up 20 stories to that point of roof where few hours ago he had thrust Steve over the edge. The soul in him quaked to the shivering of his body as he gazed.
 Martin started in superstitious ter TOT. Something moved ap there. Was it Steve's ghost, fitting there where he had gone to his death?. The idea appalled,.
 Presently, the illusion passed, and as he came to the curb and stood on the sidewalk almost directly under. meath that swinging object he saw the bulk of the man above it.
 Steve, staring always for an up. turned face, saw one for an instant then it vanished in the crowd. The darkness had come. He dropped the paper from his hand, and prayed brok- enly.
 Martin had not understood-bu hope was born in him as it died in Steve. Half a minute later, he was on the top floor, running toward the stairs that led to the roof Ten sec onds after, he was flat on the roofs edge, peering over. There, just to the right of him, swung the body of man, man who lived, for a broken humble of words issued from his lips.
 Martin sprang to his feet, and ran to the end of the roof, where the flag staff stood. There he whipped out his knife. and cut the rope. He made running knot in it. and then sped back to where the other man dangled.
 Martin had seen at a glance how Steve's left coat pocket had caught on one of the ornamental points of the iron top of the roof So, now, he lowered the rope even before he spoke, until it hung just in front of Steve's head and arms. Then:
 Steve! Steve!" Martin called.
 The man in the abyss believed that the voice was hallucination, but he answered:
 Help! For Gods sake, help!"
 Put your head and arms through the rope and I'll pull you up." Martin directed. At last, the rope was in place. and Martin began to draw 1t taut. The loop lessened and closed around the mans body. Martin braced his feet against the tiny parapet at the roofs edge. and hauled at the rope with careful, steady strength. At last Steye's arms reached the top of the roof.
 It was done at last, and the one man was ministering to the other, chafing his numbed hands, and soothing him with the tenderness of woman.
 "oh, thank God. you did not die!" he cried again. You know never meant it. Steve"
 But why did you go away" the other asked feebly.
 T thought you had gone," Martin Why. I've been thinking all day that I was your murderer, Steve"
 T wanted to make you fight" Steve confessed. Martin, I-I lied to you about Mary. I never kissed her"
 Don't say anything more about 1t, old fellow" Martin said
 Anyhow" Steve persisted, I'm go- Ing to be better man after today"
 Me. too" Martin declared cheer. fuliy. I've done some thinking today. Do yor feel as if you could ge: un | now. Steve?'