Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-10-07
The Man
Who Could Walk
! Straight
Bv Prank Burnham Bsgiey
Copyright. by shortstory Pub. Coz

SlsCIuOut bCChCly vi oiSoh iNo"oS "~~
not then looking for excitement. but
merely for the easiest route guide
could show him from the western side
of the Andes to the eastern pampas.
: The happenings Of every day-yes.
every hour-such as creeping along
the verge Of precipice Oh trail
scarce wider than his two hands. OF
leading his burro over hairlike swing
ing bridges, with the earth few thou
sand feet below--he had come to re-
gard as minor incidents.
They had reached the point Of great
est altitude on their journey and were
just entering, through a cleft in the
solid rock, an absolutely level plateau.
covered with short grass. when five
men. as though actuated by common
spring. suddenly emerged in front
> While two Of the bandits kent them
covered with their carbines. the otn-
ers bound them hand and foot and
led them some distance toward the
middle OF the plateau. where they
were dumped from their donkeys and
robbed OF everything Of value.
After that they were fed. which
somewhat ailayed the apprehensions
OF Rouse, who had been studying his
captors and doubted II five more repul-
sive or even equally villainous looking
rascals could be assembled.
When at the close OF their repast
they had taken a few puf1s from
Rouse's best cigars. they appeared to
expand with a feeling as near akin
to good humor as anything OF which
they we're capable, and Selling this
opportunity. Rouse quietly asked for
one of his own PerfectOs. TIE man
who, gaping with establishment. hand
ed 1t to him. said:
Enjoy 1t, senior. for you'll have to
walk straight this afternoon"
This witticism. obscure to Rouse.
was evidently a great joke to the
brkands.
Can you walk straight" continued
the joker. and the laughter ceased.
Rouse thought that perhaps the
safe course would be TO amuse his Gus
todians. IL possible. and replied:
Morally. can; but physically not
at all-for l limp"
This seemed to be considered even
more humorous than the bandits
badinage, and sent the ruffans into a
roar of merriment,
Rouse thought that ominous. No
thorough scoundrel laughs in that way
without meaning harm to someone
But, as lightly as possible, he in
CURED:
Which kind of straight walking did
you mean"
We'll, physically. senior: and It's
pretty important for you
In a little while they unbound the
guides feet. leaving his hands tied
behind him and bandaged his eyes.
One man lay down and gazed steadily
across the plain. Rouse tried to fol-
low his glance. but could discern moth
ing but the unbroken plateau. extend
ing for some miles to the next range
Of mountains. Stretching out an arm
and sighting along 1t as one might a
rife. the PROSTATE man held II stead
ily pointed at the object Of his sCru-
,iny. The two men holding the guide
faced him exactly in the direction in
dicated and released him, telling him
to walk straight ahead.
Whatever the game might be. it was
soon evident that the guide would not
prove a success, for he was gradually
veering to the left. AS this became
more apparent, the laughter OF the la
drones rose higher and Rouse s uneasi-
ness increased. 4 vague but powerful
dread impressed him with a sense OF
swiftly impending calamity. The next
moment he almost laughed himself at
his indefinite fears What harm could
possibly befall a man on that level
plain? If their captors meant to kill
them. why had they not already done
SO? They had made no movement TO-
ward their weapons. which lay stacked
with their saddles. II they let the
guide co far enough he might make a
break 10. the mountains. and
\ movement as Of expectancy
among the men at his side brought
Rouse from his revery with a shudder
to the guide. who was still drifting
percep'ibly TO the left. The next in
slant he had disappeared.
There. on the level plain. he had
gone from sight in q DASH
Tha, was the fateful moment for
Grafton Rouse. II was then that his
hard common sense and iron nerve
struggled for mastery over the form
less fear tearing at his soui-and won.
The single second in which he knew
that he was again master Of his old
self vas the happiest OF his life
even II Il were to be the last.
Another moment was left him for
swift and vigorous thought. while the
uurdorers were still enjoying their
% ,bastIv entert sinmenf u was ev!-