The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1908-11-14
ALL FOR A WAGER


was rambling down H. street, near
Russell square. IN company with m,
friends. Tom Hewitson and Frank Pal
grave.
AT the period In question | was ,sup
posed 20 bcl reading for oxford. while
Hewitson was walking the hospitals
and Palgrave was expecting his com
mission" We were all athletes.
AS we sauntered pleasantly along
rapt In conversation on the mysteries
OF gymnastics. we approached ladder
which was fixed to four story house.
"How little we think OF the heroIsm
OF hodmens' exclaimed palgrave II
would rather face dragoon armed to
the teeth than walk to the top OF that
ladder"
"Pooh" said /. You must be jok-
Ing. see the feat performed every
day by fellows whom you or l could
pound into mummy. and. what IS more,
they carry on their business as leisure
ly forty or fifty feet high as II they
were paving roads"
"Yet viii lay an even bet OF 6 that
you won't do t." retorted Palgrave
coolly.
"Done." I replied.
As the house was untenanted and
the laborers were absent. there seemed
no impeachment In the way.
"Holdw cried Hewitson. who began
to feel that very serious responsible
ity might devolye upon him in his ca
pacity OF umpire. Were you ever up
ladder beforeT"
"Hum-ah-yes-but not high ones.
! should say ! have been up fourteen
or fifteen feet at least.'
There Is a very serious difference,
let me tell you. between fifteen feet
and forty-five." continued Hewitson,
looking anxiously up 20 the roof. "It
was only last week we had terrible
accident at Guys. resulting from YER
tigo, and. let me tell you. now that
look closely into the expression OF your
eyes. I would strongly recommend you
TO stick closely TO terra frma."
II will cheerfully cancel the agree
ment II you like" said the generous
Palgrave.
Nonsense. man! I am afraid you're
funking. Frank. Five pounds is a good
deal OF money 10 lose In Ave minutes.
but I'll punish you for daring 10 ques-
ton my courage. Goodby. old fellow
had arrived about twenty feet on
my ethereal road when first became
conscious OF a strange feeling.
I tried to laugh at my own apprehen-
sions.
Another step-another-a nother-hal
those words OF Hewitson's!
at was only last week we had a ter
rible accident at Guys, resulting from
vertigo" now rang In my ears with a
fearful meaning.
Another stepl The cold perspiration
broke out on my forehead. my knees
trembled. and my teeth chartered. An
other step! / took II mechanically. Oh.
heavens. what a fearful height was
now! How the world seemed 20 yawn
beneath me!
Another step. and now my agony OF
terror was almost insupportable My
whole frame trembled convulsively:
could hear the very palpitations OF my
heart had arrived on a level with |
the window. but II was two feet dis
tant from me. and the attempt to pass
that insignificant space must be GER
tain death.
The day had hitherto been breath |
lessly calm; now, with the suddenness |
OF our variable climate. Il began 10 |
blow strongly. Marvellous TO relate,
fhfa vary efrru N, q On - srovo ~ t,.,r..
date relief and was. think. the prin-
cipal agent in saving my life.
As l had this fresh real danger 20
encounter shook or the terrors OF |
many that were really imaginary. The
descent TO earth must be accomplished.
So. setting my teeth firmly and fixing
my eyes with a dull, rigid. desperate
stare on the brick wall before me.
one step with knocking
knees and then with equal care. an
other
BY practice the retrograde move
ment became easy. | found II easy 10
my mind from vague, imag-
mary horrors and 10 fix my whole
care on self preservation.
hAthhNA w. 1
glorious. | could look down now with
like composure and smiled
mother aud another, Sweetest music
hat ever. ever fell upon my ear. /
.ould az last distinctly hear the voices
II my two friends. around whom n
'rowd had gathered
Bravo! BY Jove. you'r do u all
light yeti Hold hrm and keep steady.
ny boy"
l was only twenty feet high. and
the remainder Of my
Quincy with ease. Hewitson and Pal
rave. who had been nearly as much
frightened as myself, were shocked nc
NY CHASTITY paienoss. Thy said / re-
embed risen corpse. The good ma
ured fellows had n cab md fsask OF
randy In attendance. was put into
he cab. and the brandy was put Into
ne. ~
But ] was pronounced In danger