The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-08-06

line?" ''
The stranger laughed.
why not. indeed? Hereafter I'm a
specialist"
Grace moved uneasily.
Have You noticed that the daylight
is fading?" she said.
so Il is, Is there anything remark.
able about TT"
NO. only | fancied you would find
the sunlight useful"
Enlighten me. please"
Grace bit her lip. Was he really
stupid. or was he pretending?
Father said you would look over
the electric wires. He is afraid there
Is something wrong about them"
Look over the wires? Why. yes. OF
course ! will Anything to make my
self agreeable. Your father must have
known that had some little knowl-
edge on the subject-although | don't
remember telling him"
Grace stared at him. He evidently
considered himself humorist.
Where will you look frst?"
In the cellar. of course. VIII you
lead the way"
She hesitated with a glance at his
dark glasses.
Can you see in the dark"
Much better in the dark" he an.
swered- Its the light that affects me
"a sort OF sand blindness, you under
stand. But I'm much better, thank
you"
Grace touched button on the wall
and a maid promptly appeared.
Have the outside cellar door open |
ed. Mary. The wires are 10 be in |
spected"
The maid withdrew and then Grace |
led the stranger down the front steps |
and around to the cellar door.
Come, he said as he went down
me steps. Il want you along as helper,
II you please. Besides. | might be
tempted to eat up the preserves. I've
been living. you know, where pre-
serves are not known"
Not even currents?" she asked.
Currents? oh. ! see. | didn't ex-
Dect that Of you-I didn't really. Is
hat what you brought me down here
orr You evidently don't know that ii
sn't safe to get into a joking mood
With electricity. That was an old ira
iition at the School of Mines. Cur
ents. indeed"
Somehow she couldn't help smiling.
fe had such boyish way about him.
Ind yet he sadly needed snubbing.
i am quite sure my presence isn't
she said with dignity. IF
ou need help | will call the man from
he stable"
oh, no." he protested Il couldn't
hink OF troubling him. Id much
ather have you here There, will you
lease hold my glasses2" He thrust
hem into her hand. Il can see very
'eii In this dim light. All. here's the
est He was up on a chair looking
I the wires. Your father was right.
his isn't a good job. Here are a
ouple OF EN- in contact Give em a
tile more time and they would be
eady for any mischief No wonder
our father found the service bad. ,
old on a minute and III have 'em
here they belong" He drew a knife
ON his pocket and worked at the !
Tres. !
And then suddenly there was a !.
larp crack. fierce white flame and
e stranger dropped Imply across the
lair and lay there very still. d
Grace had shrunk back at the start :.
ne interruption. The glasses fell
ON her hand and tinkled on the
Dor. Then she sprang forward.
Are you hurt?" she gasped and lift. i,
his head. u
He caught his breath. q
The currents got me-" he murmur
family. You shouldn't have made a
at joke"
Rouse up" she said and shook him p
ntk. az
Do II again he murmured. Il like
He raised himself and drew a q,
lick breath. I'm all right" he add
In stronger tone. Except my h,
es." He stood up. Let me take
ur hand" he said. Il think I'd bet.
: walk around a little" :,
She looked in his face His eyes
re tightly closed Then she took
! hand and led him to the steps.
Shall | call somebody" she asked.
No. no. Not IL you will stay with on
!. II was all my fault. was care
s and out OF practice. I'll have to
ep my eyes shut for a half hour or
re. That fash has put them to the
A again" 80
Here is the STEP" she cautioned :"
n. Be very careful"
Wait" he said. You'd better bind
eyes with handkerchief. Here is
ne"
She bandaged his eyes carefully.
m so sorry this thing happened" sa
, said as she frightened the knot. IN,
OUCH" he muttered. II think Won be
! some OF my hair into that knot" frc
I'm so sorry" she said, and loos. co
ID IL. mo-
That's all right" he told her. Il sa,
: TO have my hair fused up Don't mr.,
get the glasses. mi
| dropped them" said Grace. They fat
somewhere on the floor"
Not smashed?" ore
IL think not"
You'd better think not II you don't mn
those glasses you will have to 20
and buy string with a dog at tho
he'd to ito lead ne around" Pla
Please don't talk like that" said
girl Let me help you up the
ls. She put her hand under his
and assisted him to the outside
k and then up the front steps and the
} the parlor nal
ha. a 81