The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-18
ny NJ. j. PHILLIPS.
kCopyright 1911, by Associa
Literary Press.l

kCopyright 1911, by Associated
Literary Press)
7, A group of young people was stand
ing within the railing surrounding
the platform at the top of the town
hall Below, struggled the village.
falling away in picturesque confu-
sion from the Hill on which the hall
was situated. OF to the east, be-
meath the rays of a perfect moon,
cleaned the radiant surface OF Sill
yer lake.
II am going to climb the flag
STAFF" said Calvin Brest. He was q
drug clerk in the village, q wiry.
dark young man, with the spirit OF
an adventurer, despite the humdrum
occupation of purveying pills and
powders. He felt moved to do some
thing noteworthy tonight. Spring was
stirring his riotous young blood and
Jessie Dane was standing beside MN.
There was a chorus OF half-fright-
ened exclamations. The Flagstaff
sprang from the top of a low cupoia
just above their heads. 1t was q
thick. crooked lance Of timber thirty
feet long, worn smooth by the beat
ing OF many storms.
Brest did not wait for his wild
resolve to cool. From the top or
the railing he leaned forward and
drew himself up on the roof of the
cupola. With a laugh he laid hands
on the pole.
Wrapping his legs about it he be-
gan to climb. 1t merely shivered a
bit at first: but when he was q
third of the distance to the top the
pole swayed back and forth IL II
snapped under his weight there was
q sheer drop of nearly one hundred
feet to the cobblestoned court below.
But it did not snap. Brest reached
the top without mishap. patted the
gilt ball that crowned 1t and then
with whoop slid down the stan
and alighted In their midst on the
rallied platform.
He was given the reception OF an
admired. spoiled child. They praised
and scolded MIN, but the scolding was
the greatest praise. The pole had
never been climbed but once before,
and then in the daytime by q steepie-
jack whose many precautions seemed
foolish beside Brest's daring clever
ness.
After whitcomh broke in on the
congratulatory chorus. II am going
up, too" he said. and there WAS an
other sensation. Whitcomb was a
young farmer whose land adjoined
the town. He glanced at Jessie Dane
GA he spoke.
The girl took step forward and
put out a hand as If to stop him;
and then. realizing that any pleading
might render her conspicuous. she
turned away without a word.
Whitcomb got to the roof and be-
gan to climb, He Was heavier than
Brest, and less skilled. Under his
iabored efforts the pole swayed and
shivered.
The smiles slipped from the faces
of the watchers. their gay words of
encouragement were stiiled. They
remembered that the STAFF was old;
it had been years in place. AT any
moment Whitcomb might go down to
his death.
But good fortune waited on him.
too. He placed his hand for mo-
ment on the gilt ball. and slid back
thankfully. He was not so popular
as Rrest and his safe return was
greeted by less of denomination
A constraint fell over the group.
The same thought WAS in every mind.
The incident was not yet closed.
For the youth who had been Jessie
Would he do as much as the others J
whitcomb voiced the question OF
ell when he said with sneer.
We'll, Peter?"
Peter Price. leaning indoiently on
the railing. drawled. Well AIT"
Are you sporf!
do you mean, am / going to climb
that pole, too?"
That's what / mean"
Having been born with some
SENSE replied Peter. II am not Be-
cause YOU and Calvin made fools OF
yourselves lis no reason | should,
Whitcomb laughed boisterously- Il
always thought YOU lacked sand" he
said Later. Whitcomb and Calvin
Bress walked home with Jessie.
Peter Price did not seem to notice
any change In attitude toward him.
He attended the village merry
makings as usual and kept az near
Jessie as possible. fetching and car
rvinr for her and anticipating her
wishes As for Brest and Whitcemh