Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-29

SUDDENLY he laughed
"Shut up!' roarcd the boss. "That is deathbed
out there, and there amt anything funny about a
deathbed."
"That is deathbed- and call it funny that have
got save the fellow I've been swearing to kill"
"You!" gasped the boss.
@Yep me! | want that boat and want two coils of
the toughest rope you for hauling down the logs"
"Ropeo'
al want the boat and the rope at the waters edge
when bring my climbing irons from my bag-the river
will be the bar inside of an hour
ing the boss dazed. When in five minutes however, he
back again. the boss had recovered his wits. Half
dozen carrying the clumsy, fiat botomed boat
down the steep bank, while couple dragged from
the storehouse two big coils of rope.
But the boss confronted Oscar solemnly "What you
planning to do will be suicide" he said
"If don't try it. it will be murder!" Oscar muttered,
bending to fasten the climbing irons to his ankles.
"Are we murderers who don't try to do it,"
at is my job, not yours have played monkey on
my wires, and understand the stunt; nobody else
does" Oscar answered knotting end of the rope
about his waist 4Now listen We must must fix up kind
Briefly he explained his plan, and without further
the boss turned to the two coils of rope
lying beside the boat, while Oscar began to
climb the pole. 1t was no easy task, even for his
pcriencc; for the timber after hours of drenchng
slippery glass. Speedily however, he reached the
cable and instantly let himself drop, hanging from it
with both hands
sort of sigh stirred the watching lumber jacks, such
sigh the vast crowd at circus utters when Signor
Somebody darts downward from the root toward his
seemingly impossible goal. Yet here the danger was
infinitely greater for at the circus everything that
human ingenuity do to minimize the danger has
been done, while here
Below him roared the rivers tumult, and, stancly
though he chung to the cable surely as he advanced
hand hand along it, rushes of rain and wind
scourgcd him. Juggling at the weight of rope hanging to
his belt which increased with each movement he made,
until those watchers ceased even to hope that his
strength could endure And when last he slid smoothly
down the pole to the sandbar there rang out mighty
cheer
DRONE on that narrow ridge of sand, which
the rising water already swept by every passing
fragment of ice 10 stared wildly up at him.
IL fellow risking his neck on the cable but l
never guessed it your 10 faltered
Without speaking, Oscar thrust between JOS cold
fingers the flask the boss had slowed in the pocket of
his sweater Then oosing the rope from his belt and
fastening it the pole he proceeded to coil it about
and defness when the boss launched the boat attached
the ropes farther end. and the small craft buecd
by ice and current, began to push its way through the
wide spaces of water.
feet but the rope held and finally he drew the boat
far enough the sand for temporary safety.
Jo who had watched him tensely gazed at him Curl
ously when he returned to his side. hat ferry your
idea the boss's?' he demanded
"NIine," Oscar answered,-hc had neither breath nor
time for ak,-and, kncclng, he braced himself to lift
the other.
81 don't choose to let you me!' 10 snarled sud-
denly.
Oscar laughed "Do YOU think III give you the
choice? Keep STILL you fool III knock you the
head!" he shouted.
For o with twist of his whole tortured body rolled
into the water close to them,a squirt of helpless
desperation which failed as Oscar grasped him,-and
he tainted.
Somehow, by such effort as can make will accomplish