The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-10-05

4OOA4Sh peSlues breSLS daring clever
ness.
Albert Whitcomb broke in on ohe
congratulatoTy chorus. I'm going up.
too" he said, and there was another
sensation. Whitecomb was a young
farmer whose land adjoined the town.
He glanced at Jessie Dane as he spoke
The girl took step forward and
put out hand as If to stop him; and
then, realizing that any pleading might
render her conspicuous, she turned
away without word.
Whitcomb got to the roof and be-
gan to climb He was heavier than
Brest and Tess skilled. Under his
labored efforts the pole swayed and
shivered.
The smiles slipped from the faces Of
the watchers; their gay words OF en-
couragement were stilled. They re-
membered that the stan was old; it
had been years in place.
But good fortune awaited on him,
too. He placed his hand for a mo-
ment on the gilt ball and slid back
thankfully. He was not so popular as
Brest, and his safe return was greeted
by less of a demonstration.
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 Danes
boyish adorer was there. Would he
do as much as the others2
Whitcomb voiced the question of all
when he said with a sneer.
well, Peter?'
Peter Price, leaning indolently on
the railing, drawled, well, Al?"
Are you a sport?"
do you mean. am ] going to climb
that pole, too?"
That's what l mean"
Having been born with some sense, >
replied Peter, Il am not. Because you
and Calvin made fools Of yourselves is
no reason / should"
Whitcomb laughd boisterously. Il
always thought you lacked sand" he
said. Later Whitcomb and Calvin
Brest walked home with Jessie.
Peter Price did not seem to notice
any change in attitude toward him.
He attended the village merrymak-
ings as usual and kept as near Jes-
sic as possible, fetching and carrying
for her and anticipating her wishes.
AS to Brest and Whitcomb they enjoy
ed to the full the fame their exploit
brought.
They all attended the first picnic of
the year on Snake Island, so called be-
cause of its peculiar shape and the
fact that it terminated in a bluff 200
feet high which looked like the up
lifted head of a serpent. The island
was in Silver Lake, perhaps a mile
from shore.
The boat landing was on a narrow
strip OF beach beneath the head of the
serpent. To get to the top of the bluff
it was necessary to walk for 1000
yards along the beach to a spot where
the precipice began to subside and
path wound upward.
When the dozen young people reach
ed the top they sat down to rest after
the climb and to enjoy the sweep of
sparkling water and wooded shore
spread out before them.
A sudden scream of fear cut through
their light-hearted conversation and
brought them to the edge of the bluff.
Below on the beach was a sight that
for moment struck them dumb with
horror.
Two of their party, Mr.. and Mrs.
O'Dan Pemeroy, had just landed and
drawn their rowboat into the clustre
of other small craft Barely had they
SlSppSQ dSuOIS WnCAA Tx nuSS bloSh
bearded figure of a man darted from a
clump of underbrush with club up
raised. Mrs. Pomeroy had screamed
at sight of him.
The group above saw the next act in
the tragedy. Pomeroy advanced brave
ly, but the club swept downward
through The guard of his arms and
struck him on the head. He dropped,
and shrek on shrek burst from his
wife
That's the maniac who nearly kill
ed his keeper at Fairview Asylum yes
terday and got away! They tele-
phoned me his description" grasped
Paterson, editor of the village paper.
90. what shall we do" moaned Jes-
sic Dane. "See, he's going to grab
Edna!". She turned to the white-fac-
ed young man. 20, run, runi"
Peter Price slipped OF his coat and
shoes. 'No time" he said swiftly
"She'd be killed before we could gel
down the paths, am going this way.
Living foot had never pressed the
cliff of Snake Island before. 1t Seem
ed a sheer drop Of 10 score feet from
| the grass roots to the sand. But there
wer6 lodges and shelves which furn-
! ished grand grips and foothouds, how
ever precarious
Price worked his way downward
He dared not look, for when he did his
head SWAN dizzily. He groaned with
his feet already stockingless, torn and
! bleeding from the Jagged rocks, ano