Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-03-21
Man on the
Wire

4
Kathleen had begun to feel the lone
Illness of being in house in the coun-
try with only little yellow dog for
companionship.
Even Mike had grown restless as
he snoozed by the fire and Kathleen
| watched his little body tremble with
inward growls as the creel1ing of a
door or the gentle tapping of branches
on the window disturbed his slumber
Mike, If you were not such nice
! little yellow dog l would wish you
were Great Dane or some ferocious
beast so that wouldn't feel so spooky.
Kathleen turned again to her maya
zine but the steadily rising wind be-
gan to play havoc with her nerves and
when the telephone clashed loud
ring she sprang from her chair in
sheer fright.
Kathleen went to the telephone but
no answer rewarded her. The number
had not been rung, Central informed
her.
She returned to her chair but before
she had seated herself another sharp
ring startled her. Again no one had
called the number. Kathleen spoke
with asperity to Central
"The telephone certainly rang!"
Probably it is the wind" came
back from Central and Kathleen hung
up the receiver.
She went to her chair determined
not to be disturbed again.
The imperious ring did not come
but gentle, regular tinkling of the
bell continued.
Mike still growled inwardly but
Kathleen became absorbed in her
story.
Gradually, however, she became con-
scious that while the wind had abated
there still continued that maddening
tinkle Of the telephone bell
Switching on the lights as she went
Kathleen made her way to the back of
the house and there her nerves again
played her false.
A low sound, much as Of some one
calling, came from the outside world.
Mike set up deafening bark.
A distinct Hello" now came through
the window. Kathleen gathered all
her courage and peered out. The light
from the room streamed full force on
a mans face.
"Who is there?" she called out.
In semi-conscious way Kathleen's
eyes had travelled beyond the man
and she saw, there in the great oak
branches, that which had once been
an airship.
II am here-just now" came in
weak but deep voice, 81 am hanging by
my-belt-when that gives out"
"Oh!" Kathleen had vanished from
the window and now with Mike close
at her heels she came swiftly from
the kitchen door.
81 will get you the step ladder!" She
called to the man.
Kathleen struggled there in the
moonlight with the great ladder and
even in his almost tragic position
Granger had the power to admire the
sure, swift movement of the little fig
ure.
It was with superhuman effort
that he managed to get his feet plant
ed on the ladder the girl held beneath
him.
When he reached the ground he
toppled over. my breath-it's al
most gone" He lay still for mo-
ment and the girl bent over him.
'I'll be all right-in minute when
my diaphragm gets to working" He
sat up. "You saved my life," he said
and looked wonderingly into her face.
81 was out-like an idiot-for a
short moonlight sail in the air." the
man explained at was calm when
l started but that wind" He cast a
rueful glance at the huge wreck in
the tree. 81 must have hung by that
leather belt for fifteen minutes.
could, by swinging, touch some wires"
A silvery laugh rang out "You GER
tainly did touch some wires"
} The man echoed her laugh and it
did not seem strange to Kathleen that
she was sitting in the back garden
with perfectly strange man.
ut has been an experience" Grang-
er remarked, "but one that do not
care to try again"
81 am forgetting" Kathleen said
} with quick thought, that you may be
badly in need Of"
: mo, no-that Is too much to ask
after you have saved my life." Granger
exclaimed and arose to his feet.
u Kathleen was silent moment, then
} she looked up at the man. II believe
-I-I am little afraid to go back in
y the house-alone," she said shyly
,, "and the fire in the sitting room needs
another log. They are very heavy
: logs and there are some fresh dough
! nuts In the house and"
i please don't say any more
laughed Granger.
She continued. 81 am going to make
4 some coffee and wait up for mamms
and papa SO that I can hear all abou
1 the play" She drew close to Granger
, II hate to do all these things alone
4 II am Tom Granger" he said ant