The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1913-01-08
"A Race With d
Blind Man
Hy DONALD cliAMRgRLIN

Long ago before the railroad tunnel
was dug under the St Gothard pass
and. travellers must 60 on the mountain.
instead Of beneath II Walter Delano,
q young American who had d fancy
for mountain climbing, went to Swift
zerland to Indulge his taste in this,
respect. he climbed Mont BLANC and.
other mountains and after becoming
accustomed to the sport did d good.
deal OF tramping among them alone.
being at Lucerne, he concluded to-
walk over the st. Gothard pass. Leay-
ing Lucerne. he proceeded by steam
boht on the Lake OF the Four Can
tons to Fluelen, where he began his
trump, passing through Altdorf, thence
winding up the road over which travel,
ers then passed by diligence BY even
ing he came to an Inn at which he core
cluded to pass the night The land.
lord answered his summons at the
door. and instead Of welcoming him
eRusiyely, after the custom of Inn
keepers. greeted him with d cold stare.
Delano asked to be lodged and was
invited In. The landIady. a tidy body.
got up q good supper for him, Which he
ate alone, for there were no other.
guests in the inn. The American won
dered at this, for 1t was at the height
of the season for mountain travel. The
landiady explained to him that there
was little or no foot travel over the
pass and that there was no occasion
for those going by diligence to stop
with, them. jar ri
How, then, do You make a living
here?r asked Delano! 90
The woman said thatithey made but
poor living, but their appearance and
that of the hostelry belied her words.
Everything about the place as well as
their own appearance gave evidence Of
prosperity. Il
After supper Delano to pass the time
engaged the landlord in conversation,
and the topic naturally fell on noun
tain tramping and climbing. Delano
told the man Of the mountains he hid
climbed and the tramps he hads made
mentioning having once crossed the
Brunig pass on wager in, less time
than 1t had ever been done before. at
least SO said those living on both sides
Of the mountain. At this the landlord
shrugged his shoulders and, fixing that
cold eye Of his on the stranger. an eye
that seemed to look right through and
past him, said:
"The Brunig is no pass for man to
go over. This or the simplon is a place
for one to show what he can do"
Il win show that tomorrow"
The landlords face expressed con.
tempt. you haven't the muscle for
such work. Why, / know a man who
is blind living about here who can go
over. this pass In less time than your
"a blind mahH'
Yes; blind as a bat with the sun
shining in Its eyes"
Delano was nettled. he would like
to punish the landlord for his contemp-
/; tuous treatment, but held his peace.
Since You have won one bet on the
Brunig," the landlord continued, "pef-
haps you would like to win another on
the st. Gothard." ~
with whom?'
my friend the blind man."
Delano pursued the matter from GU
riosity md presently found; himself in
a trGp-that is, he had made a bet Of
500 francs, or 500. that he could cross
the pass quicker than a man who
! could not see his way. fHiii2 =
"But how shall the terms be- Arrang.
ed?' he asked. I'VE seem to be alone
here
You start in the morning at 10
o'clock and so to the Devils bridge,
| will agree that your opponent shall
start from his home near here at the
same hour and minute. You viii meet
him at the bridge. If he beats you
there he will satisfy you, that the
terms have been carried out honorably
l will put up with yeu- the 500 francs:
you need put up nothIng.T \
There was something very strange
about all this, and since Delano was
curious and seemed to risk nothing he
assented to the terms. (, He went to
bed wondering what it 1meant and
when he awoke In the morning felt
that through some snare he would be;
beaten out ofGhis money, but he pre-
ferred TO lose the amount rather than
back out The lahdlady served him a
good breakfast. and the reckoning was
very moderate.
| At 10 o'clock he said goodby to the
couple and commenced his Journey. He
walked briskly. but did not care to
strain himself on such an uncertainty.
TIE road was good except for a few
miles on the top of the mountaln.
| where It was covered with snow. When
Delano reached the goal--the Devils
fridge, an arch spanning a chasnA-
he saw man sitting on a stone near
bne end. A nearer view showed him
/ That he was the landlord.
i Who is Ity' asked the man on the
stone.
When Delano replied he was recog-
mixed by his voice. II have woa,r'
/ said the other. 81 am the blind mani
( ITO x,,,., tt,o fnu,1Inrd - Az d.. -