The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-02-18
ESTABLISHED 1876

ket of extra bedclothing You win
catch your death of cold. Henry" she
murmured. And suppose you should
fall out, why, you'd be killed AT any
rate, you'd break every bone in your
! BODY
"F'iddlesticks." was Mr.. Higby's
hackneyed response.
you're tempting Providence" fash
ed Anastasia at last There isn't a
thing the matter with you, Henry, but
there will be before you get through
with this business. wish you
wouldn't co.
Never mind, my DEAR" assured Mr..
Highly with the gentle patience of one
who knows he is right you will I'M
derstand some day how It is with me-"
Behind closed blinds many curious
eyes watched Mr.. Higby's lantern as
it slowly assembled the long ladder that
led up to his lofty perch. The lantern
swung in his hand as he steadied him
self on the ladder. A strong wind was
rising and the trees were swaying with
a low musical creak Of boughs. Up on
the dizzy height Of the platform he
pulled manfully on the rope to which
the basket Of extra bedding was fast
ened and presently the basket doomed
over the railing and was deposited on
the floor.
Before long Henry Highly had taken
the second step in his projected cure
for rheumatism He had slipped out
Of his bathrobe and slippers and jump
Il ~
ed down to the platform. For long
time he lay awake looking up at the
stars, which shone down through the
young foliage of the trees, for 1t was
early spring. He saw the white clouds
go drifting across the face of the
moon. He felt the rhythmical swing
of the trees as they bent to the fresh
ening wind, and finally he fell asleep.
He slumbered. only to awaken to a
moment of supreme terror when it
seemed that the bottom had dropped
out Of the universe and he was being
propelled through nothingness to OBJ
livion. He was conscious that he
struck the soft branches of trees in his
downward passage, and then some
thing hard arose to meet him and blot
out his sense of pain.
When he awoke from this second
sleep he was not swinging in his nest
among the treetops, with the stars
rooted over his head He was in his
own stationary bed on the second floor
of his home. Two physicians regard
ed him speculatively. while Anastasia
hung, pale and anxious eyed. close to
his pillow.
what happened?p he asked feebly.
"The wind was so strong that the
trees pulled the platform apart, and
you fell to the ground said DIR. Brown
cheerily wen have you up and
around In few months"
"a few monthsl" gasped Highly.
''Why, what's the matter with meP I
can't move"
"Of course you can't" said DR..
Jones bluffiy. You've only broken
three ribs, fractured your left leg,
broken your right wrist and wrenched
your back. What In thunderation
were you doing up there, eh2"
cit was cure for rheumatism" said
Mr.. Highly with difidence.
well, you cured the rheumatism. all
/ right" assured the doctor; "but, man
alive. you've got enough now to take
care Of for awhileI No need to warn
you to keep quiet"
When they were alone Higby ex-
changed look with his wife, and his
own eyes were repentant
"I'm an idiot, Anastasiap' he bIurted
out TITS too bad l didn't break my
fool neck as we'll as the other bonesl''
But Anastasia assured him that the
enforced rest would benefit him and
that when his broken parts had been
knit together he would probably enjoy
perfect health 81 hope you will.
dear" said Anastasia slowly. Life
is too short to fuss over imaginary
Ills
II know, l know" put in Henry Hig-
by hastily. Il had to break every
bone in my body to cure myself. But
I'm cured now. Anastasia. Where's
that Family DoctorY"
at is burning in the kitchen stove
this very moment" said Anastasia
firmly.
"Good~ said Highly, turning his face
10 the wall