The Washburn leader., 1915-09-10
SERVING A
SUMMONS

0OlvxlvlOlNO
By JOHN Y. LARNED
When I was a young man studying
law I secured a legal position, the
principal duties Of which were to serve
papers ON those who were sued for
debt had one experience that made
me the laughingstock Of the town.
Jason Parke as a boy was the dare
devil Of the place in which he lived.
He was up to all sorts Of pranks, much
to the annoyance Of the older citizens,
but which amused the youngsters. He
was afraid Of nothing and had head
capable Of enabling him to look down
from immense heights. Had he been
born in Switzerland he would doubt.
less have been mountain guide. As
it was, becoming an ironworker, he
}Jas often engaged in joining together
the steel framework Of buildings, and.
some Of them being skyscrapers, he
was obliged to work up in the air.
Jason was favorite among his COM
panions. He was tender hearted, gen.
erous to fault and suffered, as such
persons generally do, from spendthrift
proclivities. Instead Of laying up
money for rainy day he ran into debt.
One Of his creditors, to whom he owed
several hundred dollars, after vainly
trying to recover, sued him, and was
directed to serve the summons upon
him.
was told that he was working on
bridge across river. I went to Arch
willie, where he was engaged, and to
the bridge It was cantilever struc-
vet met in the center.
Parke had got wind Of the suit
brought against him, and lawyer had
advised him to keep out Of the way so
long as possible SO that service upon
him could not be secured. This l did
not know; but, Of course, never gave
away for what purpose l wished to see
person on whom wished to serve a
summons.
Inquiring of q workman where i
could find Jason Parke, he looked at
me suspicioLsly and asked what wish
ed Of him. l replied that l had a
matter of business with him. Looking
up at an iron structure extending from
the farther shore nearly to the middle
of the river and a couple of hundred
feet above the surface, he pointed to
man on the outer extremity, saying that
he was the person wanted
was young, had a good head for
heights and. saw an opportunity by
climbing out to where the man was to
corner him and secure service. Hiring
q boat, pulled myself across the river,
climbed the bank and, walking inland
till l reached what would eventually
be the floor Of the bridge. walked to
the first pier, then worked my way to-
ward my quarry.
Not wishing to be seen by him in the
effort I was making, I was glad to
crawl along the unfloored steel string
ers. He did not apparently notice me,
going on with his work, which was riv-
citing. dared not look down for fear
Of losing my head and falling into the
water, and kept my eyes. fixed stead
ny on my man. must get near enough
for him to hear my voice while read
the summons, and since IL he suspected
my purpose he could hammer enough
noise out of the steel to drown my voice
It was necessary for me to get very
close to him.
When Il was 100 feet distant he
caught sight Of me. He seemed sur
pl1sed to see one not q workman in
such position. but after glance went
on with his work, paying no further
attention to me. l was quite assured
by this that he did not suspect my pur-
pose and climbed on, though every mo-
Aent I dreaded dizziness. had reach
ed q point not twenty feet from him
when he stepped of the iron beam on
which he was standing and went down
feet foremost into the water below.
had been baked. Quite likely
Parke had received q signal from the
man Of whom I had inquired for him
that was coming and had thus been
enabled to give me the slip. had had
enough Of the job climbing out to such
q place and had no mind for following
him down into the river. The moment
he jumped a boat put out from the
shore. and the moment he rose to the
surface he swan toward It, was taken
aboard and carried to the opposite
shore.
Ny return to terra frma was even
more trying than my outward climb.
for was becoming dizzy every mo-
ment. However. reached the pier
without falling. and after that the
danger was much less.
On going down to the margin Of the
river I found that the boat had come
/ over in was missing. I did not doubt
that, every workman on the bridge
sEwaS In league with his fellows to warn
i Parke and to render my duty as dim
cult a. possible. After much delay ]
secured ferriage. A. approached the
shore saw my quarry sitting on some
! ironwork at the base Of the pier on
that side5ef the river. He had evident
y got on 1eme dry clothing or dried In
fhe ann what he had worn and was