The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1916-05-09

two seventy-flve a day, come along
with me and I'll fit you out. There
are two hours to work in and that will
mean supper, bed and breakfast. If
you're close-pressed for funds, I'll help
you out with little advance cash.
1t would be hard to describe my
sensations when, duly jacketed, pro-
vided with scraper, brush and rags
and given explicit directions, stood
on a narrow window ledge eight sto-
ries up from the ground, dizzily, tim
orously beginning my work. The first
window made me contortionist. /
breathed more easily on the second
one. Becoming more habituated to it,
/ covered a double row of windows
down to the fifth story quite creditably.
1t was getting dusk by that time, and
I.resolved to finish one more window
and then go for my little stipend.
Creaki-there was q snap. Bang!
/ shot through space.
What happened was this: In my
clumsiness and baffled by the semi
darkness l had caught the snaps of
the harness in q frail screen hoop,
instead of in the stanch holding
slots. One rope gave at once. The
other swung free for moment, tore
out Of the hook and dropped.
That sway sideways saved my life,
for, one story descended, landed fiat
on my back across the grated bal
cony Of fire escape. I was bruised,
half-stunned. I lay still, wondering
II any bones were broken, and look
ing through an open window into q
small business Office.
Two men we're its occupants. One,
an old man, dignifed but apparently
much disturbed, was facing a younger
one, whose shrewd eyes and foxy side
long glance proclaimed the schemer.
It was the latter who spoke, sharply,
exactingly:
We'll, Mr.. Bowen, your answer"
Il have come to accept your terms
was the dreary reply. 1T may mean
ruin to me, but am at your mercy.
In that" and he placed a packet on a
table in the middle of the room, lis
the fifty thousand dollars in money
and salable securities"
Tbs other lunged down upon it,
opened it, clawed over its contents
with the eager talons of true harpy.
He replaced it, went over to q desk
in corner of room and took thence
folded paper.
Listen to me-" spoke the old man,
leaning heavily on the cane he car
ried, as though weak and invalid.
When you take from me that packet
you rob me of all my available liquid
capital. Unless I can borrow to re-
finance my business l am a ruined
man. At least return me one-half of
the $4,000. Loan it to me, and let me
pay 1t later. My word is as good as
my bond"
mot much!" sneered the other 81
want my price and want 1t now.
Here is the paper through which can
close your establishment tomorrow
and prevent you from sending out a
single engine built on the Levinson
patent"
But 1 bought the patent. I paid
for it fairly"
"And l hold an earlier transfer in
this document"
"a forgery"
"Can you prove it,"
Unfortunately. not" groaned the
wretched John Bowen, "but you know
that it is. Levinson is dead. You
have made a clever transfer, previous
ly dated"
Which will stand in the law" de-
clared the other triumphantly. do
you back out Of the bargain?"
mo! mol" cried Mr.. Bowen. "Give
me the document" and he looked it
over. Then he took match from his
pocket, ignited the paper, watched it
crumble to nothingness and took up
his hat. Il am weak and ILL., he
added with q deep sigh; 'the eleva-
tors have stopped running. l must
ask you to help me to my machine"
Sure enough" piped the other read
lily. Come on" and they left the