The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-04-21
A Steeplejack and
An Aeronautess
By WILLIAM CHANDLER

We are likely to adopt for an occu-
patton what We have a passion for.
Tom Gurley as soon as he could walk
began TO climb over the furnitureANnd
his mother was in dread lest he get up
on 10 window sill and tumble out
A few years later his place of blissful
rest was treetop. Then he got to
climbing water spoutS and trellises on
to roofs. and by this time. being old
enough TO 20 to work. he became a
steeplejack.
Emily Radcliffe was built upon SINH
lar lines to Tom Gurley.
While Eben Radcliffe did not try to
prevent his daughter from risking her
neck in an aeroplane. he was very
much averse 10 her marrying Tom Cur
ley, TO whom she had become attached.
What do YOU want TO marry stee-
plejack for:" he asked. Hell break
= neck and leave you widow"
No more than Ill come down with a
thump in an aeroplane and leave him
widower" was the reply.
Tom had one unfortunate trait lie
was a spendthrift Mr.. Radcliffe in
order 10 get the whip hand of him EN-.
ployed an agent 10 lend the young man
all the money he wanted and draw the
papers in such IA way that if the funds
were not paid at maturity he could ar.
lest Tom and Jail him. OF course the
funds were nGt paid. and constable
was sent for Tom
Emily got wind Of the move and
warned her lover. Tom kept an eye
out for suspicious looking persons. and
when he saw a man making a bee line
FOR him he ran for his natural defense,
church spire. \ tall elm stood be-
side the building. and Tom. catching IA
lower limb, pulled himself up and was
soon in the topmost branches. The
constable followed him. and Tom.
climbing out on n branch overhanging
the church. dropped to the roof.
The constable followed and Tom.
who had climbed the stecple before and
knew every projection climbed up to
where the cone began. There was
lightning rod running to point above
the apex, and Tom went up by it and
sat on the ball. holding to the weather
vane.
This was more than the constable
dared do. He descended by the way
he had come and. once on the ground,
settled himself to starve out the cul-
pris. He had good view of Tom, who
must come down sooner or later and
give himself up.
Now 1t happened that Emily needed
TO do some shopping that morning and
passing the church saw her lover cor
raled on the apex of the church spire
and the constable below watching him
like dog eying coon. She took in
the situation at once. She must help
her lover out OF his embarrassment.
but how? Various plans suggested
themselves. There seemed no way to
help him unless she could feed him,
and to convey food to the top OF
steeple was not an easy thing to do.
Il have it," she said presently, and
away she went to put In practice a
plan she had thought Of Going home.
she made up luncheon and put 1t in a
pasteboard box. to which she attached
a ball Of twine Then she got out her
aeroplane and, rising In the mir. made
for point above the steeple where
Tom was prisoner Tom saw her and
took heart. Circling above the spire.
she gradually drew nearer to point
where she could lower the box to Tom.
He made several attempts to catch 1t
and at last succeeded Then he broke
the Irvine. opened the box and proceed
ed to refresh himself.
The constable eyed the proceeding
with chagrin. He reported 1t to his
principal, who sent word to him that
the prisoner could not stay where he
was forever. even with food, and to
keep on the job. So the constable had
his food supplied from restaurant.
Tom looked down on his enemy eating
comfortably from table brought him
for the purpose and wondered which
OF the two could hold out the longer.
When night came several assistants
were thrown around the church 10
prevent the prisoner escaping under
cover OF the darkness. Tom WINGED.
The weather was chilly and lowering,
aud he did not relish the kind Of bed
he was subjected to for even single
night. Emily lay awake that night.
thinking of her lover on his perch and
worried lest he fall asleep, tumble of
and be dashed 10 death.
If she could lower box to Tom why
could she not lower a rope to which he
might cling and thus be carried away
to safety? AS soon as day came she
arose, got out her aeroplane and. lash
ing a stout rope TO II. knotted at inter
walls and Il moose at the end. sailed for
the steeple When Tom saw her COM
ing he supposed she was bringing him
his breakfast: but. seeing the dangling
rope. be saw at once what it meant
and felt every confidence provided