Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1917-04-12
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 furniture, and
his mother was in dread lest he get up
on to window sill and tumble out.
A few years later his place of blissful
rest was a treetop. Then he got to
climbing water spouts and trellises on
to roofs, and by this time, being old
enough to go to work, he became q
steeplejack.
Emily Radcliffe was built upon simi-
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 to her marrying Tom Cur
ley, to whom she had become attached.
What do you want to marry . stee-
plejack for?" he asked. He'll break
his neck and leave you widow"
mo more than I'll come down with q
thump in an aeroplane and leave him 4
widower." was the reply.
Tom had one unfortunate trait He
was spendthrift. Mr.. Radcliffe In
order to get the whip hand Of him en-
ployed an agent to lend the young man
all the money he wanted and draw the
papers in such way that il the funds
were not paid at maturity he could ar
rest Tom and Jail him. OF course the
funds were not 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 man making bee line
for him he ran for his natural defense,
church spire. A tall elm stood be-
side the building, and Tom, catching
lower limb, pulled himself up and was
soon in the topmost branches. The
constable followed him, and Tom,
climbing out ON branch oyerhanging
the church, dropped to the roof.
The constable followed, and Tom,
who had climbed the steeple before and
knew every projection. climbed up to
where the cone began. There was a
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-
prit. He had a good view of Tom, who
must come down sooner or later and
give himself up.
Now it 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 a 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.
81 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 it in
pasteboard box, to which she attached
ball Of Irvine. Then she got out her
aeroplane and, rising in the air. 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 a point
where she could lower the box to Tom.
He made several attempts to catch it
and at last succeeded. Then he broke
u H.
ed to refresh himself.
The constable eyed the proceeding
with chagrin. He reported it 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 a restaurant.
comfortably from table brought him
for the purpose and wondered which
of the two could hold out the longer.
When night came several assistants
We're thrown around the church to
prevent the prisoner escaping under
cover Of the darkness. Tom WINGED.
The weather was chilly and lowering,
and 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 to death.
If she could lower box to Tom why
could she not lower 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 stout rope to it. knotted at inter-
walls and 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. he saw at once what it meant
and felt every confidence provided
Emily could place it within his reach
AS good luck would have it, she sue
ceeded the first time she tried in sail
ing right over him, and the rope grazed