Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-02-27

1t.
1t seemed to nettie kerrigan. .'There
amt nothin' funny about it," he said.
i mean 1t. / want tolSet out OF this
an. what's more. want to get you
out. too. | wouldn't give damn to
get out without YOU"
Kelly seemed not to have heard.
TO him. kerrigan'S talk was but ir-
responsible babbling. Now and then
1aint. far-of human voice drifted up
to them. and Reilly bit his lips until
the blood came.
Suddenly kerrigan began to thrash
about. He lifted his chin to the level
or the tanks edge and looked up
steadily for time. Then he gave 4
grunt Of satisfaction and lowered him.
self to his former position.
Say. maybe there's a way. after
ALL" he hazardcd hopefully. Reilly
made no reply.
Just look at that wire cable I'D
there kerrigan Chartered on. st runs
right above the middle OF this tank,
and see that plank across the top Of
the tank over at the farther side. Now,
If we could get up on that plank and
get hold of that cable"
"Oh. hell" Reilly interrupted dis
gustedly.
Some on" Kerrisan persisted; I'VE
might just as well make try"
He began to pull himself along the
edge Of the tank. and instinctlvely
Reilly followed HIN. They reached the
place where the plank lay across the
top. kerrigan scrambled on to this
and helped Reilly up after him.
They stood painting on the narrow
board. The heat. swelling up I'm great
waves from the fire below, scorched
their faces and nearly strangled them.
Some feet above their heads swung a
heavy wire cable, its long loop dan
Cling from a bracket on q roof on one
side Of them to similar bracket on a
roof across the alley.
kerrigan kicked off his heavy boots
and threw aside his rubber coat.
Hold steady, now" he cautioned
Reilly; well make try for it."
With the ease Of IN acrobat he
mounted Reilly's shoulders. but, reach
Ing upward Mt full stretch. the cablo
still dangled just beyond his grasp.
| Kelly. watching intently, groaned, but
hcrrigan was by no means at the end
of his resources.
| "Give ME your belt" he demanded,
scramblins down from his precarious
perch and standing beside Reilly on
the board. Reilly unbucked his heavy
ax-belt and KerriGan strapped it about
his own waist.
Once again he mounted Reilly's
shoulders and stood there poised for q
moment. estimating the distance to the
cable.
"Hold tight now. will yery" he
shouted. "Pm goin' to jump for It."
| Reilly was aware that the man on
his shoulders had assumed crouch.
Ing attitude: then suddenly there was
an upward spring. the recoil of which
nearly sent him staggering into the
| tank. He lifted his eyes to see Kcrri
gan clinging triumphantly to the cable
! "All right" the latter called down
to him. Jump for my legs. an when
you get 'em. climb up TIL you can get
hold Of the ax-belt."
| Reilly's leap was successful He
caught Kerrigan's dangling legs, and
slowly. painfully. worked his way up
ward. bit by bit. until his fingers closed
firmly on the heavy belt about Kerrl
gan's waist.
"Hang on hard" kerrigan painted
IF the cable don't bust wen gel
across"
Inch by inch with Rcllly's dead
! weight dragging at his belt. KcrI1gan
worked his way out on the cable
toward the roof across the alley. Pain.
fully almost imperceptibly they ad
vanced along the sagglng wire. rs
Once In that racklng journey, when
Kerrigan paused for momcntary rest
Reilly voiced his doubts as to the ulti
mate success Of the venture.
you'll never make It, Kerrigan," he
| piped; "leaStwayS, not with me hang.
in on to you. I'd best leave go the
belt an give yer show. tn be one
Of us that goes out, then. at any rate
! "YOu hang on an keep your blamed
mouth Shut" gasped Kerrigan as the
! journey along the cable began again.
| For untold ages--sO 1t seemed to the
! two mcn-they dangled in mid-air, like
| some ungainly insect on the thread of
SPIDERS web. Kerrigan's arms were
numb and nerveless. the pounding of
his heart nearly suffocated him, and
Il rcd mist swan before his eyes.
Time and again he was sorely tempt
cd to loose his hold on the wire and
| end 1t all. Yet always he worked his
way, slowly and with infinite agony
! toward that roof across the alley.
At last he heard great commotioD
! just below him. The dragging weight
on the belt suddenly ceased.