Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1925-05-06
The Colonel's
Narrow Escape
By EDITH OLIVER
GO. Doubleday. Page & COY

L and bright In its second waning
at the Pine Gap hotel. When Dorothy
said she would play bridge II Tom
went fishing 1t would be their first
separation.
| He walked to the elevator with her
and thought for the ten thousandth
time what an adorable little thing she
was, and how wonderful that she
| should have married an old chap like
him! As the elevator was approach
/ ing the floor he snatched q kiss and
ran down the back stairs, for his fish
ing toys were disreputable. He had
always been a mans man.
The bridge game was protracted,
but after the last rubber was ended
Dorothy went out onto the porch
where she could see the River Road.
Tom was late; it was too bad OF him
on their first parting.
Dorothy was a spoiled child, and
it Inundated her bitterly to feel that
on her honeymoon she had been for
gotten-for fishes. Too we'll she
knew what Alice would say: 'Poor
dear Old Tommyrot; must be having
the time of his life" Cat! A little
! hot spark of anger began to burn in
| her heart
They were both we'll known and
! POPULAR: the whole house was reused.
Guests. walters, musicians, elevator
boys. bellhops, gathered to talk about
it. and the most sanguine could only
he, Nhn
little bride collapsed entirely as the
four men appeared. struggling into
sweaters over their dinner clothes and
carrying lanterns and a long thing
! which an offcious voice announced to
be stretcher The search party ap-
rarently feared the worst.
Desk and lobby were deserted; ele-
yators stood idle and empty; one bell
tag on the Indicator after waggling
frantically for twenty minutes fell off
at Sans feet. He picked 1t up-5So,
Mr.. Blake's room. Good old sport,
Mr. Blake-great friend of the col
onel's-if he was upstairs he would
not know Of the accident; he would
be good for a tip if Sam told him
Sam ran upstairs and knocked, breath
less. full of his news.
An angry chorus Of voices babe him
enter. but he stopped In the doorway
with open eyes and mouth for there.
in his shirtsleeves, big cigar in his
mouth. gOodly pile of blues before
him and an expression of serene CON
tent on his face sat-the colonel!
The explanation was simple. He
had met Blake on the back stairs and
gone back with him to play for an
hour and promptly forgotten every
thing else. Sans stammering "1o'
wife sah--" brought a derisive remin-
der that he was already a henpecked
husband Put when Sam had recov-
cred himself. and closing the door,
came in and told the story of things
downstairs. laying special stress on
the search party, the Jolly faces grew
very sober. The colonel laid his head
on his arms and fairly sobbed:
"Shell never forgive me, bOys-she
couldn't UNDERSTANDING woman could
on our honeymoon !"
1t was true but what was to be
done? The men suggested all sorts OF
wild and impractical things, but the
colonel only moaned that he would
not make his wife laughing stock.
1t was a deadlock until Sam came for
ward. and with rolling eyes and i'm
mense importance, announced:
81 got it-you see de pn'y way de
l,,,nI kin cum back onerable is on dat
stretcher-"
"Shut up" said Blake in a trembling
roar.
wait" Sam went on. "Dey amt
no time ter lose. He got ter cum back
onerable-an de on'y way he kin is
drownded. cos OATS easier dan bein
hurt Let him climb out de wnder
and git ter Bakers Eddy, quick befo'
dat party. an ah'll 90 down and tell
dem all kin find him"
1t was a ghast'y climb down the
fire escape; light flashed out In the
room below. but he wriggled past :;
once he hung in midair as the fishing
basket caught on a hook; his trem=
bling steps slipped and fumbled on the
ntermlnabe ladder, but at last he
was down and grasping those cursed
fishing things he ran as he had not
run for twenty years.
He knew every step of the way, but
pole basket and bait can caught on
every branch: got between his legs
seemed to entangle him with deliber'
ste intent, and he dared not leave
them.
He stumbled on. his heart pounding,
roaiin" dizziness swimming before
him his breath coming in painful
gasps Tut wi ne@er thought of quit
t.ng for ono word filled heart and brain
and lYy ever ON his ips-"Dorothy.'
Let MIN only save her from humili-
alton let him only hold out for that.
In delirum of exhaustion he STUN
bled-clutched at the bushes-reeled
slipped and fell headlong down
| steep bank at Bakers Eddy to lie on