Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-01-15
The Colonel's
Narrow Escape
%. Doubleday. Page & Coz
Ely EDITH OLIVER

said she would play bridge If 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 Tat she
should lave married an old chap like
himl AS the elevator was approach
ing the floor he snatched a kiss and
ran down the back stairs, for his fish
irg toys were dsreputable. He had
always been 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 spoiled child, and
it Inundated her bitterly to feel that
on her honeymoon she had been for
gotten-for fishes. Too well she
knew what Alice would say: "Po0r
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; tire whole house was reused
Guests, walters, musicians elevator
boys. hellhops. gathered to talk about
1t, and the most sanguine could only
suggest that he was lost. The poor
little bride collapsed entirely as the
four men appeared. struggling into
sweaters over their dinner clothes and
carrying lanterns and long thing
which an officiOus voice announced to
be a stretcher. The search party ap-
rarently feared the worst.
Desk and lobby were deserted; ele-
gat0rs stood idle and empty; one bell
tag on the Indicator after waggling
TranticalIy for twenty minutes fell off
at Sans feet. He picked it up-58O.
Mr.. Rlake's room. Good old sport.
Mr.. Blal1e-great friend of the col
OnePs-if he was upstairs he would
not know Of the accident he would
be good for 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 omen eyes and mouth for there.
In his shirtsleeves, a big cigar in his
mouth, goodly pile of blues before
hin 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
honr and promptly forgotten every
thing else. Sans stammering sYO'
wife sah-' brought derisiye remin-
der that he was already henpecked
husband But when Sam had recOv-
cred himself, ard 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
'She'll never forgive me, boys she
couldn't Understandable woman could
on our honeymoon
1t was true but what was to be
done? The men Suggested all sorts of
wild ard impractical things. but the
colonel only moancd that he would
not make his wife laughing stock
n was a deadlock until Sam came for
ward and with rolling eyes and Inn
mense importe zee. announced:
at cot it--you see de On'y way de
kun'l kin cum back onerable is on dat
stretcher-"
'Shut up said Blake in a trembling
roar.
await" Sam went on. "Dey amt
no time ter lose. He got ter cum hack
onerahle-an' de on'y way he kin is
drownded. cos dat's easier dan bein'
hurt. Let him climb out de winder
and git ter Bakers Eddy, quick befo'
dat party. an ahll go down and tell
dem all kin find him.
It was a CHASTITY 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 hook; his trem-
bling steps slipped and fumbled on the
interminable ladder, but at last he
was down and grasping those cursed
fishing thirgs he ran as he had not
run for twenty years.
fIe knew every step Of the way, but
pole, basket, and bait can caught an
every branch got between his legs
seemed to entangle him with deliber
ata intent, and he dared not leave
them.
he stumbled on. his heart pounding,
roaring dizziness swimming before
him, his breath coming in painful
gasps, hut with never a thought of quit
ting for one word filed heart and brain
and lay ever on his lips Dorothy
Let him only save her from humili-
alton: let him only hold out for that.
In delirium of exhaustion he Stun
bled-clutched at the bushes-reeled
slipped and fell headlong down a
steep bank at Bakers Eddy to lie on
a little pebbly beach his troubles for
gotten in blessed oblivion.
Everyone gathered around as the
four men carried in the stretcher and
deposited 1t on the floor of the lobby.
Dorothy held his hand and looked up
at the doctor with her heart in her
eyes while he made careful exami-
nation. He was kindly old man.
He patted her head and said very ten
derby:
aAll right, my dear, nothing really
the matter-but he's had O narrow