The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-09-02

wires were SITdLlu1S dG I4lCA 4eSUCA-
ings on the croSS-arms.
He would have to loop them IN
his insulated rope, take a firm
hitch with it around the pole itself
and hold on until the power was
cut off, or the power company crew
arrived. High power lines, run
ming from boosting station to boost
ing station, and across miles OF
countryside, could not always be
deprived of current.
He knew, of course. that Marge
would try to reach the power COM
pany-but even so, there was the
chance that they might not be able
to make contact with the nearest
boosting Station-that any auto
matte controlling equipment might
not function. 1t would be hours
before a crew could get there.
It was pitch dark when the
farmers returned laden with
mackintoshes, rubber boots and an
old poncho.
They threw them up to him by
flashlight, and Tom wrapped him
self in them as thoroughly as
possible. He pulled on his rubber
lied gloves and prepared for the
delicate task of looping the wires.
It took 10 tries, but finally, with
the help of the farmers below, he
succeeded. The insulating rope
was in his hands and formed a
complete circle around the singing
wires.
One end he fastened into a slip
knot and formed a running moose.
Delicately he frightened it around
the strands of copper. Sparks
flew and the wires cracked omi-
nously as they were brushed to-
gether.
Then he threw the other end of
the line over the top cross-tree
and fastened it around his waist.
A close glance showed him that
the wires would hold for a few
minutes more.
DANGEROUS TASK
Get your water barrel, Lippen,
and fill it with stones" he shouted.
Lippen soon returned with the bar
rel. Nov pass a line around it,
tighten it, and throw the end up
to me-" AS soon as the line from
below came to him, Tom spliced it
with the insulating line.
Nov lift the barrel and take
up the slack" AS they did it, Tom
let the combined line grow taut.
The weight below, transmitted
through the two lines over the
crosstree, would hold the wires up
until help came.
But he had figured without one
thing, the heavy wrapping with
which he was surrounded. AS the
line snapped taut, he felt mighty
tug around his middle and was
swept from his perch on the pole.
The wrapping had, in the dark,
become entangled in the splice.
When the rope went taut it
snapped him from the pole and
suspended him, 20 feet from the
ground, with the twisted rubber
contracting about his hips so
tightly that it soon became agony.
Tom couldn't tell how long
he had hung there-it seemed
hours-before he lost conscious
ness. The farmers, ignorant of
the right way to climb, feared the
current and dared not touch him.
He opened his eyes in Lippen'S
farmhouse, and coughed wildly.
Some one had forced whisky be-
tween his lips, and the fiery spirit
had gotten into the tender mem
branes of his nasal pas .geS.
There was familiar perfume,
light, clean-he knew that Marge
was there, and he heard her voice
as his eyes closed again.
"He-he'u be all right, won't he,
Doctor"
GOOD AS NEW
Doc Kanor'S voice answered
kindly: You can't really hurt
them when they're as tough as
Tom," he said. "A little rest, a
good meal, and he'll be as goc as
new"
Then strange voice inter-
rupted. There's a -pecial prize
for the sort of thing he did, and
I'll be glad as manager of the In
tercounty Power Comany to offer
it to him when he comes to. By
the way, Johnson do you think
he'd consider leaving the tele-
phone company and coming with
us as foreman?"
Then came the familiar tones
of his boss. and Tom was cons
CiouS of strange beWilderment
at their huSkineSs. He expected
Mike johnson to eagerly grasp the
chance to get rid of him.
Nothing doing, Mr.. Towers.
Any man that can hang on as he
did is going to stay Nth US. Last
week l was appointed District
Supervisor-and that left ny job
vacant.
Il didn't know who to recon-
mend Tor 1t but now do, even
if he did take the bit in his teeth.
Human lives and property are
more important than rules"
Tom grinned inside, and his
hand crept slowly out to where he
thought Marge must be-sitting
right beside his bed. 1t was a good
guess, and he found her hand.
Giving it hard squeeze, he whisp-
cred. High Tension. honey
that's me-"
TIT UNTn