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Chapter 2 of Ebenezer's Cascade by John Ulrich Gese and Junius B. Smith

chapter 2 of ebenezers cascade by john ulrich gese and junius b smith

This Libbervox recording is in the public domain, read by Ben Tucker.

this libbervox recording is in the public domain read by ben tucker

Chapter 2

chapter 2

You'll what?

youll what

The man at the desk lost his air of smiling composure all at once.

the man at the desk lost his air of smiling composure all at once

His jaw seemed inclined to sag, and his eyes had the appearance of trying to pop out of their

his jaw seemed inclined to sag and his eyes had the appearance of trying to pop out of their

sockets.

sockets

"'I'm going to die,' said Ebenezer, satisfied that he had made an impression at least.

im going to die said ebenezer satisfied that he had made an impression at least

I'll be dead at one minute after eleven o'clock tonight.

ill be dead at one minute after eleven oclock tonight

That's why I've got to have the deed before I leave here.

thats why ive got to have the deed before i leave here

It won't take long to fix it if you get to work.

it wont take long to fix it if you get to work

But the lawyer began to pause and apparently swallowed something before he continued.

but the lawyer began to pause and apparently swallowed something before he continued

You don't look sick.

you dont look sick

I'm not.

im not

Said Ebenezer shortly.

said ebenezer shortly

Now if you end, all at once the man of law looked troubled.

now if you end all at once the man of law looked troubled

Surely you aren't thinking of, well, doing anything rash.

surely you arent thinking of well doing anything rash

Ebenezer Clay took an exasperated breath.

ebenezer clay took an exasperated breath

He was beginning to feel annoyed.

he was beginning to feel annoyed

First Armistead and now this man seemed a lot more excited by his approaching end than

first armistead and now this man seemed a lot more excited by his approaching end than

he was himself.

he was himself

Look here, he rejoined in a tone of rising in patience.

look here he rejoined in a tone of rising in patience

Is there any reason why I've got to tell you what I'm thinking just because I come up

is there any reason why ive got to tell you what im thinking just because i come up

here to get you to draw a deed.

here to get you to draw a deed

You ain't the man that's going to die.

you aint the man thats going to die

I'm going to do that myself, and I want to get that deed in the mail before I do it.

im going to do that myself and i want to get that deed in the mail before i do it

What business is yours?

what business is yours

Just because I say I'm going to die is no sign and I'm going to kill myself.

just because i say im going to die is no sign and im going to kill myself

But the lawyer was breathing deeply.

but the lawyer was breathing deeply

The time, man, you said you'd be dead at one minute after eleven

the time man you said youd be dead at one minute after eleven

o'clock tonight. Ebenezer nodded, and that's right, and I want to mail that deed before

oclock tonight ebenezer nodded and thats right and i want to mail that deed before

then, if you'll get to work. I ain't going to take poison or shoot myself for nothing. I ain't

then if youll get to work i aint going to take poison or shoot myself for nothing i aint

too happy about it. But when a man knows the thing, he knows it. And that's all there is

too happy about it but when a man knows the thing he knows it and thats all there is

to it, except that I know this is my last day on Earth.

to it except that i know this is my last day on earth

Oh, you mean you feel a Promenician?

oh you mean you feel a promenician

All at once the attorney's manner was one of relief.

all at once the attorneys manner was one of relief

His expression altered.

his expression altered

From one of Intens' attention, not unmixed with something like startled horror, it became

from one of intens attention not unmixed with something like startled horror it became

a thing of awakening understanding.

a thing of awakening understanding

After all he possibly thought there were all sorts of cranks on earth, men mildly unbalanced

after all he possibly thought there were all sorts of cranks on earth men mildly unbalanced

or swayed by some temporary influence of one sort to another, people who predicted the

or swayed by some temporary influence of one sort to another people who predicted the

end of the world with an assurance little short of appalling.

end of the world with an assurance little short of appalling

Said Ebenezer with weight on each word and speaking slowly. I mean I've got a definite date.

said ebenezer with weight on each word and speaking slowly i mean ive got a definite date

Are you going to draw up that deed?

are you going to draw up that deed

Well, of course, of course.

well of course of course

The lawyer opened a drawer and produced some forms.

the lawyer opened a drawer and produced some forms

Be punched a buzzer, and the young woman from the outer office appeared.

be punched a buzzer and the young woman from the outer office appeared

He gave her the forms and Ebenezer's written memorandum, and instructed her to drop the

he gave her the forms and ebenezers written memorandum and instructed her to drop the

deed at once, passing title

deed at once passing title

in consideration of love and affection.

in consideration of love and affection

She took the papers and went out. Ebenezer watched her. At last he had got things started.

she took the papers and went out ebenezer watched her at last he had got things started

He relaxed in his chair and began seeing pictures in his mind. The old home place, adjoining

he relaxed in his chair and began seeing pictures in his mind the old home place adjoining

that of Claire Markley's father, where he had started life, where he had expected to go

that of claire markleys father where he had started life where he had expected to go

on living, and would have in all likelihood

on living and would have in all likelihood

if he hadn't quarreled with Claire two years ago last spring.

if he hadnt quarreled with claire two years ago last spring

He stared out of the office window without seeing the jumble of buildings beyond it, because

he stared out of the office window without seeing the jumble of buildings beyond it because

instead he was seeing the old house to which he had expected some day to bring Claire home.

instead he was seeing the old house to which he had expected some day to bring claire home

The old house he was deeding to her now in consideration

the old house he was deeding to her now in consideration

of love and affection. The attorney leaned back in his chair with a squeaking of springs.

of love and affection the attorney leaned back in his chair with a squeaking of springs

He regarded Ebenezer with far more calm than he had recently shown. He cleared his throat

he regarded ebenezer with far more calm than he had recently shown he cleared his throat

in preliminary fashion.

in preliminary fashion

Have you had this feeling long? Ebenezer turned his eyes from the window.

have you had this feeling long ebenezer turned his eyes from the window

He had an impulse to reply to the question with a contemptuous laugh.

he had an impulse to reply to the question with a contemptuous laugh

Feeling.

feeling

This man characterized the steady march of the minutes and hours toward a definite event

this man characterized the steady march of the minutes and hours toward a definite event

as a feeling.

as a feeling

No doubt he rather padded himself on the back for his choice of words.

no doubt he rather padded himself on the back for his choice of words

But mankind had always been like that in the face of the unusual, the

but mankind had always been like that in the face of the unusual the

surprising, the unexpected, credulous, and many things. They were yet prone to exhibit

surprising the unexpected credulous and many things they were yet prone to exhibit

incredulity when faced by the truth. Ebenezer took that fact into consideration as he answered,

incredulity when faced by the truth ebenezer took that fact into consideration as he answered

something over a month did it come upon you suddenly or by degrees?"

something over a month did it come upon you suddenly or by degrees

Heavens air eyed his companion.

heavens air eyed his companion

He wasn't a fool, and he understood.

he wasnt a fool and he understood

The man thought him the victim of a delusion, a sort of harmless nut.

the man thought him the victim of a delusion a sort of harmless nut

And there had always been men who regarded those to whom it was given to know the future,

and there had always been men who regarded those to whom it was given to know the future

as men of unbalanced brains. Why, he said. I got wise to it all at once.

as men of unbalanced brains why he said i got wise to it all at once

I didn't know a thing about it, and then all at once I was sure.

i didnt know a thing about it and then all at once i was sure

That you were going to die tonight.

that you were going to die tonight

You knew all about it, even to the time.

you knew all about it even to the time

Yes, Ebenezer nodded.

yes ebenezer nodded

You are—don't carry any insurance, do you?

you are—dont carry any insurance do you

There was a tolerance, something, in the way Ebenezer grinned. Suddenly it seemed to

there was a tolerance something in the way ebenezer grinned suddenly it seemed to

him that he saw very well what was going on in the attorney's mind.

him that he saw very well what was going on in the attorneys mind

Nope, he responded shortly, and I ain't trying to beat that game. I was to see a doctor

nope he responded shortly and i aint trying to beat that game i was to see a doctor

about a month ago after I knew what was going to happen, and he said there wasn't anything

about a month ago after i knew what was going to happen and he said there wasnt anything

that mattered with me, so far as he could see. Trouble with him was he couldn't see as far into the future as I could.

that mattered with me so far as he could see trouble with him was he couldnt see as far into the future as i could

And since then, what have you been doing?

and since then what have you been doing

I've been working in Armstead Casket Company Plant, same as I have for the last two years.

ive been working in armstead casket company plant same as i have for the last two years

Ebenezer's tone was resigned.

ebenezers tone was resigned

Oh, you've been making coffins.

oh youve been making coffins

Finish him.

finish him

Ebenezer explained.

ebenezer explained

His manner became one of a transitory animation.

his manner became one of a transitory animation

The last one I fixed is the best I ever done.

the last one i fixed is the best i ever done

I bought it off him this afternoon.

i bought it off him this afternoon

Not—did Tony stiffen his eyes widen?

not—did tony stiffen his eyes widen

Not for tonight?

not for tonight

He finished rather lamely.

he finished rather lamely

Sure, said Ebenezer.

sure said ebenezer

I know it's a good piece of work.

i know its a good piece of work