Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 53, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 December 1908 — ALL FOR A WAGER [ARTICLE]

ALL FOR A WAGER

One fine May morning many years ago, when a young fellow of nineteen, I was rambling down H—*— street, near Russel square, in company with my friends, Tom Hewitson and Frank Palgrave. At the period In question 1 was (supposed to be) reading for Oxford, while Hewitson was “walking the hospitals” and Palgrave was “expecting his commission.” We were all athletes. As we sauntered pleasantly along, rapt in conversation on the mysteries of gymnastics, we approached a ladder which was fixed to a four story house. “How little we think of the heroism of hodmen!” exclaimed Palgrave. “I would rather face a dragoon armed to the teeth than walk to the top of that ladder.”

“Pooh!” said I. “You must be joking. I see the feat performed every day by fellows whom you or I Could pound Into mummy, and, what is more, they carry on their business as leisurely forty or fifty feet high as if they were paving roads.” “Yet I will lay an even bet of £5 that you won’t do It,” retorted Palgrave coolly. “Done!” I replied. «

As the house was untenanted and the laborers were absent, there seemed no impediment In the way. “Hold!” cried Hewitson, who began to feel that a very serious responsibility might devolve upon him in his capacity of umpire. “Were you ever up a ladder before?”

“Hum—ah—yes—but not high ones. I should say I have been up fourteen or fifteen feet at least!” “There is a very serious difference, let me tell you, between fifteen feet and forty-five,” continued Hewitson, looking anxiously up to the roof. “It was only last week we had a terrible accident at Guy’s, resulting from vertigo, and, let me tell you, now that I look closely into t|ie expression of your eyes. I would strongly recommend you to stick closely to terra firma.” “I will cheerfully cancel the agreement if you like,” said the generous Palgrave. “Nonsense, man! . I am afraid you’re funking. Frank. Five pounds is a good deal of money to lose in five minutes, but I’ll punish you for daring to, question my courage. Goodby, old fellow”’ I had arrived about twenty feet on my ethereal road when I first became conscious of a strange feeling. I tried to laugh at my own apprehensions.

Another; step—another—another—ha! —those words of Hewltson’s! “It was only last week we had a terrible accident at Guy’s, resulting from vertigo,” now rang In my ears with a fearful meaning. Another step! The cold perspiration broke out on my forehead, my knees trembled, and my teeth chattered. Another step! I took it mechanically. Oh, heavens, what a fearful height I was now! How the world seemed to yawn beneath me!

Another step, and now my agony of terror was almost Insupportable. My whole frame trembled convulsively; I could hear the very palpitations of my heart. I had arrived on a level with the window, but it was two feet distant from me. and the attempt to pass that Insignificant space must be certain death.

The day had hitherto been breathlessly calm; now, with the suddenness of our variable climate, it began to blow strongly. Marvelous to relate, this very circumstance gave me immediate relief and was, I think, the principal agent In saving my life. As I bad this fresh real danger to encounter I shook off the terrors of many that were really imaginary. The descent to earth must be accomplished. So, setting my teeth firmly and fixing my eyes with a dull, rigid, desperate stare on the brick wall before me, I retrograded one step with knocking knees and then, with equal care, another.

By practice the retrograde movement became easy. I found it easy to withdraw my mind from vague, imaginary horrors and to fix my whole care on self preservation. Another step—another—another! Oh, glorious! 1 could look down now with something like composure and smiled. Another and another! Sweetest music that ever, ever fell upon my ear, 1 could at last distinctly hear the voices of my two friends, around whom a crowd had gathered. “Bravo! By Jove, you’ll do it all right yet! Hold firm and keep steady, my boy.*’ I was only twenty feet high, and I accomplished the remainder of my journey with ease. Hewitson and Palgrave, who had been nearly as much frightened as myself, were shocked at my ghastly paleness. They said I resembled a risen corpse. The good natured fellows had a cab and a flask of brandy in attendance. I was put into the cab, and the brandy was put into me.

But I was pronounced in a dangerous fever that night, and it was three months before I was able to walk as stoutly as when I commenced that aerial adventure. And what about the bet? I insisted on paying It after my recovery, as the condition was that I should touch the roof of the house, which I had failed to do, and Palgrave insisted on not receiving it. He said he would as soon accept the price of blood. He had very nearly been my murderer, and he was confident that if I had brought an action for assault and battery against him he would have to pay at least £I.OOO damages and costs, so profound was Palgrave’s knowledge of British law!