New Nick Carter Weekly, No. 9 — page 28: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

- + t leiers such as Miller u - They talked of telegraphing to other| towns to see whether any steeple jack’ could be. found who would venture up the spire for the sake of a heavy reward, but as none others had been induced to go up before, it did not seem likely that any would try it now. Trim listened to the discussion for a few moments and then approached a gen- tleman who seemed to be the chief man of the church, and said: ‘I’m not looking for any reward, but if you’d like to have me climb that spire | and take the body down I’ll doit.”’ se CHAPTER VII. TRIM AS A STEEPLE JACK. “My dear fellow,’’ exclaimed Terrell, | ‘‘that would be a most dangerous effort !' You must not think of risking your life, in that way!’’ It seemed to Trim as if there was some- thing more than mere anxiety in Terrell’ S| eyes as he spoke. It looked very much as if the man with the strange limp were pleased at the thought that the detective was going to try to climb the steeple, Trim, however, did not press Terrel with any questions, but kept his eyes quietly fixed upon him while he made his| arrangements for the climb. “The quickest way out of this job,”’ thought Trim, ‘‘is to force Terrell to ex- pose ‘himself, and I can only do that by the boldest kind of a trick.” The lad was fully determined upon his “course and nothing could: have shaken him from it. The church members stared at him in surprise and asked him if he had ever been a steeple jack. ~ “No,” said Trim; *‘l haven’t, ‘but | Ive done soine pretty tall climbing in|. my day, and I know that I can get up to = 2 2 iat cross 1f I have the right kind of | Posse Is. | a _*’That’s just it,”’ said the leading man in the group ‘‘You're not provided with ed, without 1 -you,can do nothing.” si apes migiae mite true,’’ Trim respond ose to ae an outfit of sib b leading man, and I’ve never been able ie hag ect ly straight since.’’ — 4 NEW NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ‘*T’ll borrow a set from Miller,’’ sponded Trim. ‘*Borrow from Muiller?’’ retorted the scornfully. ‘‘What crazy talk this is! With Miller hanging up there three htindred feet aloft, how are you going to borrow anything from hit?” ‘“‘Tf Miller made a business of steeple climbing,’’ replied Trim, calinly, ‘‘it’s pretty likely that he would have more tharrone set of climbers. ie “‘Ves, I suppose it is. ‘111 go to his saat then, and find aset. Of course I shan’t try to climb the steeple unless I can get the tools, but if I can get them and have your permission to do so I'll tackle the job.”’ Trim’s suggestion that he could find a spare set of climbers at Miller’s lodgings put a new light on the matter. The church members dreaded the though, of letting a green man climb this spire, with the possibility that he would fall when part way up and thus lose his life, but they also disliked to have that ghastly spectacle before the eyes of the te- ¢ 1 cit¥’; and after some further talk, there- fore, they told Trim to go ahead. Terrell listened to the discussion ear- nestly. He occasionally putin a word or two as ii to persuade Trim not to undertake the job, but his arguments were evidently half hearted, and at last he said: * “Well, Mr. Carter, I presume that if I were 1n your place I should do as you are — doing. It will be a new feather in your cap if you succeed.’’ ‘*T shall succeed,”’ Trim answered ; ‘“but of course | couldn't hope to if ‘there was anything wron; with my feet.”’ There was a slight flush on Terrell’s face at this, but he was perfectly self ssed as he responded: ‘“There’s where you have the edstie tage of me, Mr. Carter. I injured mnyselt by a severe fall when I was*a youn <cuse me age refering to it, ” ex-- ve , s ‘ Bees tn. ~ ee soa na” eal ee are i os |, Fas as oe ~ b. : ee o> rn neh a . a BD pt: _ oe os > aD. sagt + eae tet > san or Seals oe ate ) ae es ~ ae 4a = ¥ Pa Ae > a, @ ‘DOOKS. on