Detective and mystery stories; Stone, Fleming (Fictitious character) -- Fiction
Now, on this very day, and at this very hour, Fibsy was in Philadelphia,
watching the initial performance of a new “human fly.”
A crowd was gathered about the tall skyscraper, where the event was
to take place, and when Hanlon appeared he was greeted by a roar, of
cheering that warmed his applause-loving heart.
Bowing and smiling at his audience, he started on his perilous climb up
the side of the building.
The sight was thrilling--nerve-racking. Breathlessly the people watched
as he climbed up the straight, sheer facade, catching now at a window
ledge--now at a bit of stone ornamentation--and again, seeming to hold
on by nothing at all--almost as a real fly does.
When he negotiated a particularly difficult place, the crowd forebore to
cheer, instinctively feeling it might disturb him.
He went on--higher and higher--now pausing to look down and smile at the
sea of upturned faces below--and, in a moment of bravado, even daring
to pause, and hanging on by one hand and one foot, “scissor out” his
other limbs and wave a tiny flag which he carried.
On he went, and on, at last reaching the very top. Over the coping he
climbed, and gaily waved his flag as he bowed to the applauding crowds
below.
Then, for Hanlon was a daring soul, the return journey was begun.
Even more fascinating than the ascent was this hazardous task.
Fibsy watched him, noted every step, every motion, and was fairly beside
himself with the excitement of the moment.
And, then, when half a dozen stories from the ground--when success
was almost within his grasp--something happened. Nobody knew what--a
misstep--a miscalculation of distance--a slipping stone--whatever the
cause, Hanlon fell. Fell from the sixth story to the ground.
Those nearest the catastrophe stepped back--others pushed forward--and
an ambulance, ready for such a possible occasion, hurried the wounded
man to the hospital.
For Hanlon was not killed, but so crushed and broken that his life was
but a matter of hours--perhaps moments.
“Let me in--I must see him!” Fibsy fought the doormen, the
attendants, the nurses.
“I tell you I must! In the name of the law, let me in!”
And then a more coherent insistence brought him permission, and he was
immediately admitted to Hanlon’s presence.
A priest was there, administering extreme unction, and saying such words
of comfort as he could command, but at sight of Fibsy, Hanlon’s dull
eyes brightened and he partially revived.
“Yes--him!” he cried out, with a sudden flicker of energy, “I must
talk to him!”
The doctor fell back, and made way for the boy. “Let him talk, if he
likes,” he said; “nothing matters now. Poor chap, he can’t live
ten minutes.”
Awed, but very determined, Fibsy approached the bedside.
He looked at Hanlon--strangely still and white, yet his eyes burning
with a desperate desire to communicate something.
“Come here,” he whispered, and Fibsy drew nearer to him.
“You know?” he said.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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