Matthew White, Jr.

New York City.

Jan. 5, 1907.

CHAPTER I

THE MAN ON THE BRIDGE

"Look there! I believe that man is actually going to try to cross the
trestle."

Roy Pell pulled his sister Eva quickly toward him as he spoke, so that
she could look up between the trees to the Burdock side of the railway
bridge almost directly above their heads.

"Why, it's Mr. Tyler!" exclaimed Jess, who had a better view from
where she sat on the log that spanned Riddle Creek. "Oh, Roy,
something's sure to happen to him! He's awfully feeble."

"And there's a train almost due," added Eva. "What can he be thinking
of to attempt such a thing?"

"Oh!" and Jess gave a shrill scream. "He's fallen!"

Roy said never a word. He quickly passed his fishing-line to Eva, ran
nimbly across the tree trunk to the Burdock side of the creek, and
then started to climb the steep bank. The girls sat there and watched
him breathlessly, now and then darting a look higher up at the spot on