{"product_id":"2940013709201","title":"Stolen Centuries","description":"Bleary-eyed and unkempt, with a three days' growth of beard covering his\u003cbr\u003elean jowls, his threadbare suit unpressed and baggy, Fred \"Fly\" Jorgeson\u003cbr\u003eshuffled to the park bench, sat down heavily, and sighed dejectedly.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJorgeson had seen better days--much better. For years he had made a\u003cbr\u003esplendid living with his \"Human Fly\" act, climbing the sides of\u003cbr\u003eskyscrapers as an advertising stunt while crowds gaped, watching for him\u003cbr\u003eto fall.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe had never fallen, but others of his profession had, and finally the\u003cbr\u003eauthorities everywhere had prohibited such exhibitions. No more Human\u003cbr\u003eFly acts would be permitted. Ergo, Fly Jorgeson, as he was called\u003cbr\u003eeverywhere, was suddenly without the highly paid jobs and the adulation\u003cbr\u003eof the crowds which had been the breath of life to him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe had never saved his money, had learned no other trade or profession,\u003cbr\u003eand with millions of trained men jobless, he found it impossible to get\u003cbr\u003ework. He soon found himself flat broke. He then took to panhandling,\u003cbr\u003eusually getting enough nickels and dimes in a day for his food and a\u003cbr\u003echeap flop. His last dime was now gone. Soon he must leave the languid\u003cbr\u003ecomfort of the park bench and resume his panhandling, in order to obtain\u003cbr\u003ethe food and the flophouse bunk that would see him through the night.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA discarded newspaper lay on the bench beside him, and picking it up, he\u003cbr\u003eglanced idly through the \"Help Wanted\" columns of the classified\u003cbr\u003esection. Suddenly, a small ad caught and held his attention: WANTED:\u003cbr\u003eExperienced mountain climber. Easy work. Excellent pay. Applicants call\u003cbr\u003ein person, 1332 Poinsetta Drive, and ask for Professor Hartwell.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJorgeson frowned and considered. That address would be at least a five\u003cbr\u003emile walk from where he sat. But didn't he walk a good fifteen to twenty\u003cbr\u003emiles a day, anyway? And the panhandling might even be better out\u003cbr\u003ePoinsetta way, whether he landed the job or not.","brand":"WDS Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47170885976304,"sku":"2940013709201","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940013709201_p0.jpg?v=1763597618","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940013709201","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}