Part the Second

As fate would have it, the bell ringer without arms had a twin brother who, sadly, was also lacking his upper appendages. And like his brother, he was in need of a trade and he went to the Archbishop begging for his late brother's job. After demonstrating mastery of his brother’s incomparable technique, he was granted the coveted position of bell ringer of San Giovanni.

The next Sunday, the crowds came to see if the new bell ringer could truly match, or possibly even outdo his brother. And this man with no arms was not one to disappoint. Up in the belfry, he took one step back...two steps back...three steps back...and ran face-first into the bell. BONG!!!  Lights, wonder, amazement!

Once again, the armless man took one step back...two steps back...three steps back...and ran face-first into the bell. BOONNGG!!!! The angels themselves would be hard pressed to equal such a performance.

But pride was abundant in this bell ringer too, and he took one step back...two steps back...three steps back...four steps back, which was terribly unfortunate, for as I have already mentioned, the belfry was only three paces wide. And so it came to pass that this man too fell out the side of the bell tower and plunged to his death upon the pavement below.

A crowd gathered ‘round; a policeman came; and the Archbishop padded out to see what was the commotion. 

Looking up, the policeman asked, "Do you know this man’s name?"

And the Archbishop replied ….

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 Noooo....

But he's a dead ringer for a fellow who used to work here.