The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1871-01-19

more blows and the broken plate fell
with splash into the water and left the
aperture open and clear for my escape.
It is yet wonder to me that the in
tense Joy that I experienced did not kill
me. With difficulty I crawled through
the opene"ing, 1 staggered toward the
engineers room and opened the door
The apartment was tenantless; James
had gone to his break fast. I looked at
the clock; It lacked fifteen minutes to
six.
A strange thought came across my
mind. , So.
"What I should take the spare man
hole plate from the sorteroom close by,
and fix it into the aperture. have yet
ten minutes time. Would not James
think that I was still within the boiler?''
ran to the storeroom, and took the
plate from the shelf. It seemed very
heavy to me as carried it to the back
of the boiler: there laid it down and
closely examined the lead gasket which
was around its rim. Every thing was
complete, with the exception of putting
on little red lead. went back to he
storeroom, got the little cask of lead,
and put some of it upon the tow that
James had wound around the lead gas
ket. Then I fastened the plate to the
lead aperture by means of clamp and
nut. While at work heard the voice
Of the fireman. He was swearing at the
neglect Of the watchman in not lighting
the fire. There was no danger of my
being detected. He thought, as he after
wards told me, that it was James max
ing some repairs, for he had heard the
cIanking Of iron while he was employed
about the furnace.
1t was near six, and in minute more
James would return from the boarding
house that stood some distance apart
from the saw mill. looked about ME.
Near the boiler and close to the steam
gauge was high shelf concealed by a
large beam. BY jumping upon the
boiler I could reach the shelf. l was
not moment too late. Scarcely was
concealed behind the beam before saw
James enter the engine room. H.
looked very pale, and large black cir
cles were around his eyes, as If he had
passed sleepless night.
There were no partitions between the
boiler and engine room. One glance al
the steam gauge told him that the
watchman had neglected his duty. He
rushed down the few steps in front of
the furnace and shouted TO the fire.
man:
"Quick, Jim, throw more pitch pine
slabs into the fire. Mr.. Smith will give
US fits. Look! lie is coming now to find
why haven't blown the whistle"
"Watchman's fault" grumbled jim =,
opening the doors and showing into the
the furnace huge pile of shavings.-
Mr.. Smith then entered the fire room.
and James explained to him why the
steam was not high enough to start the
engine.
George ought to have fired up at i've
but he must have been sleeping at his
post" continued he.
"Well," said Minnies father, II will
tell Louis to pay him his wages and
discharge him."
When James heard my name men
toned, l could see that he trembled
from head to foot.
"By the way, where is Louis? He
has not been to breakfast, and he did
not sleep in his room last night"
"I-I don't know" faltered the guilty
wretch, turning away.
He said to the second sawyer that he
was going to l. upon some business,
said Jim, looking up.
"All right. Now, Mr.. Alton, do your
best to get steam up as soon as possible,
for every hour lost is morsy out of the
company's treasury, said Mr.. Smith,
leaving the fire-room.
1 felt faint and weary, yet remained
at my post. James was passing to and
fro with restless steps. Oncs he stopped
and lifted the safety valve from which,
now came sound like sigh. Quickly
he dropped the cord connected with the
lever, and SO nething like groan came
from his half open mouth.
He then lit his pipe, but soon threw i,
aside. Then he resumed his rapid walk
looked at the gauge; it indicated IL lbs
pressure to the square inch, and was
rapidly rising. James stopped in his
walk and began to oil the journals of the
engine.
Now is my time,' thought I, as the
fireman had stepped out. l jumped on
the boiler Of The engine.
"James--James! cried /, and IN,
voice sounded strange even to myself
He quickly turned and sank upon his
knees as he saw me standing few fee
from him.
"Mercy. mercy" he groaned, with up
lifted hands.
| "No mercy to a murderer" shouted
jumping from the boiler with the inten
tion of seizing him.
But he was too quick for me. With
cry of intense horror he sprang to hi
feet and ran up the broad steps leadin,
to the upper part of the mill.
"Save ME, save me-" shouted he {,
the workmen, rushing past them to tn
logway.
Stop him, stop him!" shouted
springing after him. The men gave .
shout, but instead of following him the,
ran away, some crying "a ghost, ,
ghost," and others a crazy mani"
Without needing the outcries, fol
lowed James, still crying "stop him