Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-01-02

passage way door from the floor above
lie started porceptiblv whtn he saw me
but Instantly rcgained his composure, an,
said, rs cool as YOU please;
"Ah you're late, Bill. WHAT'S wron,
to-day? Hope you won't blow us up f,
a week or 50, yet. We're doing stavinl
business, Bill" Il think sec him now
"washing his hands with invisible soap il
| impcrceptlble WATER" with that self-satis
tied, hypocrlical leer on his lace.) "Jus
sent a load Of the boxes down to the Wing
ed Arrow. She sails tomorrow, so we had
| to ship in hurry. Fine boxes and
beautiful vessel, Bill. Good night to YOU
Good night, SIR said l, and left.
\, went up the street, another dray
| passed, driven toward the factory. / had
the curiosity TO turn and watch to sec
whether it, too, stopped there. 1t did, and
| when reached the corner Of Proadway
| stopped aud looked back once more
There, in he darkening twilight, the same
process Of hurried loading was being re-
pcaled. It seemed to be all right. Hark-
ncs, was there, but sImehow, wasn't
quite satisfied. Trimming machines arc
not uno assorted gilt edged boxes, by any
manner of means, you know. And knew
il, too, though, very likely, old Harknes,
didn't give me credit for being SO well
posted. Well, if couldn't settle the quc,-
ton, tho next best thing was to give it up.
And give it up did.
Next morning I wen. over as usual to
the factory. JiIu, the stOker, opened the
doors always, a he had to he early to tend
the fires. which we banked every night. |
expected to sec jim, but was much surpris.
cd when saw lIirkuess. This time it was
he who came up through the cellar dour
ana / through the other. As before, we
met Unexpectedly. Now 1 wasmy turn to
be surprised. Ile was intensely pale and
seemed much agiiatcd. With a strong cf.
fort Of the will he sIrove to conceal his
strange manner He cndeavorcd to speak
cIluy. and half succeeded.
"Bi.I,' said he, Jim has tended To the
engine. is all right; come outside With
me, wlntto tails to YOU
He turned to the cellar 6"o- -.'u shont-
cd.
Jim, come up, come up at once Run
over to Mr.. Breurs private housc-you
know where that is-aud tell him not to
discount that Lill to-day. BE quick -
"lcs, sir, coming" sung out Jim leis-
urcly.
suddenly he tore up the cellar steps. His
face was ten shades paler than Harkness',
an expression Of horror was fixed on his
feature, -an expression of agony and fear
that | never stall forget. 1t hlun.s me
still. 1t will stay by me to my dying day.
Poor fellow, he's gone too, since then.
Jim hardly stopped in his wild flight, is
lie Aoars,ly whispered. rather than cried:
"IIuudred and ten on the steam guagc
Safety valve clogeed!! Run for your
livcs!!w
l took in the situation at once. Terrible
the danger was. The Old boiler was regis
tered at eighty pounds 10 the square inch
bu; We never dared to run higher than llir-
ty. And Il hundred and ten! We were
standing directly over il, ard while hest.
t;tcd the pressure must be steadily rising
II hl,hed upon me that there might be nc
more danger in jumping down and press
Ing the safety valve, than in running away
and in spite Of the awful panic, had
r''i"dioo "S~iu-, running.
looked down from the doorw,v nm,
the tem bling, painting, struggling steam
demon beneath. The safety valve appar.
atu, was in plain eilht.
From tie tad of ne {cre,. Arng sc,cra
huge Inks Of cAGin.
don't thin. I'm 4 coward-usually a
| least, know am not. But that evidence
OF yiNuiuy took me all aback. staggere,
and chung lechly to the Intel for support
The words seemed forced ont Of me anC
| not uttered with NV volilion;
'You scoundrcl. You'd steal YOUR in
surancc, wouldyou?"
\ sudden ymIiciivc push seat nlc head
! long, As fell heard a demoaiac laugh
] tdtui u YOU want 10.