Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-08-21

directing the fall of each tree. SO ~ 10
save labor In hauling the logs. hen
about hundred trees were dowE ne or
ganized hisforoe into choppers, and began
10 GET out logs Of every size. A pair of
oxen were hired, and things began 10
assume shape Heavy logs laid end TO
end in double row stretched across the
little valley, and marked the foundation
of the dam. Stout stakes were driven on
the low side, and shorter logs laid up
stream, with the ends resting on the heavy
timbers, raised the dam about one foot.
The news quickly spread through tho
country round about. Young Keystone
had found water power--in other words,
wealth-in the little brook. Within
three weeks the dam had been raieed
three feet, and the water began to back
up behind 1t. spreading out over the
marsh in slowly widening pond. Then
the people began to laugh. Keystone
was fool, after all What could he do
with only three feet fall of water?
| The next day a small army of labor
ers appeared in the woods, and by night
they had dug long ditch or canal from
the river up the bed of the brook. Two
DAYS after IL reached the foot of the dam,
and brought the river water close up to
the logs. At the upper end 1t was five
feet deep. Five and three make eight.
| Eight feet fall in the clear. Here's
power in abundance. Thcrcupon the
no-lookers said the young man was
smart fellow. good engineer, etc. etc.
! Within n week the village carpenter had
constructed water-whcel from Raiph's
designs. Within two weeks saws and
gearing arrived. a shed was put up, and
the sawmill was opened for business.
| The first job was for lot of two-inch
! plank for Farmer Bcsant. lie claimed
/ that he was half owner of the mill by
their agreement. and would only pay halt
/ the bill. Keystone took the job. and
/ soon had il finished. and even ran through
| a lot of logs and piled up the planks on
| sale. Sundry small jobs came in. and it
! began To look rs il he had started good
! business. One morning stranger ar
| rived. and introduced himsclfas lumber
dealer from town fifty miles down the
| river He was in search Of lot Of small
! stuff, light scantling two inches wide and
an inch and half thick in lengths of
| twelve feet and upward. He wanted
million feet. and hc offered n good price.
and gave his name and references. The
J offer was tempting, and Ralph took it.
I and agreed To have the stutT ready in two
/ weeks Encouraged by his success, he
/ hired more help, and started on the new
]
| to say that the scantling was nearly an
| ready. and could bc put on raft and
! hoated down the river. No reply came,
and he wrote again, and in few days re-
| ceived notification of the failure Of i1lc
/ lumber dealer. and m account OF the
! winding up of his affairs.
Discouraged and sick nj heart, he
/ wandered down by the river and sat
| down on fallen tree alone Everything
was lost. He could never marry Jane.
| \ large part of his lumber had been cut
/ up into a useless and unsalablc shnpc.
/ and he was in debt 10 his men. In fool
I ishly trusting the word of stranger lac
I had made a wreck of everything. When
| the mind is III NJ ease triling circum-
stance will often absorb the whole attcn-
| ton. and as nc sat gioomIIy brooding
over the ruin of hopes. ho saw n steam
| boat rounding the bend Of the river
about mile up stream. She was steer
| ing dangerously near half 7unkcn
| island in the middle Of the river He
| watched her with vague curiosity rs
I she came swiftly onward. Suddenly she
| turned, and with apparent purpose ran
| directly across the upper end Of the
| island, struck. and grounded. He could
sec the wheels reversed. and in "A mo-
ment after saw tho widest confusion
among the passengers on board Spring
| ing up.he ran 1T full speed along the
/ bank till he came opposite tho stranded
boat
It w,,s n freight and passenger steamer
the Pioneer hy name. She blew her
( whistle loudly. and moment after he
| saw boat lowered. For AN instant
/ there was some confusion on the steamer
~ IL the people were demOralized. but =
. t.sF1 E,I1 s,,s H.
I stored The boat came slowly ashore.
and by tho time IL reached the bank all
/ his mill hands and several farming pco-
1 pie had arrived in an excited crowd on
/ the bank. In the boat came the captain
of the steamer. As he sprang ashore he
/ said to Ralph:
Are there any boats or barges about
| hcre?n
Nothing but punt or two. Can't
you bring your passengers ashore in your
own boats?n
Bother the passengers, can land
them easy enough. It's the cargo. The
steamer viii never come off. The tillcr
rope broke. and she ran nose on NJ full
speed. The old Pioneer had laid down
her bones forever. Poor old tub. pity
her. -
I'm take your cargo ashore. OF down
biTtdm VI Anf point YOU say. vi tllfEe
days. for five hundred dollars"
ooh. you've a barge or two. Why
didn't you say SOP" III hire 'cm Of you. v
:" have no barge, but I'll make one
in twenty-four hours--for cash. have
n sawmill Just back Of here"
"TD give you five hundred dollars II
you'll put the cargo on fiat within
three days can't get steamer up here
in less than two days. and IL will cost
almost as much. though don't sec how
you're going TO make a fiat in that time. ="
That's my lookout. I'll have barge
'longside before tomorrow night"
1T will take two bargcs. Heavy
cargo this trip
"IfI leave single barrel behind. I'll
forfeit n hundred dollars. You can take
the passengers to the village. Some
Of the folks will give them lodging till
the boats come up on Monday
The captain agreed to- the bargain, and
put off to brins his passengers ashore.
q IN