The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1881-12-03

rledly drawing some money from his
pocketbook, he thrust into Jearry's hand
and said "When you have eaten, go
back to Mrs. Crawford and pay her for a
month in advance. Then find doctor
for Nellie, and stay with her yourself
until she is we'll After that come back
to me at the mills. If they are standing
| you shall have work. No. Not a
word p he continued, as the astonished
boy would have spoken. "The money
is present to you and Nellie from me. %
And before Jerry could recover from his
surprise Mr.. Watterson had gone.
Supper, money and doctor for Mel
lie ! Could it be true? TIE boy I'M
clasped his hand and looked at the
precious bills. Yes, it was tue
AS he ate the bountiful meal prepared
for him by the bakers good wife, the
bobbin-boy pictured Nellie's delight
when he should return and tell her of
what had happened to him; and, later
when he faced the dreary storm, home
ward bound, with great basket, heaped
| with buns and oranges from the bakers
shelves, upon his arm. his laugh was
hight and his laugh rang merrily out
across the darkness and the rain, as he
thought how boldly he would meet
Mis- Crawford" and how astonished
and puzzled she would be when he paid
her-not week, but month in advance |!
It's just like fairy story" said he,
half aloud, as he climbed the sloppy steps
of his boarding house" just like fairy
story, with great, big, splendid, rich
man fairy p
1t was almost morning. Already the
black curtain of night, rent here and
there by the furious wind, was slowly
lifting toward the east and the dull gray
dawn appearing, forming sombre back
ground, upon which the leahess trees
that fringed the far-away hills were
painted in waving silhoutte
Since the sun had gone down the wild
storm had continued, and even now the
rain driven by the mighty wind, fell in
long, slantlng lances upon the town and
the frothing river, that, filed with great
masses of broken ice and debris from all
the up-country, roared and plunged be-
tween It's banks and shook with giant
hands the foundations of the mills be-
meath which it ran.
At the head of the dam, where the
channel was the narrowest, and directly
opposite the Watterson mill, was an ice
Jam.
Piled block upon block, until it tow
cred high in the air, pressing with terri
bic force against the mills, upon the one
hand and the natural wall of rock upon
the other, the broken ice had formed
great white barricade, growing each mo-
ment, which checked the mad rush of
the water, and sent it swirling backward
IN eddylng waves, which beat fu1iously
upon the mills and threatened each mo-
ment to engulf them.
Along the higher shore the towns
people had gathered, powerless to aid,
but simply awaiting the catastrophe;
aud among them, pale and haggard, was
the proprietor himself, already ruined
man.
As he passed to and fro, intent upon
the scene before him, hoping against
hope that the jam might even yet give
way III time to save his building, many
watcher turned aside with plying word
ana look, for Mr.. Watterson was man
beloved by all OF his employees.
Suddenly there was movement in the
crowd-a Fastening toward the common
centre-and, with eager faces, both men
and women gathered about a new
conner, who was speaking earnestly.
Yes, If that timber could be cut it
would break the jam. 1t lies jus. so
that it holds
The owner of the mills burst through
the crowd.
What timber! Where? Quick
Tell me 4! Can the jam be broken ?"
g Yes sir, =" replied the other, respect
fl1l1 w Ao+
been below. and from there I saw that a
great log which had lodged at the very
crown of the dam is all that holds the
Ice. Ii that could be cut the jam would
be broken"
'But how can it be reached? queried
Mr.. Watterson, anxiously. "Can any
one get at it to cut it ?"
eyes, sir, replied the man; Sin one
way"
"And that is"
"Over the ice itself"
A shudder ran through the listeners.
and even the proprietor's face grew more
pale. Who would venture on such a
bridge on such an Grand?
With common impulse the crowd,
led by the workman who first discovered
the log, turned hurriedly away from the
rivers brink, ran through a side street,
and gained a position lower down the
stream, from whence the dam could be
plainly seen.
The report was true. The jam was
held in place by a single timber-a great
square stick, doubtless torn by the
angry waters from some bridge far up
the country. If that could be cut the
blockade would be broken the ide would
no longer clog the stream, and the mills
would be saved.
For moment silence fell upon all;
then suddenly Mr.. Watterson's voice,
hoarse and thin, rang out upon the noise
of the storm and the war of waters.
- thousand dollars to the man who
will cut that timber p
The women IN the little group looked
at each other and shuddered the men
fixed their eyes upon the dam; but no
one replied. The roar of the angry
stream increased, and the waters deep |
ened beneath the mill walls
"Two thousand dollars p
The proprletor's voice was hoarser |
than before; but the women closed their |
lips firmly and shook their heads. The /
men moved a little uneasily, and one /
drew his hand across his mouth as if he /
would have spoken; but still no one re-
piled, and the white foam from the i'm /
prisoned river was tossed by the wind |
against the lower windows of the mills. /
while the corners of the buildings were |
already beginning to crumble and waste F..
away before the grinding ice.
"Three thou"
81 will gow
The two voices sounded so closely to-