The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1883-08-31

this place right here boarded on both
sides?' ~ says 10 d Of the mon near
csf 70 him.
~ bclive you did," stammens the
man. /" but there want no good boards
here then. and Jim MuIligan said Ne
would bring some the first thing this
morning. but he hasn't come yet"
Gaskcll hardly hears the excuse. he
II 30 occupied with his examination of
the walls Of the cutting.
..Thi< ought 10 BE- boarded for fifty
feet each side" be says. "and it's got
% be done this morning. Send Ma
hafFcy here 20 me n once. He's up
above there BY the Sixth street cross
ing" and the man thus hidden hastens
away.
The place where Gaskell Is now
standing i about midway d the
length % the sewer cutting. and be-
tween him and the northern end some
thirty laborers are digging busily.
Toward the southern end the {
ton Is shallower. and several ladders
near furnish the means 81 ascent or de-
scent. One of these Is about sixty feet
south Of Gaskcll. While he Is waiting
he surveys the distance between il and
himself with his eye.
~ don't like the looks Of things
along here" he says. half aloud. II
believe I'll have boards put up as far
- that ladder. anyway he continues.
as he walks toward the south.
The men IT the northern end are
working toward him. deepening the
cutting in his direction. and while he
PAGES back and forth a dozen or more
of the workmen are rapidly extending
their work toward that part Of the ex-
cnvation-
BE careful how you jump round
there he calls sharply 70 some men
on the surface who are hosting up the
earth removed BY the shovels Of the Ia
borers below; 'them banks amt none
too strong. yoE know. johnson. " he
SAYS 70 one Of the men who are peer
ing down At him from above. 'sset some
one 70 moving the dirt further fromthe
edge along there; and BE- mighty quick
about IL. too"
lit Is too hot 70 hurry" grumble
some Of the men a. the top a johnson
tells them Of GaskelIs orders.
But II II Is hot up there. where the
breeze is blowing. il Is far worse down
where Gaskell and the others are. Il
Is not very light there. and the cir Is
close and heavy. Some Of the younger
men are complaining Of the heat in no
gentle tones.
THAT'S no good" says Ga<kell 70
one man; 'leave Of your swearing and
90 70 work. II amt a-going 70 be no
cooler for all your cussing.r
"An' you're right there. Muster Gas
kcll." comments . brawny Irishman
near; tits not swearin' thatu cool the
air for Mike. and its like 10 make i 4
dale hotter for him in the next worruld,
or else Father Casey's . liar.
There Is laugh at this, and Nike
grumblings and curses are silenced fol
= time.
ats time Mahaffey was back" Gas
kcll Il beginning. when = handful d
sand and gravel fails close Il him.
mind what you're about up there
he calls. but ~ he looks mp he sees
there Il no one near the edge. and just
then 4 larger handful Of earth falls on
the other side Of him. He turns TO SCI
from whence Il has fallen. and all The
color il his cheek leaves IL instantly
for all along on the western wall Of The
cutting. where he had declared boards
should be placed. pebbles are falling
and the loose sand i sliding down
Gaskell well knows what AL thi'
means
Make for the ladders. menu he calls
N And ouick. too" he adds. hurriedly
Some Of the men have already pushet
their work beyond him. and these ar
between him and the nearest ladder
Almost a. soon as Gaskcll. they per
ccive the danger, and. dropping theil
tools. they hurry toward the ladder
hustling and beating each other IN theil
mad haste. These win save them
selves, Caskcll thinks; but what Of III
others2
"Hurry. men! hurry!'' he calls sharp
", and swiftly the men, their face
blanched with fear. ny past him.
And D the sand Is sliding dowl
rapidly, and the cutting Il shalIower ..
. foot or more in the half minute sine
GaskeIl gave the alarm. and still tn
men are running past and IRE crowdin,
about the foot Of the ladder nearest, TO-
much craxed By terror 70 hasten 70 n
ladders beyond. where they might b
safe. From where he stands Gaskel
looks q the throng.
"Prctty poor chance for me-" h
SAYS 10 himself; and just then the san
stops sliding. and for moment the ri
thing Of pebbles stops.
|, "A false alarm, may be-" Gaskel
says. half aloud.
The mel arc nearly al up the ladde
BY this time. and Gaskell himself !
moving toward II a. the last Lahore
|, cones near him. He j. ~ old man
too old for such work. Gaskell has ofie
!, said. and he did moi mean 70 have hin
employed below the surface.
/ ~ didn't know you were here, jim,
he says to the elder "Johnso
} should have kept you up there wit
him. But yop must Be mighty quic
now 70 get out d this"
The other scarcely hccds what Ga