Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-22

At niue O'Clock in the morning there
was blow to be made. About eight
O'Clock Ferris stepped aside to eat his
breakfast, which was placed in tin pail
on barrel. He had some cold coffee
which he set in a tin cup to warm before
the furnace.
"Look to that, Crawford, will your" ne
said, and Jake assiduously bent over the
cup. Out of his pocket he took white
paper containing, not poison, but nau-
seating medicine, slow and sure IN action.
This he hastily shook into the coffee.
Ferris made a very wry face, but gulp-
ed it down. He was hungry and cold.
little before nine Mr.. Berringer, the prin
cipaI owner of the works, came in and
stood near Ferris. He never wearied of
listening to the roar of the blast, or of
watching the great machinery in motion,
and the rush of white liquid metal from
the caldron.
care you i'll, Ferris?" he said coming
up to the young man, as he sat with his
hand upon the lever and his eye upon the
fiery fluid. "Your lips are blue"
eyes," said Ferris, CURLY. "But I'll
see this through"
Mr.. Berringer watched him closely.
"You can't do it! You are near fainting
now. How long will it be until it is
ready?"
about ten minutes" gasped Ferris,
with a shudder of pain.
'Is there nobody who can take your
placer"
"I-I don't know" he SAID, duly. Then
he dropped the lever, and staggered for
ward. "I-I can not see!" he cried.
"Great heaven! What is to be done?'
cried Mr.. Berringer.
A quiet voice was heard from among
the startled men: 81 think l can take
Mr.. Ferris place, if you will trust me-"
"Os den? Yes; try Ogden" sad Ferris,
as he sank down. Some of the men car
ried him out, Richard Ogden stepped
up TO his platform and put his hand on
the lever which the mill-owner held.
''I'Il try you, young man. It's all can
10. Remember, if you fail by an in
slant, it is loss of several thousand dol
lars TO u.s.
81 know, sir, I'll do my duty as well
as can" said Ogden, calmly; bat he
breathed a hurried prayer to God for
help.
The fr1ghtful roar of the blast drowned
all sounds, the curious workmen gathered
around, watching Richards eyes fixed on
as if the beating of the blood in his veins
kept time with the fire. Suddenly, dis
tinct and sharp, he heard, outside of the
window near which he stood, his boy s
name.
"Benry Ogden, he's dying of Group.
Where's his father?"
Great Godr' He started wildly for
ward; then graspe& the lever again with
strained eyes and clenched teeth. "His
dxty." He had promised he would do his
duty. The next instant the flame, as if
in pity for the man, charged its hue, and
the lever sank. Out from the converter
rolled the fiery flood. Richard sprang
down from the platform white and tremb-
ling.
us it Benny you're goin' tor" said Dan
Mccarthy. "I'm just after seein' the bye
go past the mill wild his mother, an its
well and hearty he is. It wur Jack Craw-
ford as played that durty thrick on yees,
EUR" turning to Mr.. Berringer; sam it
wur bin as dosed the coffee for Misther
Ferris
Mr.. Berrlnger was man OF few words.
''Send for policeman for Crawford.
Young man, the firm owes you something
and we will pay is as best We can"
They did pay it. This was four years
ago. Mr.. Ferris had been promoted in
the works and Richard Ogden holds his
place at high salary. In one of the
p rettiest cottages in the village you may
find Mary and Ben, who is the big broth
er of two youngsters as fat aud chubby as
himseif,-Youth's Companion.