River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-10-31
AT THE PUMP-SHAFT.
How Alice Pluckily Saved It from
Destruction.

81 shall not be able to run my en-
gin tonight. wife. said John Nc
Doweu. wearily resting his head on
his hand.
Poor Mrs Mcdowell dropped down
in a chair that vas near
well. if you can't, you can't,
John" she said. .'and that's an there
Is to it. I suppose.
No. it isn't az there IS to it." he
answered. If am not there to-
night the company will have a man in
my place tomorrow. But ! can't go.
can hardly breathe here, and in that
close, dirty engine-rOOm | would
smother. Ii Mlrvine, the boss, only
knew l was sick. he could Sot some
one till l am well-if / ever am.
smiling family. Last night / could
hardly walk around to oil the engine.
and l thought morning would never
come. could not go tonight If my
life depended on it. !"
You must not give up. john" Mrs.
Mcdowell said. suspicious moisture
appearing in her eyes We've had
lots of trouble since the strike,
know. but You have not missed night
in years. and the company can not
blame YOU now
There are some things women
don't understand. and that's one OF
them" John Mcdowell said. I've
worn myself out In the company 5
service. but let me miss tonight. and
I'd be dischaI ged just the same as if /
We're new hand.
He had to stop to catch his breath.
When he was a young man ne had run
a pump inside. and the steam and foul
air had given him the miners asth-
ma" and though lie had fought il for
years. it had conquered at last.
Won't Carson run in your placer
she asked.
Not he II would be asking too
much Of the man. for no one know 5
when I will be out again. Is Alice
imp
She's in her room. Shall call
ner?1
lie nodded his head. she can
cheer US both up he said.
Alice. their only child, nearly eight
cen years OF age, who had left the
room bat a few minutes previous 70
the time when John Mcdowell decided
that he was not able to run the pump
engine that had been under his care
for nearly twenty wears. was not long
in answering her mothers call What
was her parents surprise TO sec her
clad in a heavy wooden dress when she
came iu-
Where are you going, child?' her
father asked.
You are too sick to work tonight,
and am going in your place, she
answered. looking from one to the
other,
'.Your exclaimed her mother, in
unfeigued establishment.
Why nots Haven't I often been
there with. and learned how to run the
engiue2 know when TO put tallow in
the cup, and how to oil every part. "
she said. with determination in her
ewes and voice.
How about the wallliug-beam at
the top. and the pIuugers at the bot
tom Of the shaft2" asked her father.
gasping a little.
when they need oili'g / can go
down the ladders and oil them, as
often have when you were there-"
And carry your lamp and oil-can?''
Yes. father; you have seen me do
il more than once"
NO. Alice. said her mother. gent
II. YOU can not do all that. it would
be far too much for your strength.
But ] have. | can, and l will
rather than have father lose his place. .
Alice said cmphatically You know
we need the money, and rs long as
father IS sick. be it a week OF month.
] can run his engine and draw his
pay"
Mr.. Mcdowell smiled in spite Of his
weakness. Well. wife. what do you
Think" he asked.
The girl is right. she answered.
cit viii not do TO have you out Of
work. aud / see no other way but for
her to take your place till you are
well. if the company don't object.
Il will see 10 that tomorrow.
Alice said Il thought it all over
while you and mother were talking
Suppose something unusual should
happen
Then I will run down 10 the slope
boiler-house, and tell the men there.
l planned il while was changing my
dress. and don't Vaut either Of YOU
TO worry about me. Its half-past six
now. and ! must hurry; and. after
kissing her father. she tied hood
over her head and FASTENED out in the
gathering dusk. leaving her mother
bemOaniug the fate that had decreed
her only child "a be 2 girl
Il was nearly "A milo 10 the pump
shaft. across a common waste of land.
where rock and horny" coal had been
dumped leaving but little room for the
sparse vegetation and weeds to grow
up in. Over this Alice walked brave
hearted and confident stumbling now
and then ia her cagerness. DARK
shadows and piles OF rock surrounded
her, lille TO her left. barely TO be
seen in the approaching darkness. the
mining town Of Carbonate nestled in
the valley.
The darkness was complete when
she reached the pump-zhaft. A. she
opened the door and stepped into the
engine-room. the day engineer. who
was waiting for her father 10 come.
greeted her with an exclamation
What be you a-doin here? he
asked.
I've come 10 run the engine. " she
answered
What, You, Who liver heard the
loik o. thats Does yer father know
eet7~
Yes. sir; he has been sick for a
week
II know.
"- And tonight he's too sick too
come out, so I came l have been here