Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1889-10-24

but the sense Of feeling. The least
I slip or the ~faintest noise would be alike
fatal 70 her. Cautiously and silently
sue felt her way. the waser from tn.
rocks dripping on her. and the rods
from the walking-beam. nos far sbovo
her. lunging up and down in their
bearings within reaching distance
She could almost feel the darkness.
so heavy 1t seemed. and the monot-
onous drip-drip Of the water was pain
fully distinct Down. and still down.
Till the tenth platform was reached
Here she made another cautious recon
nOis-ance. The light vas palmer. and
she imagined she saw several du-ky
outlines Of men moving around; bui
she must descend still farther 10 sec
what they were doing.
She had made the descent man
times before with her father. by the
| light Of n lamp. and tho knowledge
she had gained Of the ladders and plat
forms served her now. There were
twenty-tbrce ladders in all. each TWEEN
y feet long. On the twelfth one was
a broken round Her calculation vas
right and she passed I; safely. When
she reached the fifteenth platform she
stopped again. Looking over it, edge
she saw the light was brighter. and it,
glow disclosed ths presence OF three
men. They were one-two-three. she
counted. platforms below her. Sixty
feet Nearly 10 the bottom. but still
she could not make out What they wero
doing. She resolved TO descend TO the
next platform
The water. which far above was IN
drops. now came down in small
streams. and its noise drowned all
other sounds. save the beat OF the
plungers in the vater cylinders. IL
-iIenced her cautious foOztsps. and
she reached the platform without at
tracing their attention Her heart
was beating quickly with excitement
a. she looked down She WAS near
enough 10 see them. and what they
were doing. They were-she could
hardly keep back a cry Of alright
one Of them had n wrench. aad was I'M
scre~in- the nuts from the bolts that
held the guides in which the rods ran,
IL they loo@ened them all il would dis
connect the engine and the pump. and
the rods. with nothing to hold them in
place. would strip the shaft Of bun,-
iBgs and ladders,
The strikel Revenge on the com
panyl All this flashed through her
mind as she watched them, pctrihed
with fright The m~utterings OF their
voices reached her. How many more
bolts to loosen before they would ac-
complish their vile work,
She turned and ran up the ladder.
Gaining the platform she looked down
again. What could she do? Her eyes.
accustomed to the darkness. saw tho
wrench steadily at its work. and their
upturned. harsh-loOking faces. while
one man held a lamp above his head.
There could not be many moro bolts tC
take out; she must not stand there and
sec every thing sacrificed to theiI
malice.
She felt the hard beating OF her
heart IL almost suffocated her. Her
breath zane fast Then. with strength
augmented by despair. she snOvet
against The ladder below her. Il
moved. balanced. and slowly. gather
ing speed as it circlcd over. fell. crash
ing. crashiug-and she closed her eye
down into the midst OF them, Their
was a wild cry from the men; the SCUM,
of the falling ladder echoed an,
re-echoed against the solid walls o
the shaft until it died away. Tn,
water vas still dripping. and the rod
were lunging up and down. but NJ
sound came from below. save from tn,
plungers
Up. now. up, Ladder after ladder
till the engine-room was reached
shaft. II was totally black. Nc vel
low spot, No,hingi The walking-bear
came out to welcome her. aud the cog
wheels pounded ~savagely. but ~leavin.
! it all behind. she sped out across III
! rocks to the boiler-house beneath tn
: hill IL was a rough path She stun
bted many times in her haste and ex
, element. till. with dilated eyes. breath
] ing heavily. she dashed into the fire
room Tho two men working there
: shOveliug coal in the furnace door
! stopped and looked up in surprise o
l her sudden appearance.
do you know where Mr.. Marvin
~livesP" she asked. One OF you go 70
him. Quick! quick. Bring him back
and As many men rs you an"
! lis -."one of them began to say.
Yes. three men are dead or dyin
in the pump shaft"
They did not hesitate after that.
III go. Jim." said one. I'm a goo
runner"
Hurry. then, You must hurry
l she cried. Bring him. and a docto
il you can Go, and oh. be quickrr
Turning she ran out. leaving tn
man called Jim gazing after her. Will
l the other man started on a run for tn
town.
fG-psf-prS! The engine wa
still g)ing- Some of the bolts ha.
held. RouHd-pound-poEHd! Tn
cog-wheel still had plenty OF work 4
do; and the walking-beam was comm,
and going on its long sweep. as sh
entered n engine-room With eau
tious footsteps she approached tn