River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-02-20


scarcely expected 1t for she was little
in advance of the usual time for leav-
ing work. She caught sight of Mr..
Graves, the mill owner, overlooking the
construction of some improvements in
the boom, and as she drew nearer could
SEQ that most of the force of workmen
were engaged there. Ben would not be
there for his duties lay in the lighter
work under Mr.. Graves direction or in
the Office.
Benz she said, looking into the
office
Hes not here" said a workman, call
ing good-naturedly to her from where
he was setting some machinery in order.
But guess you won't be long finding
him for / seen him come out o there not
Ave minutes ago"
Thank yOu." said Susan. II be-
lieye." she added to herself, feeling
more tired than she had before realized,
iii sit down here and rest a minute
and watch for Ben He can't be far
Of
Another man passed the door and, see
ing her, stopped.
Here" he said, giving her piece OF
folded paper, Ben gave me this and
made me promise I'D go round and give
il to you tonight But guess it'll dc
just as we'll now"
In surprise and dismay she opened the
paper; then sat for few moments in q
maze of despair.
"Dear Susy," It read, I'm going
away for a little while TO make a strike
for something better; and saying good
bye is such hard work that don't want
TO. You'll hear from me soon, and then
you'll say did best to go, though I'm
afraid you won't think SO now. Wait
till you see what I'm going to do for
you and you will know how love you,
so goodbye, dear Susy."
How long Ben's sister sat half-stupe
! fed by the terrible blow she never could
tell The sounds about the mill lessened
as all hands gathered for an effort Of
strength at the boom. 1t could not
however, have been many minutes be
| fore her eye, always quick TO observe
surrounding objects. took in, at frs
vaguely, thread of smoke which slow
/ IL curled up in a corner of the Office
Very thin it was, but growing thicker
with every moment
where there is smoke there must be
fire." said Susan, going toward it
What can it be? How would fire gel
here?'
No one ever knew that less than q
quarter of an hour before a match had
been flung by the careless hands OF jim
Slade as he stood at the Office door and
| lighted his pipe, while he waited fol-
Ben to join him. 1t had fallen upon Z
morsel of sawdust in which it had
smoldered, appearing at first to take bu'
little hold.
But it sometimes seems as though in
fiuences for mischief are carefully fos
tered by the hand which works evil
alone, for the glowing spark reached
from one to another grain of sawdust
growing stronger with every moment
The Office was only corner in the mil
rallied off by high balustrade of ligh
pine. Every thing was in an unfinished
state, and it CHANGED that a waste bask
ct of loose papers and pile of dry shaw
ings lay close to the hidden foe.
Into these it leaped Just as Susan ap
preached, and the dread fame flew VI
before her. With every sense called
into active play by the sudden emer
gency, the young girl sprang towards ;
hose connected with a force-pump fec
by a stream from high up the mountain
side. Ben had shown it to her with grea
| pride one day before Jim Slade came
dashing the water about and wettinI
her from head to foot, in displaying it
convenience for putting out fire, if fir
should come.
The hose was only a few steps from
her, and as she caught it in her han'
she fully expected to put out the fir
without difficulty, but in the same mo
ment it burst into fierce fame, BLAZING
far above her head. With loud erie
for help she ran out of the Office, still
with great presence of mind, holding o.
to the hose.
Those who know any thing about saw
mills will readily understand the dan
ger now imminent. The greater part o
the building was old, and every bean
and ledge covered with the fine drift
the combustible nature OF which form
a constant source of anxiety to mill
len. The needful precautions ha
been taken, but the hand which hai
been trusted to apply them had faile'
in the duty OF the moment just be
yOnd reach OF the flames Susan turned
She had the hose, but the cutoff at tn
pump was unturned. How could 1t b
turned when the fire was playing aroun
il? But how else could the mill b
saved? She threw her light shawl abou
her head. rushed back and turned tn
cut of But breath of the flame ha
reached her throat, and as she reache
the fresh air she sank down helples
and insensible.
Her work, however, was done, Strong
er hands than here seized the hose;
bucket brigade was instantly formed
and before Susan had opened her eye
under the ministrations of rough. kind
ly hands, the fire was out.
Ben and his friend had walked up tn
mountain above the mill, taking a shor
cut over 10 the town in which they ex
pected TO take the cars for the city. A
bend in the road Ben paused an
looked down at the mill.
''COme on" said Jim.
wait a minute" said Ben 81 ain
in any hurry. May be it IL be lon
time before l see it again"
He sat modify down, shaking o
Jim's hand as he would have urged hiI
forward.
"You amt gOin' to weaken down, ar
you?" asked Jim. with a half sheer.
mo, | amt" said Ben. impatiently
but wish l knew how Susy IL fec
about my going; and / feel rattle
sneaky about stealing of when Nj
Graves left me in charge of the office.
Nonsense. Come on" repeated jim
whats that noise?" said Ben, spring
ing to his feet Sharply upon the clea
air came the cry:
Fire! Fire!''
whats that" he exclaimed, lister
ing intently.
.Oh, come along" said Jim, ''you'v
left things here behind and what doe
il matter what tsp
But Ben still listened. his quick ca
tracing the sounds Of increasing conf
sion 10 the mill.
lit Is therer" Forgetting all els
. than that his mill was burning
dashed down the rough surface of tn
/ hill, picking his way among rocks. +;
, vines, logs and bushes Jim looked af
er him with face of anger and col
tempt. succeeded by an ugly smile
? Its just as well for me" he SAT-