The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-12-17

81 SsN 4L;,,4r
IEs:aa ofage, I had gained
my masters entire confidence, and /
think may add affection and respect,
considering that at theend of theyear
was to be married to his only daugh-
ter, Annie, and taken into partnership.
All who know anything about the
manufacture OF gunpowder are aware
that it is attended with the greatest
peril, and Notwithstanding the fact
that constant familiarity with danger
renders the men employed in the mills
indifferent almost to carelessness, g.
narrow escape from sudden and aw-
ful death will from time to time force
their position upon them, and even
the most thoughtless must feel upon
how slight a tenure they hold their
lives.
One evening, at the beginning OF
October, having seen all the hands,
with the exception of the night
Waterman, leave the works, I locked
up the office, and started at a brisk
pace towards Mr.. Cart wright's
g house, which WAS about quarter of
a mile distant. Early in the alter
noon I had seen Annie and her
father ride away into the country to-
gether, and had promised to 60 out
and meet them directly after the
mills were closed. [ knew that
should find horse ready saddled for
me when | reached the house, and I
was in a hurry to get out of the neigh
bOrhood Of the works.
But as | was quickly passing
strongy-buiit stone shed, which
stood some three hundred yards
away from all the other buildings, q
sudden thought brought me to q
pause, and | opened the door and
looked in to see if the Waterman had
been posted. | could scarcely see in
the dusk, and when I called loudly no
voice answered. [ entered the build
ing and shouted again, but all was
silent. l began to feel anxious and a
little angry, for I could not leave the
place unprotected, and I grudged the
few minutes | should lose in going
back to the mills for another watch
man.
A few days before Mr. Cartwright
had received an order for 200 ID. Of
powder, which was to be packed in
barrels OF a particular size and sent
to Portsmouth by a certain date. I
had myself seen to the execution of
this order, and it was just ready to be
despatched when we received tele-
gram asking us to hold the goods till
further notice. Not wishing the pow
der to be returned to the magazine, 1
had ordered it to be placed in the
stone shed OF which I am speaking,
and had given strict injunctions that
Waterman was to be posted there
at night.
My orders had evidently been neg
lected unless, indeed, the Waterman
had made himself comfortable in tho
loft above. Thinking it worth while
to make sure before returned to the
works, l CROPPED my way amongst the
barrels until l reached the ladder, by
which l mounted to the loft, and,
throwing back the trap-door, I again
called out loudly. But there was no
answer, and when had reached the
floor l could see by the grey light
which filtered through some small
holes in the roof that the place was
empty save for some trusses of straw
piled in one corner.
| was on the point OF descending
when I heard a slight sound below,
and, glancing down, I could just dis
tlngulsh the figure OF aman approach.
ing the ladder.
thought I.
He was evidently coming up into
the loft, so | would give him a surprise,
and possibly teach him a lesson he
would not quickly forget. Quick as
thought and with O. smile of inward
satisfaction, | darted behind the
straw and waited.
Icould plainly hear the heavy foot
steps upon the rungs of the ladder,
and the next moment q head appear
ed through the hole in the floor.
Not the Waterman after all!
could see that directly, for that
shock OF red hair, and that pale,
cadaverous face lit up with it's wild,
wide open eyes, could only belong to
Mad Jake-the "old man." general
messenger, and hanger-on of the
works.
obhO OSiColI w cbIo a. 81 cCGU OVSISEOWIl,
witless country boy, who was called
''mad," not SO much from having
shown any violent symptoms of in
sanity as from his incurable stupidity
and the general eccentricity OF his
character. For my own part I had
long suspected that his nickname was
only to appropriate, besides which I
more than doubted his honesty, and
had often spoken to Mr.. Cartwright
as to the advisability of putting him
under restraint. But the old gentle
man would not hear of it. He
said he did not believe in the boys
madness-he was only poor, simple
fellow; and as his father had been kill
ed on the works, it was only right
that he should have easy employ
ment.
was by no means convinced; and
as several small sums of money had
been mysteriously lost at the Office,
had for some time watched the boys
movements. When. therefore saw
him cautiously enter the loft, I decid-
ed to remain concealed, and see what
he was after
He came towards the cOrnerin which
was hiding, and for @ moment l
thought he would discover me; but