Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1891-12-31
A RACE AGAINST TIME.
BY JOHN H. WHITSON.

ION, waiter! Ple2Se, say mere
was a sound of pattering feet, and a
little GIRL darted from the dark corner
where she had been crouching.
It was New Years Eve. Walter Nor
ris had Just turned from the steps of a
beautifully lighted building from
which still foated sounds of merriment.
In one hand he held parcel contain
ing toys and sweetmeats, which he had
purchased at an uptown store earlier
in the evening. They were intended
for his sister, and the face of a large bis
que doll smiled amiably down on the
shabby, little girl at his sleeve.
ooh, it's you, Peggy p stopping in
answer to the piteous appeal, and de-
scending with difficulty from the beau
teous cloud-land in which his thoughts
were dwelling.
Then kindlier light came into his
eyes as he contrasted Peggy Nolan's
coarse garments with the pretty dresses
worn by the girls at the party. Girls
no older than Peggy, but whose feet
had been led into happier paths
with the chill of the icy blasts that
swept the streets, quite banished the
the happy laughter, the flower scented
air. the music and the gayety Of the
evening.
81 knew you were in there" she
painted owe been waiting for you
ever so long. Father wants you to
come to our house just as quick as you
can"
The clock in the tower of the city hall
was tolling the hour of II.
- ~. i
Nv, thinking OF the cold walk to and
should have been at home long before.
"'What does he want? He isn't hurt, is
he?"
Hes hurt his ankle; but it isn't
that. Oh, you must come | can't tell
you what; but it's something terrible ~
Jack Nolan had been a Woodworking
employe Of the Phoenix Iron Company.
He was no longer; for a few weeks be-
fore there had been strike, and Jack
had cast his interests in with those of
his fellow workmen. Some riOting had
been INDUCED in by the more ignorant
of the strikers; men who could not be
made to see that their cause must be in
.iured rather than helped by deeds of
violence. Jack, however, had never
encouraged these anarchlstic tenden-
cies.
ooh, do please come - Peggy con-
tinued, seeing that Walter stood irreso-
lutte; and the appeal was so imperative
as we'll as touching, that the boy turned
and walked rapidly with her in the di-
rection OF the Nolan cottage, which Was
but short distance away.
On reaching the house ne pushed OPP
en- the door without waiting for an invi-
tation to enter, knowing we'll that Jack
1UoC olona for parrxy Woo 40 solo o+Io,
member of the family.
a coal oil lamp was burning feebly on
She table, casting its faint rays Oh the
bed where Nolan lay, and by contrast
pIunging the remainder of the room in
to blacklist shadow.
''Ah you have come ?'' said Jack,
half rising, while a pleased look, that
was also eager and intense, sat on his
face. u thought you would if Peggy
could only find you. [ told her to
search for you until halfpast IL;
and if she didn't come across you by
that time to go straight to the nearest
police"
A spasm Of pain distorted his feat
ures and stopped his voice.
Its this way" he went on, almost
INSTANTLY, as if he had message that
demanded urgent haste in its delivery.
1--we twisted my ankle badly or broke
1t, l don't know which. [ found out on
" an hour ago that there's plot to
wreck the works. | was coming from
meeting of the men and overheard
talk which gave me a fair idea of every
thing. The Bronson boys and Tom
Deal are the ones who have set 1t on
foot"
He stopped again because of the pain
IN his swollen ankle, and Walters ex-
cited imagination wrought out the deed
the words foreshadowed: The tolling of
the great clock, the ringing of the
church bells, with all the multudinous
Sounds that ordinarily welcome in the
New Year; and these drowned by the
rending boom and crash of the great ex-
plosion.
''Why didn't you notify the police at
once?" he queried. ..-
''The Bronsons have families, Walter;
and Tom Deal has little girl just like
any Peggy / know they ought to be
punished but / couldn't make up my
mind to bring sorrow on the innocent.
started for the mill, knowing l could
reach it in time to stop the clock that is
to set off the powder. thought by do
ing that the men would be saved from
this crime, and their families saved
from the shame and punishment Of it.
In running | stumbled and hurt my
ankle, and could then only drag myself
home and send Peggy for you. But the
thing can be done, Walter, though you
haven't much time to lose now !"
The boys face blanched as he fully
comprenended the nature of the work
Nolan wished him to undertake
You want me to go?" he asked,
TREMENDOUSLY.
II thought you might" said Jack,
81 look Of anxious pleading in his eyes.
eff you go right now you will have
plenty time and there will be no dam
ger. But you must go right now! It's
IL ;30"-looking at the little clock on the
stand-"but you can make it in ten min
utes, if you run ~
Peggy, as Walter had observed, was
giving her attention to the wonderful
bisque doll that peeped so enticing
from the parcel, though she occasional
ly turned about and listened quietly to
her fathers earnest words.