The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-12-26
A RACE AGAINST TIME.
BY JOHN III. WHITSON.


where she had been crouching.
1t was New Years Eve. Walter Nor
ris had Just turned from the steps of a
beautifully lighted building from
which still floated 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 large bis
que doll smiled amiably down on the
shabby, little girl at his sleeve.
ooh, it's you, Peggy ?'' 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 !.
And the pain in her face, combined
with the chill of the icy blasts that
swept the streets, quite banished the
the happy laughter, the iiower-scented
air. the music and the gayety of the
evening.
81 knew you were in there" she
painted ''I've 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 IL.
cts So late" said Walter, hesitating-
ly, thinking of the cold walk to and
from Jack Nolan's, and knowing he
should have been at home long before.
"What does he want? He isn't hurt, is
he"
He's 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 Woodworking
employe of the Phrnix Iron Company.
He was no longer; for a few weeks be-
fore there had been a strike, and Jack
had cast his interests in with those Of
been INDUCED III by the more ignorant
of the strikers; men who could not be
made TO see that their cause must be in
jured rather than helped by deeds of
violence. Jack, however, had never
encouraged these anarchistir tenden-
cies.
"Oh, do please come ~ Peggy con-
tinued seeing that Walter stood irreso-
lutte; and the appeal was SO imperative
as well as touching, that the boy turned
and walked rapidly with her in the di-
rection OF the Nolan cottage, which was
but a short distance away
On reaching the house ne pushed OPP
en- the door without waiting for an invl-
tatlon to enter, knowing we'll that Jack
was alone, for Peggy was the sole other
member of the family.
a coal oil lamp was burning feebly on
the table, casting its faint rays on the
bed where Nolan lay, and by contrast
plunglng 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. 81 thought you would if Peggy
could only find you. | told her to
search for you until halfpast II;
and if she didn't come across you bv
that time to 90 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
i've twisted my ankle badly or broke
1t, | don't know which. | found out on
~ an hour ago that there's plot to
wreck the works. | was coming from a
meeting of the men and overheard a
talk which gave me 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 "A little girl Just like
my Peggy L know they ought to be
punished, but | couldn't make up nv
mind to bring sorrow on the innocent.
| started for the mill, knowing | could
reach 1t 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. Butt
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.
~ GU want me to go >" he asked.
TREMENDOUSLY.
II thought you might" said Jack,
a look of anxious pleading in his eyes.
:" III you go right now you will have
plenty of time and there will be no dam
ger. But you must go right now Its
ll:O'-looking at the little clock on the
stand-''but YOU can make tin ten min
utes, if you run ~
Peggy, as Walter had observed, was
giving her attention to the wonderful
bisque doll that peeped so entClng
from the parcel, though she occasional
lv turned about and listened quietly to
her fathers earnest words.
Il shan't insist on your going" Nolan
continued. II fancicd YOU might think
of it lust as | do. Whatever YOU do.
though, has got to be done at once. If
YOU don't want to attempt it, or think
there's a risk, go to the nearest police
man and tell him Just what I've told
you"
Thoughts of the sorrow and misery in
10 which the families of the guilty men
would be plunged should he choose the
latter course, intruded on Walter with
strong persistence. He knew these
families and knew that their cups of BIT
terness We're already full.
''l'll take the risk" he declared.
simply. play with the doll as much as
you like, Peggy, while I'm gone. 1t
may be you can have one like it to-
morrow"
He opened the door. and without an
other word plunged into the icy air of
the street. As be turned the corner he
looked at the face of the clock in the
tower of the city hall Nolan's clock
was wrong 1t wanted but twenty min
utes ill l.. Twenty minutes What if
something should happen to delay him?
The mill was many blocks distant; and
there were no cars running in that part
of the city.