The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-03-11

.vt Tar away. But no response came
No one was within hearing. liz key
was useless. for the door could only be
4 pened from the outside.
lie sat down and pondercd again
What would happen? lie knew that
within short time after the clearing
of the tunnel the furnaces were fired
up again and, a. soon as the fires
We're stared. he would be suffocated
by the smoke and gases, and would die
| q dreadful death.
The thought filed him with alarm.
Again and again h- beat upon the door
with the shovel, but no one came 10
lbs assistance. Could he climb down
through one OF The furnaces and cs-
cape that way before the fires were
lighted?
No; lac knew we'll enough that the
why toward the furnaces was barred
by a huge iron CRATE that extended
across the tunnel. Nevertheless. he
rushed 70 the gratings as II hoping that
by some accident there might be pas
sage way
The gratings were impossible, OF
course! lie knelt upon them. his
lighted lamp in his hand, pccring
down into the darkness below, and
wondering IL he could make the fire.
men hear through the fucs by shout.
ing, lie called again and again. 1t was
quite useless; the distance was too
great. and the nues did not readily
convey the sound
As he knelt there lie fancicd that he
smcllcd smoke. Could II be from his
lamp? Certainly not It was the smell
Of burning wood, which nov came dis
tinctly to bis nostrils. The fires were
already being lighted.
Harry turned and walked up the tun-
mel. IL was useless TO hurry. lie was
in trap and must be suffocatcd in a
few minutes.
AS he walked along, he suddcnly re-
membered that within the chimney
there was an iron ladder, running to
the top, which had been placed there
by the builders to afford footing for
the men who cleaned out the chimney.
Why could he not climb the ladder and
reach the outside in that way: Ii was
long distance to climb. but II was his
only way out.
lie ran now as fast as he could. The
smell of the smoke grew stronger and
stronger. lie knew that IL the smoke
did not come too fast, he could climb to
the top Of the ladder; but how was he
TO get down? Never mind about that
now. he thought; he would rather be
dashed to pieces on the ground below
the chimney. than suffocatcd in this
horrible tunnel. Besides, he could
call for help IL he once reached the top
of the chimney.
Soon he gained the foot Of the ladder,
and placing the lamp in his hat began
the ascent Already the white smoke
was beg ginning to fill the chimney lie
must climb for his life. The clouds Of
smoke grew thicker and thicker about
him as he rnadc his way desperately
mp the slender ladder. With every step
his breathing became more difficult
Could he hold out till he reached the
top?
Half stned. with a sichcning, dizzy
feeling stealing over him. he at last
reached the top Of the chimney and
drew himself mp upon its rim. Bend
ing quickly over the side, he managed
to get a breath Of fresh air. That re-
vived him lie glanced hastily about
Darkness was fast settling over the
Hill. but there was still light enough to
show him that no one was in sight.
Far below in the valley he saw the
red lights cleaning from the open
doors Of the smelling works, and now
and then caught the dark forms Of the
workmen, but he knew they were be-
yond the sound Of his voice. 1t was
almost useless toexpect help.
Looking downwards, he saw what
might be means of escape. Several
feet below him were the large stay
wires that held the great chimney in
place. II he could get down to these
wires he might slip to the ground.
but how could he be certain that II he
dropped he could catch one Of the
wires? 1.-The missed II he would go TO
the ground. seventy-iive feet be ow,
and be dashed to pieces
II would be better TO remain pcrched
upon the edge Of the chimney and try
to keep his head cut Of the volume Of
smoke until help should coma But
the smoke, growing denscr every mo-
mcnt, swirlcd about the top Of the
chimney. now and then completely en-.
vcloping him.
lie knew that now the smoke was
only that which came from the burn
ing wood. but the charges Of ore would
soon be placed in the furnaces. and
then the poisonous gas which would
rise must render his situation ten
times more periloua.
He looked down once more in the
hope Of seeing some one whom he
might summon 70 his assistance. He
saw only the bare waste Of the desc
late hill. lut. CHANGING down into the
little valley tow ards the town, he
presently discerned the forms Of two
men walking in the direction Of the
furnaces. II they should look up they
must have him in view. lie shouted
to them, with all the strength he
could command, again and again. But
the men cont inucd their course down
the valley
Harry was a brave boy, but his heart
sank as he realized that his last chance
OF escape wns passing Suddenly he
...,,va,v, l,srad 4ha 1umn which he had