The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1892-03-10


on the outside of the iron door, put the
key in his pocket, and entered the
dark tunnel Before he had entered,
the bookkeeper had gone away.
He found that the shovel had been
left at the farther end of the passage,
and it was quarter of an hour before
he could get it and return to the en-
trance.
When he returned to the door, he
found. to his horror, that it had been
closed and locked. He shouted and
beat upon the door, but no answer
came. Then he stood in silence, hard
ly knowing what to do.
Who had shut the door? AS he pom
dered upon it he came to the conclu-
sion that the superintendent had not
left the works when the bookkeeper
supposed; that he had been in some
other part of the bull dings and, return
ing to the neighborhood of the tunnel
door, had found it open. Then, sup
posing that the workmen had forgot
ten to close it, the superintendent had
shut and locked it, without suspecting
that any one was within.
Harry pounded upon the door again,
hoping that the superintendent was
not far away. But no response came.
No one was within hearing: His key
was useless, for the door could only be
opened from the outside.
He sat down and pondered again.
What would happen? He knew that
within a short time after the clearing
of the tunnel the furnaces We're fired
up" again; and, as soon as the fires
were started, he would be suffocated
by the smoke and gases, and would die
dreadful death.
The thought filled him with alarm.
Again and again he beat upon the door
with the shovel, but no one came to
his assistance. Could he climb down
through one of the furnaces and es-
cape that way before the fires were
lighted?
No; he knew we'll enough that the
way toward the furnaces was barred
by huge iron CRATE that extended
across the tunnel. Nevertheless, he
rushed to the gratings as if hoping that
by some accident there might be pas
sage way.
The gratings were impossible, of
course! He knelt upon them, his
lighted lamp in his hand. peering
down into the darkness below, and
wondering if he could make the fire
men hear through the fues by shout
ing. He called again and again. 1t was
quite useless; the distance was too
great and the fues did not readily
convey the sound.
AS he knelt there he fanciea that he
smelled smoke. Could it be from his
lamp? Certainly not 1t was the smell
of burning wood, which now came dis
tinctly to his nostrils. The fires were
already being lighted.
Harry turned and walked up the tun-
mel, 1t was useless to hurry. He was
in a trap and must be suffocated in a
few minutes.
AS he walked along, he suddenly re-
membered that within the chimney
there was an iron ladder, running tC
the top, which had been placed there
by the builders to afford a footing fo1
the men who cleaned out the chimney.
Why could he not climb the ladder and
reach the outside in that way? 1t was
long distance to climb, but it was his
only way out
He ran now as fast as he could The
smell of the smoke grew stronger anC
stronger He knew that if the smoke
did not come too fast, he could climb tc
the top of the ladder; but how was he
to get down? Never mind about thai
now, he thought; he would rather be
dashed to pieces on the ground below
the chimney, than suffocated in this
horrible tunnel. Besides, he coulC
call for help if he once reached the tor
of the chimney.
Soon he gained the foot of the ladder
and placing the lamp in his hat begar
the ascent. Already the white smoke
was beginning to fill the chimney. He
must climb for his life. The clouds O.
smoke grew thicker and thicker bou
him as he made his way desperately
up the slender ladder. With every stel
his breathing became more difficult
Could he hold out till he reached the
top?
Half stifled. with sickening, dizzy
feeling stealing over him, he at las
.
reached the top of the chimney anC
drew himself up upon its rim. Bend
ing quickly over the side, he managed
to get breath of fresh air. That re
vived him. He glanced hastily about
Darkness was fast settling over thu
hill, but there was still light enough tt
show him that no one was in sight.
Far below in the valley he saw tn
red lights cleaning from the opel
doors of the smelling works, and nov
and then caught the dark forms of thu
workmen, but he knew they were be
yond the sound of his voice 1t wa
) almost useless to expect help.
Looking downwards, he saw wha
might be a means of escape. Severa
feet below him were the large stay
wires that held the great chimney il
place. If he could get down to thes
wires he might slip to the ground
But how could he be certain that if h
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