Semi-weekly independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-22

- Burritt.
"Of course we can. We know eX-
actly how TO do it,
$50 s'pose so l s'pose," said Uncle
Burritt, as if his doubt of the ability
of the boy and girl who stood before
him to manage the big wheat elevator
was wholly unfounded.
'I'll be back as soOn's / can," he con-
tinued, IAN if the Nancy Bell steams UP
fore | get back you tell the cap'n to
hitch and lay alongside"
''Oh, l can open the chutes," said
Matt. eagerly.
''Of course he can," chimed Laura.
Better wait till yer old uncle gets
back; he won't be long comm"
And Uncle Burritt, having shaken
the wheat dust off his coat and combed
back his hair before the cracked mir
rOr, seated himself in his blackboard
and ratified up the road.
Matt, who was Is years old. drew
himself up on the high stool in the of
flee with some dignity. 1t was the
first time he had ever been left in
importance of his position.
His sister Laura, who was Is. peered
out of the little window and wished
something exciting would happen.
And hardly had she wished when
something did happen. The Nancy
Bell began TO toot down the river.
Matt, there comes the Nancy" cried
Laura.
moment later a huge side-wheel
river steamer came splashing around
the bend and drew up under the rocky
bank. on the top Of which perched the
elevator. The office where Matt and
Laura were sitting was a hundred
yards away. at the edge of the hill
road. Here the farmers sold their
wheat, which was emptied into a car,
weighed and trundled along a tram
way that ran on Il trestlework into the
top of the elevator, where the wheat
was dumped into one of the various
bins. At tie bottom of the tall build
ing a number of chutes led out over
the water, and when open the wheat
from the elevator poured through
them into the steamboat below
''Hey, there" called the captain of
the Nancy Bell. putting up the steep
bank, ARE you ready to let us have that
No. L."
Were all ready. only uncle isn't
mere yet" answered Matt.
Cant you let her go?"
81 could
''But uncle wanted us to ask you TO
ay alongside until he came back"
completed Laura.
The gOOd-natured captain frowned.
''We won't get clear of Fishers bar
tonight, I'm afraid if we wait. You've
opened the chutes lots of times before -
he said. turning to Matt
"Oh, yes, 1 could do it all right. It's
10 trouble at all"
Matt made as if to go down to the
-ramway toward the elevator, but
Laura seized him by the arm
Uncle told us to wait" she said;
don't 60"
"Oh, he won't care" said Matt, i'm
patiently. I'm no baby"
TIien he pulled himself away and
AN along the tramway,
Get your men ready" he shouted 70
he captain, ''the wheats coming"
Mats heart thrObbed with excite
nent- He felt that he had suddenly at
aimed to the dignity of manhood.
He reached the deep bin where the
No. 1 wheat was kept and clambered
rom the tramway down the little lad
Ter to the hook which controlled the
.hute. He knew that when he opened
the thousands of bushels of wheat in
he bin would go swirling slowly down
through the chute into the steamboat
"Are they ready, Laura 2" he called
"Oh, don't, Matt" answered the girl
"Are they ready, say?" called Matt
his time angrily.
Laura signalled to the captain with
Ter hand, as she had often done be.
ore
Ready came the answer
"Ready," repeated Laura
Matt pulled the peg and then. paus
ng a moment, pulled the other, and
he hook dropped with chug. He
ieard the grain swishing in the chutes
ar below. With the pegs in his lxand
ne started to climb the ladder that raj
Up the sides of the bin. Just at the
op one of the pegs slipped and fel
nto the wheat below
Matt threw the peg which he still
leld on the tramway and scrambled
Down the ladder. He didn't want Laura
% know about his carelessness, and he
knew well enough that the peg must
low be allowed to go down with the
4 wheat or it might choke up the chute.