Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-06-22
THE MILL SPRITE.

The great stone Touring mills of the
northwestern wheat region have littl.
about them to remind ono of tho modes,
structures that clatteringly turn into floul
the farmers grain III the country districts
farther east. There are no farmers driving
up to the door and unloading dusty sacks
IF yellow wheat while they chat with the
miller. Whole freight trains instead puff
their noisy way under massive archways
! into the building, and car after car is
emptiet in twinkling each one discharg
ing its load through a trapdoor in its floor
Then tho cars, having been almost as
quickly loaded with -four as they were
tnlptied of grain, arc pushed on through
another great stone archway and go forth
80 carry the product to eastern markets.
In the Perthton mill there was generally
ono onlooker AS tho trains unloaded who
took no part in the work Annie, tho lit
Ito crippled daughter of the janitor limped
up and down the platform, in and out Of
he mill as well rs her lalneness would al
low. Brakemon, engineers and shippers
all had IL pleasant word for her. "Tho
mill spritc, ono engineer of poetic turn
Of mind had called her, and she went by
know what tho phrase meant
About midsummer new superintend-
ant, Mr.. Griswold, came to the mill.
Aren't you afraid of being caught in
10 machinery" he asked one hot even
ing, when he found Annie perched on a
vide beam watching the wheat flow down
ward like golden river
NO. I've always lived in the mill and
20 everywhere, she answered.
might and day toos'
"Ies; it's prettier at night" she an
'wercd simply, and the superintendent
whose heart sometimes swelled with ad
niration when the great structure was
lighted with electricity agreed with her
lie stopped a moment to watch the
swinging lever which, at pull from an
assistants hand, pushed back the heavy
over to the deep bin and allowed carload
1f new wheat, fresh from the prairies, to
low like torrent into the receptacle
Twould be death to be under thui
,hower" Mr.. Griswold said half to himself
md passed on.
A few evenings afterward, when she
vas left alone by hcr father in the janitor's
lestlIke quarters in the front of the mill
Armies thoughts called up this remark Of
he superintendent about the stream Of
wheat. just then she heard low, rum.
bling sound in tho distance Another
rain of wheat was coming 1t would be
inloaded in tho night. She started for
no door to sec it roll past and glided out
dong dark wall toward tho tracks.
Just before she came to a corner she
ioard how voices from around. the turn
Two men were whispering hoarsely.
The last night Of the month always
rings it. you know" one said
Yes, but how can we git to It? TIL
watch will bu on -
THAT 3 all right I've been studying
he thing, an the superintendent is here
lone tonight. Tho office mon are sick. "
Tho rear of the train WAS coming nearer,
md the men raised their voices
He may show fight an ring In an
.larm," said the second speaker
NO danger, was tho reply 1t came
o sharply that it seemed to be Kissed in
he others ear. lit won't take more than
minute to settle him Wen Jest wait
Ill tn train is in, an
Whir, whizzl came the noisy freight
The engine threw out millions of sparks
IS it tugged up the incline, and all sounds
istinguishable until the long line of laden
ars had disappeared beneath the black
rch in tho wing Of the mill, and then
Annie heard again:
Don't get scared now tn work all
ight.' Then the voices ceased
Presently she peeped anxiously around
he corner. Nothing was visible now but
he silent, dark walls, with CLEANS of light
'oming through the scores of windows.
She wished her father was there and was
till more nervous when she remembered
hat he would not be back until midnight
She thought over the mems words, 1.-THE
asst night of the month";
The meaning had not struck her at first
Vow it occurred to her that they were talk
ng about the hundreds of dollars which
we're in the superintendent hands to paw
If the employees on the morning of the
irst Of the month. He was alone, as the
men had said. She knew that the force
vas small that night because of Illness
These men were going to rob Mr. Girls
void! She must go and warn him. But,
whatever they meant to do, it would hap
zen when the train was in And al
eady it had come to standstill on the
lump platforml
Annie seized her bonnet, to protect her
Grown hair from the flying -four, and, not
daring to go outside and attempt to climb
the long railway trestle in the darkness
turned through o small door into the
depths of the mill and started for the SUI
perintendent's Office.
Although she had often been in the mill
at night. it had seldom been in this direc-
ton, and her progress was somewhat un-
certain. Pulling back her dress from con-
tact with the mighty wheels, stepping over
shafts and limping along beams that con-
nected narrow platforms, she struggled on
in the hot and dusty half darkness. Once,
in her excitement, she lost her way, and
then, just as dull roar told that the first
car of wheat had been dumped, she found
it again. and in moment more was at
..he door of the superintendent office.
Impatiently she pounded on its panels.
There was no response. Strengthening her
poor little body to its greatest height, she
knocked again, and then with both thin
hands, tried the latch. 1t yielded, and the
heavy door swung slowly inward. She
glanced quickly around.
Mr. Griswold was not there. The doors
Of the safe in which the money was kept
were closed, and she reflected that the
small night force was probably assisting
in the unusual task of unloading the train