Semi-weekly independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-15


r any one called her heroine
- Why" she said in telling her
story. Il had to do it and was awfully
frightened"
But that's just the way with people
who do really brave acts-often they
don't seem TO know that they are he
rOcS.
Ella lives on little farm in WiScon-
sin. Her father bought the place only
last summer and took his family there
to make Il home. Everything was n
good repair except the we'll back of the
wOodshed. which had for some reason
run dry. So for the first month or two
Ella had to carry all the wafer used in
cooking from the Perkins house. across
the road. Mr.. Palmer kept saving that
he'd have to get after that well" ana
Ella wished from the bottom of her
heart that he would.
And one day be did. Shoyels and
spades and buckets were brought and
long rope was attached To the pulley
that squealed from the top of the oil
we'll house. When everything was
ready Mr.. Palmer took hold of The rope
with his hands and the hired man AM
Mrs. Palmer and Ella let him slowly
down between the messy curbingS
But Mr.. Palmer didn't know that the
well was already occupied. If he had
he would never have gone down. Fer
at the dry bottom lurked the shadowy
chOke-damp waiting TO strange out his
breath and smother him. Miners AMI
well-diggers all know the choke-damp.
Ii is Il deadly gas that gathers in low
places and man who sinks into it soon
sutfocatcs. Sometimes il expiodes.
blowing mine to pieces and killing
many persons. 1t is the terror of the
mines
Mr.. Palmer didn't know about the
chohe-damp until il had clapped its
damp hand over his mouth. And when
he tried TO shout his throat only CUR
gled. Then his fingers loOsened. slip
ped and down he went to the bottom in
heap. When the rope slackened Pete.
the hired man. and Mrs. Palmer and
Ella looked down and called. But
there was no answer. Then Pete sniff
ed and said something to Mrs. Palmer
that made her throw up her hands and
err out loud.
Cant papa get out: asked Ella with
bic eyes-for she didn't know the ways
| of the chOke-damp.
! The girls rudy face grew white and
she peered down into the we'll
NO" answered Pete.
I'm going down after him." she said.
And all they could do would not pre-
vent her. So Peter tied the rope around
her slim waist and gave her another
rope to take with her
"Ior yer breath an be quick" he
called, as Ella disappeared.
Down, down she went until she could
| feel the terror of the mines" at her
throat Then she shut her mouth tight.
kneeled at her fathers side and tied tie
rope about his body. And when it was
done she hardly had the strength to
give the signal 10 heave away Then
Pete and Mrs. Palmer pulled for their
lives and a limp and unconscious little
girl was swung to the top. Without
waiting to revive her they pulled on the
other rope and brought Mr.. Palmer up.
Ella soon opened her eyes, but it was
! long time after the doctor came and
Mrs. Palmer was almost hopeless that
Mr.. Palmer opened his. And when the
neighbors came and crowded around
fearful Ella and called her a brave girl.
and when Mr. Palmer patter her on hey
head and called her his little heroine.
Ella only said:
why. L had to do it, and 1 was aw-
fully frightened.
And to this day l don't believe Ella
knows that she is heroine