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

gled path shc was following and looked
down the passageway along the wheat
bins. A line Of beams led steward the
cleaning electric light at the farther end,
and to tho right vast gaping spaces reached
into the biackness far below. Above the
locomotives Juggling, as 1t pulled thu
loaded cars into place for the next
dump" could DO heard the rumble OF the
mills machiHery.
| Annie hurried along the narrow path.
way-the very one on which she had met
Mr. Griswold when he spoke to her about
the consequences Of being caught under
the shower Of wheat. Below, some &c
feet, was another line Of planks leading
past the bins, into which, level with the
planks, doors opened. These wero for con
venience i'll inspecting the condition Of the
grain.
On this platform, his body bent as he
peered into the vast bin at his side. was
the superintendent. She recognized his
light gray coat and russell shoes She
pushed on, intending when she had CONF
above him to call and warn him OF posi-
bic danger. The rope with which he had
moved tho lever to loosen tho contents OF
the last car hung at his side and was still
swinging from his touch. He was eyi-
IDENTIFY scenting the grain for u suspicion
| Of moldiness
Suddenly. before she was within hailing
| distance, though she was not far from q:
position directly above the superintendent
she saw black form shoot out from be-
| hind heavy upright timber directly DO
| hind him. The stranger sneaked toward!
the door of the bin into which part of his
intended victims body still protruded.
The lame girls heart almost stood still
| with fright. She sank to the narrow plat
form, and crouching there in the upper
darkness watched helplessly the struggle
going on below.
The stranger had leaped upon the su-
perintendent and was attempting to throw
him into the bin, but Mr.. Griswold fought
bravoly for his life. Once, twice, he wa;
almost a victor, but his assailant had him
at II disadvantage. Already his head and
shoulders Were hanging over the dark
abyss into which carload Of yellow wheat
had sunk and made no impression on tho
great space.
Chunk came a sound above her head
Annie realized, with u shudder, that AN
other car had been brought into position
over tho trapdoor and was ready to b.
dumped
The stranger below had almost overcome
the superintendent, and she saw tho scoun
drel glance sidewisv toward the ropo which
moved the lever.
Like Hash there came upon her for he
first time realization of what terribl.,
deed was intended. Tho body OF the super
intendent, hurled into the bin, would b.
covered with the flood of grain, and his
fate would DO unknown for days, and per
hap, for weeks and months
1t WAS but second now before tho end
would come. Already the assailant had
pushed off the superintendent s hands. and
she saw body and limbs disappear through
the narrow door. She could not hear the
5udy fall on the soft mass Of grain beneath,
but she knew it was there
The assassin tugged at the door. He
had nothing to do now but close and faston
u and pull the lever, and then thousands
Il bushels Of wheat would bury the un.
fortunate man as firmly and fatally as
though the car above should itself fall
into tho cavern.
Annie sprang to her feet and gazed
moment helplessly about her; then there
tliet her glance the long lever reaching out
over the bin. II it only could be held
If the trapdoor were kept closed, it would
Keep back the grain, and the superintend
at might bo saved
The stranger below had nearly closed
tiio thick door. In moment he would
pull the slender rope
She looked at tho lever A weight Oh
he end over the bin would prevent the
rap moving. There was but ono way
to accomplish it--she must hold it herself
On hands and knees she climbed to the
adge of the bin; then, reaching far out on
the pole which moved the door, she took II
firm grasp. A little tremble told her that
the door had boon closed by the stranger
md she fearlessly swung off
The slender pole bent and swayed with
her weight, and she shuddered lest tbs
lever should still work If it did, she
would be swept down into the abyss oven
which she hung helplessly, and the stream
of grain pouring upon her would mean
death to her as well as to the superintend
ent.
Her small, thin arms and hands were
weak. Already the muscles Of her wrists
were aching with the strain.
Twitch! went the lever. The assassin
vas jerking the rope. Again and again
she felt tho jerk, but still the 1.-the pole
did not rise with her enough to loosen the
trapdoor. Although the whole affair had
occupied but moment, it seemed to have
been hours. In an instant longer sho
must loosen her hold, and them
The man was evidently growing ifhpa.
tient, and she felt jerk of unusual power. |
There followed q cracking sound, the lever |
broke, and she was failing through the |
darkness, the broken piece of the lever
still in her hands.
AS soon as she realized anything further |
;ho was sliding down an inclined plano OF |
wheat, and mans voice, that of the SUI
perintendent, was saying something to her |
Ear above they could SEQ the CLEAN of |
the electric light streaming over tho edge |
Of the bin, with flour dust floating in it |
like NOTES in a sunbeam.
II saw him throw you in," sobbed the
child, and now they'll cover us both!'
mo, they WON'T answered tho super
intendent. 1.-THE trainmen will have to
fix the lever first, and they'll look about
to see what's the matter"
Presently the door through which he
had fallen was opened, and lantern was
swung in, followed in o moment by
a