The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1896-08-14
THE MILL SPRITE.
BY omAnLEs N. uARoEn.

STRUCTURES that clatteringly turn into
,floir the farmers grain in the country
districts farther east. There are no
farmers driving up to the door and nm
loading dusty sacks Of yellow wheat
while they chat with hemiller. Whole
freight trains instead, puff their noisy
way under the massive archways into
the building and car after ear is
emPtied' in n twinlzling, each one dis
charging its load through q trap-door
in its floor. Then the cars, having been
almost as quickly loaded w;th flour as
they were emptied of grain, are pushed
on through another great stone arch
way, and go forth to carry the product
to eastern markets.
III the Perthton milltbere was general
" one onloolier as the trains unloaded
who took no part in the work Annie,
the little crippled daughter of the iani-
tor, limpcd up and down the platform,
in and out OF the mill, as well as her
lameness would allow. Brakemen, en-
gineers ard shippers all had a pleasant
word for her. 1.-THE mill-sprite,' one
engineer Of a poetic turn of mind had
called her; and she went by that name,
even among those who did not know
what the phrase meant.
About midsummer a new superin-
tendent Mr. Griswold, came to the mill.
Aren't you afraid of being caught
in the machinery" he asked one hot
evening, when he found Annie perched
on wide beam watching the wheat
flow downward like golden river.
mo; I've always lived in the mill,
and go everywhere" she answered.
might and day, too?"
eyes, it's pretticr at night" she an
severed, simply; and the superintendent,
whose heart sometimes swelled with adj
miration when the great structure was
lighted with electricity, agreed with
her.
He stopped a moment to watch the
swinging lever which, at pull from an
assistants hand, pushed back the heavy
cover to the deep bin, and allowed a car
load Of new wheat, fresh from the
prairies, to flow like a torrent into the |
receptacle.
'Twould be death to be under that |
shower" Alr. Griswold said, half to him
self, and passed on.
A few evenings afterward, when she |
was left alone by her father in the jani-
tors nest-lile quarters in the trent Of
the mill, Armies thoughts called W
this remark of the superintendent
about the stream of wheat just theH
she heard low, rumbling sound in the
distance. Another train OF wheat was
coming. 1t would be unloaded in the
night. She started for the door to see
It roll past, and glide out along dark
wall toward the tracks.
just Before she came to a,corner she
heard low voices from around the turn.
kwo men were whispering hoarsely.
The last night of the month always
brings it, you Know" one said.
Yes, but how can we get it? TIL
watch win be on"
That's all right. I've been studying
he thing, an the superintendent is
lere alone tonight. The Office men are
icl."
The roar of the train was coming
learer, and the men raised their voices.
''IIe may show fight an ring in an
larm,' said the second speaker.
mo danger" was the reply. 1t came
o sharply that it seemed to be Kissed
a the others car. "It won't take more
han minute to settle him. Wen jest
-ait till tn train is in, an"
"Whir! wbizzl came the noisy freight.
he engine threw out millions Of sparks
S it tuEgpd up the incline, and all
oCnds hut its roar were drowned
othing was distinguishaGle untl the ,
ing lire of laden cars had disappeared
cneath the black arch in the wing OF
nc mill, and then Annie heard again:
Don't get scared now-it'il work all
ght." Then the voices ceased.
Presently she pcepod anXiously 6
'ound the corner. Nothing was Wis .
lie now but the silent, dark walls, with =
eams of light coming through the ;.
.ores of windows. +
These men were going to rob Mr.
riswold! She must go and warn him. "
ut whatever they meant to do, it would "
lppcn "when the train was in And
ready it had comesto a standstill on v
e dump platform. s.
Annie seized her bonnet, to protect d
r brown hair from the flying hcuI. Il
ID not daring to go outside and al fl
mpt to climb the long railway trestt s,
the darkness, turned throug.iG small 81
or into the depths of the mill and a.
lrted for the superintcndcnts Office
Mr.. Griswold was not there. The p;
ors of the safe in which the money pt
IS Kept were closed, and she reflected Sc
at the small night force was prob "a
ly assisting in the unusual task OF un. pi
lding TIE train at that hour.
1ut,of the Office she hurried, and tax IL
: tie upper floor because she knew pl
wfdings better, and there were few OF
bc1ts and SHIFTS. she turned in tho til