Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-01-08
HE HAD REAL GRIT


mischief, elsewhere, with bribe that in
two days he should see the picture of
himself as ''Good Temper" complete.
Then Cressy squared his shoulders,
walked straight to the hammock where
Nellie Needham lay and gave her an
opportunity to utter the negative which
she had been secretly rehearing.
"You know we'll what I have 10 tell
you, Nellie" he said "My life, love
you! I reverence the very breath you
breathe! Can you condescend to think
of me for a husband?"
She had known her second cousin
Bryen Cressy, for exactly two weeks,
during which time he had been a CUES
in her fathers country home. Those
two weeks had been sufficient to give
her an implit belief in his truth. Still
she resolutely hardened her heart, which
was usually as soft as jelly, setting her
self to keep her previous resolution.
"Forgive me, Byron" she answered.
81 think it an honor that you should
care for me, but must say no to you.
You are not. exactly the sort of man
whom l would wish to marry"
"Miss Nellie" cried an excited voice
close to her hammock, the voice of De-
liza, coIored servant, in woeful terror.
4'Miss Nellie, sure as you're alive, the
ground near that old pump in the back
yard has broke down at last, and that
chile Rob has fallen clear into the black
wellp
The scene which greeted them w-.en
they reached the back yard mournfullY
bnfirmed Delia's words. In one cor
ner of this enclosure was an ancient
pump, which had long been neglected,
because the pavement around it was
Judged insecure. But heavy stone
trough, fixed under its mouth, from
which cattle had formerly drunk, had
not been removed. A barricade of mar
row planks foot or so apar. had been
erected round the dangerous spot.
Rob Needham had been driven from
the society of his sister Nell And in
his present mood of mischief that tim
Der barricade offered no obstacle to him.
He cunningly wriggled his body be-
tween the planks and started to work at
the rusty, stiff pump handle.
Under the boys weight as he worked
a portion of the treacherous pavement
gave way. Down it went and Rob
with it into the dark shaft of the pump.
Not into the well. Della was wrong
there. The child's fall had been stopped
by two planks placed across each other
in the shaft, about midway between the
black depths of water and the surface.
To these he chung, bruised and dizzy.
Della had evidently carried her news
far and wide before she startled the
pair in the orchard, for Nellie saw that
the ward was half filled with men. One
dread was on every tongue. The pave
ment near the trough had not yet given
way. But if it did,
THAT would simply mean goodby
child" said member of the throng sor-
rowfulIy.
Suddenly amid the babbIe a voice
spoke out sharply and with command.
1--WE can't stir that trough" said the
artist. awe daren't try it. But we may
get ropes through the rings before we
attempt to lower the ladder"
The strongest hemp at hand was pass
ed through solid rings attached to the
great stone vessel and held by two or
three of the abIest men. A ladder was
lowered. Now came the desperate mo-
ment.
Rob's cries had been gradually grow
ing fainter. Byron shouted TO him. out
could not distinguish his reply. 1t was
evident that the boy was beyond making
any effort to free himself from the ruo'
bish that had fallen with him.
Men who in an ordinary brawI or RIOT
were daredevils enough eyed that crum-
bling pavement, pictured the black
depths of the we'll beneath and sneakeo
aside.
One alone stood pale at the top OF the
ladder. For an instant only his dark
eyes-which Nell had called dreamy
and womanish-looked at the men with
the ropes, like fires of appeal /
@Boys." he said, "you'll keep hold OF
the trough"
"By our souls we will !" came chorus
in answer.
Then Cressy, the hero of unheroic
vanished from their sign
down the insecure ladder amid another
shower of stones and clay
.i....as nassed slowly-tor- |