The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-01-27

globe 1t was 45H feet. The walk works
out, as nearly as need be, 30 yards per
minute, one mile per hour, "a miles
per day, 16s miles per week. Third,
he had to carry about three tons OF
bullion In 10000 installments in one
week.
"The eventful day arrived and lit
tie before ten we were all assembled
in the gymnasium. Schmidt was
dressed in fiannels and wore light and
easy-fitting slippers. Promptly at ten
o'clock Prudden, nfter wishing
Schmidt success, handed the referee
the key which released the spring and
set the machinery in motion, and the
silver began to flow.
For five days and nights Schmidt's
very exceptional athletic ability and
his splendid condition enabled him to
stand the strain without it having very
much apparent effect upon him. On
the sixth day we noticed that the
deadly, dreary monotony was fast tell
ing its tale. He spoke but rarely,
but on one occasion burst out with:
"'This is an invention of the evil one
himself, but il live will defeat him.
Do anything TO keep me awake.
Twelve hours TO go and the last act
of the drama was commenced. He
struggled on, but was dragging badly
as he walked from globe to globe. His
pace had degenerated into a crawl OF
less than two miles per hour, and again
and again he hung up the pail just in
the nick of time. He was slowly falling
asleep as he walked, and IL there was
not soon change all would be over.
"Prudden was profoundly satisfied
that the feat would not be accomplished
and huge grin irradiated his face from
ear to ear.
miller shouted at him: Get on,
Schmidt! Prudden's grinning all over
at you'll He thinks you're done forl
Look at him
"The change was electrical. What the
coffee and tea had failed TO do the mere
idea of being ridiculed accomplished
He pulled himself together and helped
himself to some grapes, and, as he went
along, renewed his strength.
"The time dragged slowly on. When
but six hours TO go he asked for the
temperature 10 be reduced and said "a
me: I'm afraid, old chap. I'm soon up
feel il coming on, but keep me at IL II
you can. One of my eyes is already
closed and / cannot open II. IL the
other closes it'll be for good, as have
no muscular power left to open them
My legs are all right, but / cannot keep
my eyelids from closing. Schmidt kept
bravely on. Two hours TO go. Then
only one.
"'Fifty-five to go, Schmidt shouted
Miller; 81 to go, Schmidt
"But Schmidt was going wrong
again. We dosed him with tea and cot.
fee and brandy. We were--everybody
except William-mad with excitement
He hadn't enough energy left TO have
any feeling whatever. Forty-five min
untes only, and 100000 at stake.
For heavens sake, end il now,
cried Miller, and cry quits at half the
money
"'Not now cried Prudden, all OF
nothing!'
Schmidt laughed mirthlessly.
'IIa! ha! I'm going crazy and Prud-
den will keep his money What beauti-
full silver serpents are crawling about
What pretty present one of them
would make for my sweetheart
"'Never mind theml' / shouted
they'll all be yours in half an hour!
Keep awake, man, keep awake!' and
mechanically few more journeys were
covered. But n total collapse seemed
imminent.
Thirty to go and he wanted to water
his palms with silver from his pail, and
was dissuaded i'm the very nick of time
The tension was becoming unbearable
Poor Schmidt's mind was unhinged for
the time, he babbled nursery rhymes
and sang snatches of songs, and yet
as il actuated by Providence, with
many halt and stumble he still strug.
gled on.
Twelve to go, both eyes closed and
he reeled with sleep. We dosed him with
brandy; we shouted and implored him
TO keep at it with his eyes shut.
"The end was very near, and, believe
me, like a blind man he felt his way
across the lineoleum track and back II
weary times and put up his pail for the
last load. Pulling himself together for
n final effort, he walked straight across
the pathway, emptied II, returned
hung the pail up on the spigot of the
now empty globe, and the game was
played out and the prize won.
"Cheer after cheer was given by us
but they fell on deaf ears. Prudden had
gone off in a dead faint when he saw
the impossible made possible. and the
hero, his task completed, had calmly
gone to sleep, leaning against the
empty globe" - Saltwater Mimi
Prison Mirror.