The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-14
LOVE LEVELS ALL RANKS.

A1A&C RtGkG1 LET way s"Aoeb1 the great shop with its bewildering whirr of machinery and It's roaring fires-its flying sparks and dirt and dust and smoke. Now and again she stopped to watch some giant machine perform it's almost human work. The men. with their splendid muscles and perfect skill. interested Der intensely. But her companion Es distinctly bored. The grime and sweat ana dirt offended his aristocratic senses ana the noise jared upon his ears.
 What you can find interesting in this pandemonium I cannot imagine, he expostuiated. Tt is bad enough for those who have to be here and do the work, but to deliberately seek 1t when the sun is shining outside, the roads are hard and an auto in waiting. IS beyond me-"
 'Oh, Phiilip. cant you feel the thrill of seeing things done by real people ~ she replied. Just look at that man at the forge. See the great muscles stand out as he lifts the hammer! And see how skillfully he shapes the iron. The strength of giant. the delicate touch of wonan-it is grand.
 Well, I'm blessed if I can see it that way" rejoined the man. Far from seeming romantic it looks to me as though the fellow might as well be in prison as to be compelled to spend his time doing that kind of work. Of course I suppose they are used to this sort of labor and somebody has to do 1t, but I can't say care to see them at it-anyway on a fine day with fresh air and a lively spin awaiting me"
 Just a shadow of impatience crossed the girls face at this speech, but she laughed merrily and continued her way through the shop. It was lda's nrst visit to the great works of which her father was owner. She had been reared in the exclusive atmosphere Of wealth and Her vision had not reached much beyond the Baronnial Avenue mansion vassar, the boulevards, the theaters, the other baronnial mansions in "our set," and the Continental tour. or course she knew about the great mills, but heretofore to her they had been simply acres of gloomy smoking pris- ons from which there was wrested the money that. bought all the good things.
 On this pleasant day in the early autumn, wearied with the conventional round of pleasures and pastimes with which she surfeited and somewhat aroused by a novel she had been read ing, which dealt with the world of workers, she had determined to see the inside of those great smoky shops and find out just what was going on there and the manner of men who lived among them. Her father had laughed at her conceit, and as he had no time that day to go with her Phillip Ham mond acted as her escort. Phillip was her constant companion-her destined husband-the son of MT. Norton's life long friend, a successful banker.
 dt was but moment after. the con- versation recorded between Miss Nor ton and Mir. Hammond that an acci- dent occurred. A man directly ahead of the visitors. carrying heavy load on his shoulder, made a misstep fel, against a great leather belt. and was carried off his feet and upward with the belt. JAS he realized his danger he gave fearful shriek and his <yes met those of Miss Norton. The mortal terror in them burned into her very soul and she shrieked:
 Phillip, Phillip. save him!'
 She saw the wheel toward which the belt was dragging him and knew that he must be crushed. Phillip also saw the fearful danger, but stood as one paralyzed. He could have reached the man from where he was. but stood trembling with white face and horror stricken eyes.
 The attention of the entire shop had
 been attracted by the shrieks and a score of men were running toward the scene.
 Pull that lever. you there with the white cap. The black one. Quick and throw of the belt" came in clear com mandlng tones from behind. But Ham, mond did not stir. He threw up one hand to shut out the si. 1t of Zoe nan being crushed.
 In the meantime, past the two visi- tors sprang the man who had shouted It was the blacksmith from the forge The man On the belt was right in the clutch of the wheel. It seemed to Ida that she must surely faint. At that instant the blacksmith made a lunge at a revolving wheel, caught two of the iron spokes and braced his stalwart | legs. It seemed that he would bS thrown against the machine beyond | but no. the wheel stopped with jerk The muscles on the blacksmith's arms and chest stood out like whip cords. ''Q!ick. boys. quick,'' he cric<S; "l can't stand this long"
 He had no need to urge. Already two workmen had hoisted third to their shoulders and he pulled the victim from the wheel. with one arm badly | mashed and somewhat bruised. but alive Then the blacksmith let go the wheel and the machinery began again to whil and buzz. The men crowded about him offering congratulations. "(iocd for ycu. Joe. You saved Mike | from bein' made into a pancake thai | time" II didn't think 1t could be done" By crack. Joe. I'd like yer muscle. reckon ye could give Fitz a few pointers" These and similar com