Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-02-08
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
Zach Crabtree's
Strong Point.
IOriginaI.I

thing wonderful. His father died when
he was eighteen years old. and the
support of mother and two little sis
tiers devolved upon Zach. \ friend of
his father secured place for him in Il
steel works at 81 week, and Zach
was told that if he proved faithful
and efficient the second year it would
be raised to $40 and so on upward.
The day Zach commenced work he
was called into the office of the super
! intendent.
Young man." said the official "here
\ is a note to the Frogmore Wrecking
company. / have been trying to get u
reply TO certain inquiries from them
for u week. and thus far they have put
off every messenger L have sent them
with indefinite replies. We have con
tracted to deliver Il shiplOad of steel
by certain date. and the vessel on
which il is loaded is sunk ten feet I'M
der water. / want the F'rogmore COM
pany TO raise her for us nj once. Now,
1 want you To stay ut their place till
you get definite reply"
"Who am to get the answer from?"
asked Zach.
whoever they tell you is the man
to give it,
'All right" said Zach.
At the Frogmore company's Office
Zach delivered his note. The man who
read it said: leave this. / will send
a reply this evening"
''All right. I'll wait" said Zach, and
he sat down on bench.
Whats that fellow doing there?"
asked an eminently respectable look
ing gentleman two hours later. Hes
been sitting there since 10 o'clock"
The matter was explained. The gen.
tleman, who proved TO be the president
of the company. wrote something on a
piece of paper and handed it to Zach.
It read, Take this young man to
Brinkwell at once" and was signed by
the president. The man you want 10
see" he said to Zach. lis out on the
river experimenting job"
few minutes later Zach was being
rowed down the river and after II ten
mile ride was put on a wreclling boat.
You can't see Brinkweu now. He's
gone below TO make an inspection"
Zach. who didn't know what the
man meant by gone below" simply
pointed to the order of the president.
You must see him." asked the man
angrily.
Yes"
AT once:"
"Yes."
every well. If you come here with
imperative orders, they must be obey
ed. Go down those stairs and get on
the armor''
Zach stupidity did rs he was told and
was incased in a divers armor. and Il
slate and pencil were hung about his
neck. He thought il all very queer,
but said nothing. Then he was taken
on deck and told TO 90 down some
steps into the water. He had scarcely
reached the bottom step when lie felt
some one touch him and hold a slate
to him. On the slate was written.
"What do you WANT" Zach wrote IN
response, when can you raise the
PetrelF The reply was, Get OUT
Zach stood immovable. After awhile
some one took hold of his slate and
pencil and wrote: Wen raise the
Petrol tomorrow. Brinkwell." Zach
at once climbed the steps, and his
armor was taken off.
Drop that slate" said the man who
had sent him down.
I'm going to take it with me-"
"What for?"
Zach held it up. and the man read
what was on it.
He laughed and said: "You are an
energetic youth, and no mistake. Take
1t along"
1t was o'clock in the afternoon
when Zach re-entered the superintend-
ent's office. The superintendent was a
very busy man and had forgotten all
about Zach and his mission.
what do You want?" he asked.
Zach held up the slate with the
promise written on it. The superin-
tendent's eyes grew very large
what kind of note is this?" he
asked. How did you get it?"
In few short sentences Zach told
the story of his diving after Mr.. Brink
well.
Are you making up this story?'
said the superintendent severely.
Never could make up stories" said
Zach. 81 tried it in compositions at
school; stood foot in that class"
The superintendent sat staring first
at Zach, then at the slate. Then he
opened drawer in his desk and took
out two ten dollar bills and handed
them to his messenger, saying: I'VE
didn't hire you to take messages TO
people under water. You need extra
pay for that job. Come in here to-
morrow morning"
Zach took the money to his mother
and told how he had earned it.
You dear stupid!' she said, embrace
ing him. 'Such zeal wasn't expected
of you"
The Frogmore company did not raise
the Petrol as promised. 1t was sued
by the steel works and the only evil
dence against it was the message on
the slate brought by Zach Crabtree, \
which made a difference 10 his employ
ers of $4,000. Zach's persistence, de-