The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-09-14

q move OF a BIT o. dust might bring II
all down worse than ever"
Jobs interest then became centred In
tho build OF the cog. wondering
whether he had built II with true art
the putting up Of one OF those square
pillars to hold mp the earth took as
much skill as the decoration of n pill
lar In tho Coliseum. job rarely fiat
tered himself. Only now, when he saw
that the ilrmncss OF the cog kept u
from slantlng, did he feel satisfied
with himself. The slightest disturb
ancc to the stones as they now lay
would bring them solidly on the face
of the man; their displacement would
bring down tons OF loose earth upon
them; and the human head underneath
would he crushed into pulp.
"Wonder how long that boy1l be7"
thought job. "No use tryin' 10 shout,
s'posc. Might shake the stones"
The ghost Of smile Rrinncd grimly
In his brain. II could not get as fer ms
his lips.
lie lay quite quiet. Drip-drip. fell
the little stones upon the great heap.
Jobs eye looked through the crevices
to the lamp. Hope never looked
brighter.
"Givcs n splendid light" thought Job.
AN that steel wedge IL the best
ever had. Holds well Coed old cog,
too. Wonder II ltll hold TN I'm took
ont. II IL slnnts any, down every
thingll come ON me; an then-so
long. whatever"
That very fact-that the turn Of n
hair meant death that fact would
be the enc to set u weak nature roar.
ing for safety. In the crisis mans
real nature shows itself. II the folly
IL there II VIII come out. H. IL only
when you airain n man tn the breaking
point that you see his weakness. But
Jobs strong nature allowed him TO
act with the simple quietude that
suited the fix he was In. lie lay stlll.
with his plan for safety In his brain,
waiting coClly for death or rescue.
Ills eyes were fixed upon his lamp;
his brain working out the problem Of
how II might be possible for anybody
to get him out safely. To touch sin
gle stone would be the worst thing
that could happen. hut II he didn't
get the stones away, how was he TO be
freed? Not only himself, but the one
who tried to rescue him might be bur
led. too.
where's that boy?" wondered job
Thinks I'm nll right, | s'pose. Playin
In the lockin' place, mos likely.
Thinks I'm all right. | spose-young
monkey"
lie heard dull report.
Somebody comm through the door"
said job.
Soon came shunling footsteps
through the dust. and n most unmelo-
dious whistling. The minstrel boy
was returning. Evidently his good hu-
NOR was high. The whistling was
sometimes broken off to allow the per-
former TO sing and dance along the
roadway.
Good lad" commented job. "WCn-
derful boy that"
The concert came nearer. II stopped
at the spot where the boy usually took
of his coat
Hoy. there, wassy!" called Job.
"Hoyi" returned the wassy.
"Come here a bit. I'm fast" Job
said quietly.
The lad ran up to the sound of the
voice. lie saw only the mountainous
fall, with the lamp hanging from the
cog.
Hoy" he shouted, where be you?"
I'm fast" answered Jab. RUM
tell couple of 'um to come down
here"
The boy looked for the voice. Then,
with terror, he understood. The boy
lost hold of himself in the horror of it
He began running to and fro sense
lessly, roaring out:
"Oh! nam, nam. He's under the
hes under the fan. Oh, nam, nam
He's killed; he's killed."
He could do nothing useful in his
fright But Jobs voice steadled him.
stop that crying, butty. DO what
! tell you. Run up to the next place
an tell couple of 'um TO come
here, qulch. Don't cry, wassy. OF
with you. There. that's good boy
OF you 60"
The cool tone controlled the terri
fed youngster. He ran to the uppel
side, climbed over the slope of TIE
fall, his long lamp getting awlswardly
mixed up with his short legs, and GU
past the face of the coal into the mex
fall 1t was empty. He remembered
that the collier had not been to wcrl
there that day. Out along the road
way he ran TO other places, all th'
time crying:
"Hoy! Hoy!"
In five minutes, down came the men
Jobs stall was filled with streaming
, lights and excited Golfers.
Three of them leaped to the edg,
of the fall, and in frenzied anxiet!
started to full away the big stone
. L.. Il.