Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-05-05
When the Crackers
Lay Over

/
THE four boys who packed the bar
rels of crackers in Bonney's bakery
gathered about the foreman, Franz
Morse, as he examined the fresh baking
that had come up by the elevator from
the basement oven.
"All slack-bakedt" was Morse's dis
gusted comment. They'll have to lie
over till tomorrow, and that means you
boys will have to get here early to pack
Nothing more for you to do now. You
may go home
Roy Delano fingered.
How early in the morning, Mr..
Morse?" he asked.
"Oh, don't get here before half past
/ three" the foreman answered. He
meant TO be iocular, and the other boys,
hearing the reply, grinned. They knew
that six o'clock would be early enough
But Roy was new hand, and took the
foreman's remark literally. The next
morning at rs minutes past three he was
hurrying to his work.
There was a faint glow from the flour
lncrusted basement windows, showing
that the night bakers had not left the
building. Above, in the packing room,
all was dark.
The front door was, of course, locked,
and Roy went round to the side door,
opening into the basement. The stairs
ascending to the packing room rose in
front OF this door, and Roy had to go
round them in order to see the bakers,
who were putting on their coats in front
Of the brick ovens and getting ready to
go home
HAS Mr.. Morse come yet?" he asked.
NO" said one of the men. He's
never here when we leave. | don't
know just what time he does come"
Il guess he'll be here before long"
Roy said, because Of the crackers that
had to lie over"
You'll be all alone for awhile, any
way" the baker told him.
When the men had gone, Roy looked
about the long basement, which seemed
to him strangely quiet. White bread
was rising in covered troughs; brown
loayes were slowly baking in the brick
ovens. The warmth and the crisp, sweet
smell Of the place were pleasant after
the wintry air, and Roy had not worked
solong in the bakery that his senses were
sluggish Ia receiving such impressions.
The great cracker oven in which the
'layovers" were resting filled one side
Of the basement, and rose above the
floor Of the packing room overhead. 1t
was, in fact, brick yault-shaped like
beehive-inside brick building.
Roy thought Of opening the door and
taking look at the crackers, but then
decided that this was none of his busi-
ness. II occurred to him, however, that
be might find something to do in the
packing room while awaiting the arrival
Of the foreman; and he therefore plodded
up the stairs, making little noise in his
rubber oyershoes.
The room was chilly-at least by COM
parison with the basement-and Roy
crossed to the iron door in the brickwork
OF the cracker oven. This was set flush
with the floor. and was used when it was
necessary TO make repairs on the ma
chinery. Behind 1t revolyed vertically
the great oven wheel, which was fitted
with Swinging shelves, that carried the
crackers during the baking.
The machinery that propelled the
wheel was now, Of course, disconnected;
and although there had been no fire un-
der the oven for hours. its interior heat
was considerable. Roy therefore opened
the door and lay with his back to the hot
air.
After moment he rolled over with an
adventurous idea OF clambering in upon
the wheel and exploring the oven. Reach
ing in, he touched one Of the swinging
shelves. but the wheel yielded under the
pressure. Il revolved freely, now that
the machinery was disconnected. and
Roy realized that If he stepped aboard
a shelf be would be carried TO the bottom
of the even. and be left there with no
chance Of escape
Suddenly faint sound drew his atten-
ton In the direction OF the Office. which
adioined the packing room
The sound was repeated and Roy. with
some wonder and little suspicion. rose
and stole across the room through the
darkness The door into the Office proved
to be ajar. Pushing Il open, be saw BY
the rays Of a distant street lamp an OBJ
scure figure knee ling In front OF the
safe.