The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1904-12-21


as be carefully proceeded with his ex-
pertinent, and trial after trial assured
him that his work was well done, he
leaned back upon one Of the rude pill
lars near him, glad to enjoy in that
congenial solitude and silence the first
delicious moment Of success.
"Hallol Why, IS that you, Jack"
said a rather uncertain voice near him;
and he started suddenly from his rev
erie to find that Uncle Joachim had
approached unobserved. Didn't know
but you was highwayman, or es-
capped convict, or somethin', when /
seen you down here all alone. What
you got there d? Some new-fangled
water-wheel or somethin', l s'pose.
Well, well; you young folks always
think you can turn the world upside
down with some grand new plan or
mother, but you never do it,"
Maybe not; l don't think I'd care
to try, for the side that is up now
pleases me well enough. What brings
you here, uncle?"
We'll" answered the old man,
fumbling his way over the rocky, un-
even mass about him, - just thought
I'd come down here and look round
for a good, big, hefty stone. tell
you what tbs Jack, | don't feel a mite
safe about them mail robbers. You
see we open the trap-door nights, and
put the mailbag right down into the
cellar; and I've been a-thinkin' if we
had one Of these heavy stones hitched
on to the under side Of the door, SOS
two or three men couldn't raise it,
'twould be safer"
But | don't see how you are going
to raise it yourself then,' objected
Jack.
"Well, / can't tell exactly said
Uncle Joachim, somewhat discomfit-
ed, but persevering. "We'll have to
think some way, for if anybody got
down there to rob, and just touched
off some powder down there. why,
they could blow US all to flinders-to
flinders, Jackw
The young man watched with an
amused smile for a moment or two, as
he wandered about near by examining
one stone after another, then forgot
him in his own occupation. A train
went laundering by on the heights
above, and the old man paused in his
search to watch it.
Dear! how these rocks crack now
and Them he exclaimed, as a sudden,
sharp sound fell upon his ear.
Jack started and looked up with a
thrill Of horror as his quick eye de-
tected the rapidly widening fssure that
was separating a mass Of oyerhanging
rock from the main wall.
Uncle Joachim he shouted.
But before the warning cry had left
his lips the old man, too, had seen, and
turned to fly, but stumbled and fell.
Thought lives in region above time.
1t was but an instant that he paused
irresolute in the sharp. fierce strug-
gle; then he sprang to the old mans
side, raised him up, and, half drag
ging, half carrying, bore him away
with the speed and strength that only
such an hour can know-hurrying up
the sloping bank until a deafening
crash behind them told that they were
safe.
They paused then, exhausted, and
sank down upon the ground TO survey
the scene. A great mass Of broken
stone covered all the place where they
had stood, and Jacks model was
crushed to atoms and buried beneath
it.
"Well, WELL" murmured Uncle Joa-
chin, sremulously breaking the solemn
silence that had succeeded the dying
echoes, that was a narrow chance,
and Id never have got away but for
you, Jack. I'm 'bliged to you, really
am; though. seein' as somethin' is sure
to happen some time, / don't know as
'twould have made much difference
only for the women folks; 'twould
have been great loss to the women
folks. More'n likely I'll be sick for
n week or two now. Jack''-as a sud-
den thought struck him-''why, Jack,
you left that jimcrack Of yours down
there, didn't you? Kind of a pity to
have it smashed up, though l s'poSe it
wasn't Of much use"
Jack turned his eyes from the ruin
and looked at him with a strange smile
on his pale face. How little he knew
of all the hopes and plans that had
been, or could comprehend the value
of that which he so carelessly called
worthless! And yet, perhaps he him
self could as little understand this
work of the great Creator beside him,
of comprehend His purpose in even
this seemingly feeble and useless life
that he had saved. There was nothing
of contemptuous pity in the gentle
ness of Jacks voice as he said:
Hadn't you better go home now.
Uncle Joachim? will go with you"
He told Content the story that day
only Content ever knew it all--and she
listened with the light that shone
through her fearful eyes growing
brighter at every word. "Sorry but 60
gladw she said, not so paradoxically
but Jack could understand it.
1T was hard to decide for q minrtc,