The Monticellonian., 1904-01-07
When the Crackers
 Lay Over

THE four boys who packed the bar
 rels of crackers in Bonney's bakery gathered about the foreman, Frank Morse, as he examined the fresh baking that had come Up by the elevator from the basement oven.
 All slack baked!" 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, MT. Morse?' he asked
 oh, don't get here before half past three the foreman answered. He meant to be jocular, and the other boys, hearing the reply, grinned. They knew that six o'clock would be early enough. But Roy was a new hand, and took the foremans remark literally. The next morning a 25 minutes past thre5. he was hurrying to his work
 There was faint glow from the four incrusted 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 Mir. Morse come yet?" he asked.
 No said one of the men Hes never here when We leave. 1 don't know just what time he does come.
 T 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 s. emed 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 so long in the bakery that his senses were sluggish in receiving such impressions.
 The great cracker oven ill which the "l "layovers" were resting filled enc side of the basement, and rose above the floor of the packing room overhead l. was. in fact. brick yault-s hapad like a beehiYe-inside a brick building.
 Roy thought of opening the Gaor and taking a look at the crackers, but then decided that this was none of his busi- ness. It occurred to him. however. that he might find something to do in the packing room while awaiting the arrival of the foreman; and he therefore pIodded q up the stairs, making little noise in his rubber overs hoes
 The room was chilly-at least by com parison with the bas ement-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 10 make repairs on the ma chinery. Behind il reyolyed 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 besn TO 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 a 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 reYolYed freely. LON that the machinery was disconnected, and Roy realized that if he stepped aboard a shelf he would be carri q 10 the bottom of the oven, and be left there with no chaIce of escape
 Suddenly a faint sound Grsw his atten- tion in the direction of the office, which adjeined the packing room.
 Tn sound was repeated ard Roy. with some wonder and little suspicion. rose