The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1904-02-05
WHEN THE CRACKERS
LAY OVER.
~o~o~~o~7e Q


4 ~, the barrels OF crackers In
Q o Bonney's bakery gathered
u n about the foreman. Frank
0olc Morse. as he examined the
fresA baking that had come up by the
elevator from the basement oven.
IAN slack bakodw was Morsc's dis.
gusted comment. They'll have to lie
over TN tomorrow, and that means
you boys VIII have to get here early TO
pack. Nothing moro FOR you to do now.
You mny 70 home"
Roy Delano fingered.
How early In the morning, Mr..
MorseT he asked.
"Oh. don't get here before 800" the
foreman answered. He meant 10 be
Jocular, and the other boys, hearing the
reply. grinned. They knew that O
o'clock would be early enough. But
Roy was a new hand. and took the
foreman's remark literally. The next
morning at 1926 he was hurrylng to his
work.
There was n faint glow from the
-four incrusted basement windows
showing that the night bakers had not
yet left the building. Above. In the
packing room, all was dark.
The front door was. OF course. locked
ami Roy went round 70 the side door
opening into the basement. The stairs
ascending 20 the packing room rose I'm
front OF this door, a"d Roy had TO go
round them In order TO see the bakers.
who were putting ON their conts In
front OF the brick ovens and getting
ready TO go home.
"Has Mr.. Morse come YETI" he asked.
mo" said one OF the men. "Hes
never here when we leave. l don't
know Just what time he does come"
II guess hen be here before long"
Roy said. because Of the crackers that
had 10 lie over"
"You'll be all alone FOR n while. 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 I'm
the rick ovens. The warmth and the
eri, ,, sweet smell OF the place were
pleasant after the wintry air. ana Roy
had not worked so long in the bakery
that his senses were sluggish In recelv-
Ing such impressions.
Tho great cracker oven IN which the
"lay-overs" were resting filled one side
OF the basement, and rose above the
floor Of the packing room overhead. It
was, In fact brlcl; yault-shaped like
beehlve-inside n brick building.
Roy thought OF opening the door and
taking look at the crackers. but then
decided that this was none OF his busl-
ness. 1t occurred TO him, however,
that he might find something TO do In
the packing room while awaiting the
arrival OF tine foreman, aud he there.
fore plodded up the stairs. making lit
tle noise In his rubber overshoes.
The room was chilly--at least by
comparison with the basement-nnd
Roy crossed TO the iron door in the
brick work OF the cracker oven. This
was set flush with the floor. and was
used when Il was necessary to make
repairs on the machinery. Behind Il
EeVolved vertically the great oven
wheel, which was fitted with swinging
shelves. that carried the crackers dur
Ing the baking.
The machinery that propelled the
wheel was now. OF course, dlsconnect.
ed. and although there had been no
FIRE under the oven FOR hours its int
rior heat was considerable. Roy there.
fore opened the door and lay with his
back TO the hot nlr.
After a moment he rolled over with
an adventurous idea OF clamberlng In
upon the wheel and exploring the oven.
Reaching IN he touched one Of the
swinging shelves, but the wheel yield.
ed under the pressure. II revolyed
freely. now that the machinery was
disconnected. and Roy realized that n
ne stepped aboard a shelf he would be
carried 10 the bottom Of the oven, and
be left there with no chance OF escape
Suddenly a faint sound drew his at
tention in the direction Of the Office.
which adjoned the packing room.
The sound was repeated, and Roy,
with some wonder and a little suspi.
cion, rose and stole across the room
through the darkness. The door into
the Office proved to be aJar. Pushing
It open he saw by the rays OF dim
street iamn an obscure figure kneellng
IN front OF the safe.
Then the door creaked. The burglar
prang up, whlrled round, and seeing
the boy rushed at him.
Roy lodged and ran, with the bur
glar pursuing. In front OF the oven
door the boy lodged again. catching
hold OF a barrel TO make a sharp turn.
with a quick thought he gave a Jerk
% the barrel and sent It spinning ON
edge behind him.