The Mercur miner. [volume] (Mercur, Utah) 1895-1913, 1905-11-01

struck squurely on the platform instead
or entering the mouth OF the shaft.
The chains loosened and fell of. and
the great steel hook swung loose.
Instantly Mahoncy lcaped up, show
erins his curses upon the poor flag.
boys devoted head.
Hold on. Mahoneyw interposcd the
quiet voice Of the tmebeeper. That's
your fault You sigualcd for n quick
drou-aud you got it. You'd ought to
send that car down steady, or you'll
break some Of the mems heads"
I'm break your head" roared the
boss turning his passion-inaamed face
upon the young man.
But the timckccper smiled sarcastic
ally, ana stepped glngerly down upon
the platform. you amt tit for this
place. he said, in disgust. Let me
catch that hook, IL cure not going to-
! it'll do some damage to those pipes
The heavy hook was swinging TO nd
fro across the pipes. banging from one
to another. Mahoncy rushed at the
ncrvy young timekeeper.; and had the
latter not stepped aside he might have
been thrown from the platform.
"What are you nboutf" he demanded.
Selling the swinging chain with one
hand and stopping its pendulous mo-
! ton.
But M0honey was not TO he held
now lie picked up the nearest nipple
ment to his hand-a heavy shovel
ana came at the other second time.
The timekeeper could not pass him and
reach the street; and behind was the
shaft nearly thirty feet in depth.
But Corny, from the crossing half n
| block away, saw the overseer's mad
attack and realized the young mans
danger.
Hang TO the hook" he shreked, and
| his shrill voice rose above the noise
of the steam drills and the rattle OF
! the cable.
| At the same instant he signaled the
engineer 10 draw up the hook
! Fortunately. the lmckeeper was n
! young man Of quick brain ms well as
action. when he felt the chain tighten
under his hand he realized what
| Corny's words meant. and slipping his
foot into the hook he allowed himself
TO be literally 'snatched" up out of
the range Of MHhoncy's shovel.
But the cnragcd boss flung the i'm
plemcnt after him. and then began
throwing pieces of rock ut the swinging
figure I'm the mir. Another signal from
the watchful Corny, however. sent the
! timckccper sailing along under the troll
ley cables toward the pumping plat
form, and ms he whirled above the
hagboy's head he actually waved his
hand TO him.
As for Corny himself. he almost
/ tainted from the fright Of II all. A
boy who ate ms little as he did wasn't
able 10 stand many such shocks He
couldn't even run when Mahoney
scramblng for the ditch, and still seek
ing 10 vent his fury OH some one. ap-
preached him.
However. couple Of brawny police
men. summoned by the excited shouts
OF the spectators, quickly overpowered
the madman. and he was marched
away TO the nearest station. That end
ed his career as oversepr for Contractor
Butterworth and in the general
Strengthening out OF affairs the time
keeper learned how Corny had been
cheated out Of half his pay every week
by the boss.
"Well, Wen Just make that up 10
you" the timekeeper declared. "Tve
been telling my uncle about you. and II
you want you can have place at eight
dollars week down TO the office. I've
told you need an assistant. and you're
just the sort Of fellow | want"
And although that was all the time
keeper ever said about being grateful
for the service Corny's qulckness had
rendered him, the fagboy was amply
satisfied. -Classmate.