The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-11-09
struck squarely on the platform instead

struck squarely on the platform instead
of entering the mouth of the shaft.
The chains loosened and. fell off, and
| the great steel hook swung loose.
Instantly Mahoney leaped up, show
erinS his curses upon the poor flag
boys devoted head.
Hold on, Mahoney." interposed the
quiet voice of the timekeeper. That's
your fault. You siSnaled for quick
drop-and you got it. You'd ought to
send that car down steady. or you'll
break some of the mems heads"
I'll break your headw roared the
boss. turning his passion-inhamed face
upon the young man.
Hut the timekeeper smiled sarcastic
ally. and stepped gingerly down upon
the platform. "You ain't fit for this
place." he said. in disgust. Let me
catch that hook. if you're not going to;
it'll do some damage to those pipes"
The heavy look WAS swinging to and
fro across the pipes. banging from one
to another Mahoncy rushed at the
nervy young timekeeper.: and had the
latter not stepped aside lie might have
been thrown from the Platform.
What are you about:' he demanded.
seizin= the swinging chain with one
hand and stopping its pendulous mo-
ton.
But Mahoney was not to be held
nov. He picked up the nearest imple-
ment 10 LIS hand: heavy shovel
and came at the other Il 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
block away, saw the overseer's mad
attack and realized the young mans
danger.
Hang to the hook"' he shrieked, 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 to draw up the hook.
Fortunately. the timekeeper was a
young man of quick brain as we'll 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 Mahoney's shovel.
But the enraged boss flung the i'm
plement after him, and then began
throwing pieces of rock at the swinging
figure in the air. Another signal from
the watchful Corny, however. sent the
timekeeper sailing along under the troll
ley cables toward the pumping plat
form, and as he whirled above the
flagboy's head he actually waved his
hand to him.
AS for Corny himself. he almost
tainted from the fright of it all. A
boy who ate as little as he did wasn't
able to stand many such shocks. He
couldn't even run when Mahoney.
scrambling for the ditch. and still seek
ing to vent his fury OH some one, ap-
preached him.
However, a 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 overseer for Contract ctor
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. we'll just make that up to
you," the timekeeper declared. 1--WE
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 a fellow I want"
And although that was all the time.
keeper ever said about being grateful
for the service Corny's quickness had
rendered him, the flagDoy was amply
satisfied. d.-ClaSsmate.