The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1906-02-23

went out Of the air
| Now the thought of Williams tab
came back and brought the companion
thought Of Williams idea-that some
thing damp over the mouth would save
anyone from death by suffocation in the
after. damp of the explosion.
Il wish had one of them patent he'll
NETS thought David.
Then came n notion; II he could wet
his calico cap and put It over his mouth
that might do as well as a sponge.
Almost overcome, physically, yet his
slow, stolld brain remained clear. Quite
resolutcly he turned and staggered back
toward the place where lay his dvink-
ing can.
He snatched at the drinking can
with both hands 1t held at best
three pints
He turned his back upon the IRE and
staggered away. Inside the Jack, tho
now remaining dropof weak tea Gurgled
unsteady with the violent shaking It
got
lie tore of his little calico cap, pulled
the curk ont Of his jack poured some OF
the veal, tea upon the cap. ana Clapped
It over his mouth Instantly he felt the
taste Of the ali come back. His strength
came with il, aud b" felt very hopeful
Then IN real earnest he ran up the road.
There was q lIt In poor old Williams
idea after all he said
Thea feeling tha benefit Of william
idea. Doc natural, thought OF william
himself And for D." first time a sense
OF fear took hold of David.
As David ucarcd Che big road from
which BIS own little road and Williams
bganrhol. hc expected &" sec Williams
light either ahead or litlc way be-
hind. In either case II ho saw light
he would feel easy about William.
IF see light, Il will be Williams.
said be- Because everybody In Ia" dis
trir' but US two went out at least IN
hour ago.
But a. the top Of the road-vhi'h
David knew by the junction Of tram
lines under his David could scer'
Iight either ahead or behind
David with his foot on the rail- turned
to the left oward the ton 81 Williams
road. lie reached this In few secun',.
He looked down. He saw no light. He
felt the gas fumes stronger and pene-
trating oven the saturated cap over his
mouth The choke-damp, as a matterof
fact grew moro powerful every minute
and soon would he strong enough to de-
stroy every live thing It touched.
Dash that old William and his invcn-
lions and his carciulncss. David said.
IF he didn't 20 potching with my lamp
shifting it from where put it--thi5
explosion wouldn't happened"
But IN spite Of this condemnation OF
the inventor and all his works David
turned down Williams road.
Cropping cautiously now, because no
rather expected 10 come across William
either staggering or fallcn-some-
where near, David went slowly down.
His left foot-thc right slid along the
rail-kickcd against something yield
Ing.
Hes down thought David, "Sufo-
eating
He bent down. Just glimmer " rcd
shuun upon bare human body at h.s
feet David touched it with his har.a.
ITS him said he.
II" gave him a shaEo-rlugh au.
fcrp' 4 gruau came back
lie jc.neI him upright William
tottcrcl
That's &C." shouted David. Come
on COM. oui'
II dragged him roughly along Wi
lam with every yard went more will.
Iraly. m'l by the time they rcachr
the top NJ IN" stall road he In an alb.
sulu'.Iy IaluI state ran with David like
an auroma'ou
III ,h. main road the fumes Of gas and
smoke cUohrd them. But they struggled
tnrough They reached thu double
lt.,rir, Here the afr. coming direct
from the shaft blew fresh and strong
The pure air strengthened the mon.