La Junta tribune., 1907-05-11

voice becoming bitter. -It's $3.50 lit
tie when there's so much want to do.
Hut it'll have to come. I'm willin' to
try that knot another week or 80 lon
ger. Josie. since you want me to. but
It's time wasted"
The cotton mill was a small affair.
built many years before aud still Who'll
~ dependent upon its water wheel for
power. Its help was almost as crude
AS Its motive force. being drawn main.
" from the wild country In back and
learning here inadequateIy upon the
very machines they were later to use.
In each department few experienced
operators. bad been brought up from
the more concentrated mill section be-
low. and these few were expected TO
show new hands about the work In ad
dition to running machines. Josie
Brock was one Of these operators In
the weave shop and Melindy Weeks
perhaps the crudest Of all the new
hands. But then Meilndy Weeks had
come from the widest OF the back
country. walking thirty live miles with
her baggage tied In u newspaper.
The water supply was a small stream
az inefficient as the rest of the mill out
ut. During seven months OF tn. year II
did all that could be asked. and the mill
ran full time. but through the other
nve. when little rain fell and there was
no snow TO melt. the stream often
shrank to a tiny thread. and then the
great water wheel ceased to rerOlve
until the stream rose 4 few inches.
when II would start again and run for
an hour or NO and then stop. for the wa
ter once more to rise.
During Melindy's frst week the mill
had made full time. for there had been
rains. but the day after her talk with
Josie this temporary supply became ex-
hausted. and the stream commenced to
shrink When they went out to dinner.
Josie cast an anxious glance ut two
sand bars which were beginning to
show In the middle OF the stream.
when the sand bars run together"
she said to Melindy. 'the water II be
too low to move the wheel. and then
we'll have To stop. And from the way
the bars look now It'll lie by . o'clock.
Wen likely stay shut down till 8 or
so. then start up and run an hour or
two In the evening TO help make up.
It's likely to be that way right along
now until another rain. Well. I'll bring
In some crochet work to help fill In
time. but guess my 81 this week
won't he over 81
Il can't do crochet work an things
like that" returned MeIlndy. 80 II we
stop | guess I'll go out an look round
some
SO at Q O'Clock. when. as Josie had
predicted. the machinery began to go
slower and slower and finally stopped
with the necessary shutting on of the
vanishing power. Melindy took her hat
and went out. But instead OF looking
around the village. as she had hrst
thought. her steps took her naturally
up the stream toward the woods. She
had been away from them whole
week. In few minutes she had van
ished among the foliage.
An hour later she came hurrying
back, nm odd look OF interest In her
face.
where can I lind shovelT' she
asked the ynriman.
He jerkeL his thumb toward a small
building. I'm the tool house there. l
guess he answered. Found some
wild posIes ye want to take. up. eh?
Well. wipe the shovel OF dry when
ye're through an put 1t back jest where
ye find IT."
Melindy nodded and went ON to the
tool house. from which she presently
emerged with q long handled spade.
At half past one Of the owners and
the superintendent were walking "r
the dam watching the water. 1t had
risen about three inches.
Not much show for more than an
hours work, I think" said the super
intendent.
I'm afraid 30. In the end we shall
have to put In steam power. suppose.
though that Will be more expensive
than our little mill warrants"
They walked on to the end Of the
dam and leaned against the log frame
OF the wnter gate Fifteen minutes
passed. Then the superintendent ut
tered wondering exclamation and
leaned forward. peering down at tho
water.
Great Scott" he exclaimed. -four
inches Of water since we've been
standing here! Thafs seven Inches
and plenty enough to keep US going
till . O'Clock. And look yonder up the
stream! There's regular freshet
coming down. What's 1t mean. any
bow? There isn't a cloud in the sky.
10 1t isn't cioudburxt. But never
mind. though. know what 1t MEANS"
hastily. 1t means u full days work
for tomorrow md the next day and
maybe for the next Excuse me now.
SIR You can stay and watch the piie-
nomenon II you like. must run and
get that mill started"
Twenty minutes later the owner was
still standing there. beaming, but per
..Ia.eI Than l,n 40 Nirl coming