Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23

THE MADE HIM LOSE HIS
FooTIN'."
urally scared nigh to death at the up.
roar, and. instead of stayin' where she
was safe, what does she do but come
creepin' out of the s~toreroom-it was
off to the right, you understand, and
try to make her way over the ruins to
her father.
"The boss heard her cry, turned back
like a fash and, catchin' her in his
aims, began to climb over the rubbish
piles again.
"'Catch her" he called the minute he
was near enough and tossed her over
into her fathers arms. But the move
ment made him lose his footin', and,
though a dozen Of us had u hands
stretched out to catch him, he slipped
and rolled back down among the dirt
and stones.
81 s'pose it hadn't needed but the
least little %jar-or, maybe, it wasn't the
jar at all-but, anyway. the next min
ute there was a crash, and the stout
est Of us shut our eyes to keep out the
sight. The wall was down, and he
was under it.
"He was the only man about the mill
that was ~hurt-badly. that is. OF
course a few was struck with flynn
stones and hurt in the crowd. But
they'd got out alive, and the II that
had saved ZEN vas buried under the
ruins.
"That was a queer night. l don't re-
member when or how the storm stop
ped, but l shall always remember what
a clear, starry night it was and how
the fires that was kindled to light the
workers famed and danced, while the
shadows lay black in the corners of
the mill.
"How we worked at that pile of
brick and mortar, ono set takin' the
place of another as soon as they was
tired and as many workin' at once as
the space would allow.
"Once goin' back to the mill to rest
a bit l found Jim Bryce and Tom
Clarkson %a-carryin' that model that
boss had been workin' over back into
the Office. where it would be safe. and
they was liftin' it as tender as if twas
a baby. and the tears runnin' ovel
Jim's brown face all the while.
"'I'd give anything if I could jes1
git back to this mornin' again! say:
, Jim, with a groan. To think
J But he couldn't finish sayin' it. ant
t it was best not. Most folks thought ]
t was the lightnin' that had done all tn,
t damage. and the rest of us didn't know
] but the lightnin' might "a done it all
j and that not bein' sure was the onl.
. comfortin' thing about it.
j "No. be wasn't killed. after all
Darlin' wasn't. The piles of rubbish
he had fallen between mostly save
thought he was dead, and. ever afte
e we found him alive, it seemed for
d long time as If he couldn't live. Blu
y he come round again at last and go
I back to the mill to finish up his in
q vention.
8 "It WIS a success too. Yes. sir, that
; what built up these mills the way the
a are now-the most fourishin' mes i
this part Of the c~ountry-and brough
g better times to every n workin' /
It 'em. That was what he was amir
d for all the time, only we didn't kno'
# 1t, AID that was why he come here.
It That's his house owe there. the bi
e one on the hillside. He brought b!
4 wife here when he married and Sc
tied down among his mill folks.
Should think he'd be considerabI
- a.--5 49, l.. ~..-LE ~-4lS1rLo Vy>1
sir. don't s'pose anybody can G
d through that sort Of thing and CON
If out Jest exactly as they was whe
ID they went into 1t. But If you happe
IF to meet Boss Darlin' and don't thin
y he's good lookin' now. why. this vale
=. wouldn't be a healthy place for you
le mention 1t In"