The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-11-19
A I Official endetta
WELDON j. COBB

structure on two sides. She could look
across and through the width of the place.
By covering three hundred feet, cross
ing the cutters and troughs in soft black
molding sand, the set pig iron" beds,
she could come speedily to the other side,
and at once discover Kane.
Her dainty feet disturbed the even,
numerous rows of indentations sunk to
receive the molten iron, but not sufficient
ly to destroy their utility, and she hur-
ried along in the semi-gloom of the COW
cred shed until about half way across the
structure.
Then a grewsome, hurried, sound
checked her; then a flare, sudden, blind
ing. shot across both far ends OF the
building.
1t seemed as il the jargon, the foul
some blaze of hell itself had let loose
Claire stood appalled, The overwhelm-
ing, the terrible, the soul-curding had
happened-all in a moment!
This had occurred:
At either end. on signal, because the
time had-come for the usual operation, the
two immense blast furnaces had been
openened up.
molten metal. cascades, torrent OF IL,
Quick as lightning, swift, lurid steam,
it splotched into the central gutter. and
spread.
Out, milling a score Of feeder arter-
les, distributing veins, channels. la one
throbbing. setient minute the long,
speeding rivulets of red hot metal dash
ed down, along, across.
Claire was environed-shut in ,
Only now, in the vivid illumination, did
the workers on the end platforms discover
the human victim penned in.
But now no hand could stay the de-
stroying stream; cow no saving arm
could reach her.
''She's lost! J"
Its reached her"
"No not yet, but"
A roar of many voices went up
groan of hope it was, half cheer of hope
Claire had sunk to her knees. She
thought her doom had come, and was
praying.
With closed eyes she felt the hot,
scorching breath fly nearer, closer.
The speli-bound workers were glaring
at one sudden, heroic figure.
4 nan had abruptly appeared at the
side doorway Claire had recently entered.
Ii was Gideon Hope.
In an instant he saw the frightful peril
of the woman whose life had become so
strongly bound up with his own.
A spring, and he was on the plankins
spanning the upper arches of the grimy
structure.
h ,rf..
her head.
There was n rattle. He had sprung 10
the side of a derrick, released its gearing.
It's hooked chain dropped. tangled, d.
rectly over the head of the fre-environed
Claire.
1t ratified, swung, vibrated. Those peer
| ing through splitting sparkle of flame and
foamy fits of steam witnessed him slide
the chain like some apt sailor.
"Cling to me 70
Hoarsely. breathlessly, Hope shouted
| the word. lifting Claire as he spoke.
| Her dress had caught ablaze. He dash
ed out the flaming cloth.
Her eyes opened in wild hope-in wild
er surprise.
Your she cried in a love of Joy, and
\
neck--for to cling there was her only
/. safety.
| A strange, weird emotion played across
Gideon Hopes strong soul.
! "You know mel he uttered.
| "Anywhere!"
| He lifted hand over hand-they got
safe above the blistering heat. the spite
full sparks of fire, shooting up like disap-
pointed serpents.
| He was forced to rest the weight, the
| tension was horrible. Their eyes met. A
startling, thrilling rapture filed him.
| Almost could he wish to cling there a
moment thus, with that sweet face so
near to his own, and drop deliriously TO
| the lurking death beneath-obliteratio
of a broken life after one rapture-laden
moment of ecstasy.
But he struggled anew. They reached
the platform safe.
She still chung to him. He had saved
her life. A shout aroused both.
A white-faced man. followed by others
was dashing down the planIsng towards
them. 1t was Percy Kane.
ale is coming!" said Claire, 81 must
| tell yot something
"YesY
He was unnerved, in strange emotion
land trusted not to words.
THAT man! He-he has asked"
Her gaze dropped. Then she continued
family:
HE has asked me to be his wife"
Gideon Hope started as though stung
Then the old sternnes came to his hard
| iron face.
"You have found no clews-i.o papers.
Nothing CT his past:"
Nothing" she said, weakly.
A void of agony was in the mans heart
But Kane was nearing them.
He thought Of his purpose, of his muir
dered brother. His soul grew sick within
him, his face was ashen, but justice urged
AS though pronouncing his own doom
in harsh, hollow tone. Gideon Hope
said decisively: