La Junta tribune., 1908-08-22


fOorIs'."
urally scared nigh tt> death nj the up
roar. and. instead of stayiu' where she
was safe. what does she do but come
creepln' out of the stOreroom--it was
of 10 the right. you understand. and
considerable tore up. like ours-and
try to make her way over the ruins To
her father.
The boss heard her cry, turned back
like n fash and. catchin' her In his
arms. 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. Hut the move
tnent made him lose his fOotin', and,
though dozen of us had our hands
stretched out to catch him. he slipped
and rolled back down among the dirt
and stones.
Il s'pose II hadn't needed but the
least little Juror maybe. ii 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-badiy that Is. or
course a few was struck with fiyin
stones and hurt in the crowd. But
they'd got out alive. and the one that
had saved 'em was buried under the
ruins.
"That was queer night. don't re-
member when or how the storm stop
4 al, a.
clear. starry night II was and how
the fires that was kindled to light the
workers famed aud danced, while the
shadows lay black In the corners of
the mill.
How we worked at that pile of
brick and mortar. one set takin' the
place OF another as soon as they WAS
tired and us many workin' at once as
the space would allow.
"Once goin back TO the mill to rest
bit l found Jim Bryce and Tom
CIarkson a-carryin' that model that
boss had been workin over back into
the Office. where 1t would I've safe. and
they was liftin' It IS tender as II twas
a baby. and the tears runnin' over
Jim's brown face all the while.
I'D give anything II I could jest
git back to this mornIn' againt says
Jim. with groan. To thing
But he couldn't finish sayin' 1t. and
II was best not. Most folks thought 1t
was the lightnfn' that had done all the
DANA ge and the rest OF us didn't know
but the lightnin' might "a done 1t all.
and that not bein' sure was the only
cOmfOrtin thing about II.
mo. he wasn't killed. after all.
Darlin' wasn't. The piles OF rubbish
lie had fallen between mostly saved
him from beln' crushed. Everybody
thought lie WAS dead. and. even after
we found him alive. 1t seemed for 4
long time as II ie couldn't live. But
he come round again at last and got
back to the mill to finish up his In
yention.
1T was a success too. Yes. sir. that's
what built up these mills the way they
are now-the most fiourishIn' ones in
this part of the country-and brought
better times TO every one workin in
'em. That was what he was afmin'
for all the time. only we didn't know
1t. and that was why he come here.
That's his house over there. the big
one on the hillside. He brought his
wife here when he married and set
tied down among his mill folks.
'.Should think he'd be considerable
used up by such an accident? Well.
sir. ! don't s'pose anybody can 20
through that sort Of thing and come
out Jest exactly az they wss when
they went into 1t. But II Jon happen
to meet Boss Darlin' and don't think
he's good Iookin' now. Why. thls valley
wouldn't he healthy placs for you y
mentIon II in