The Meeker herald., 1909-10-02
THE DAM AT
MILL NO. 3
By JULIA B. FOSTER
(Copyright. BY J. B. Lppincott Col

plun8tng logs. He peered into inc
swirling waters ON one side, and ON
the other down the rough wall Of rock
and mortar. The mill. silent and I'M
calmly, stood half way from the top
Of the further hill. and Just on the
bend. In the ravine below the dam,
where the dark still hung, was the
mill campfire cook house. the bunk
house. the ofice-and. scattered TO-
gether. cottages Of the two or three
families. Looking at these. the watch
er stopped and struck his INST on
the wall of rock, never needing the
bleeding bruise made by the blow. and
between his thumb and foreinger test
ed bit of mortar.
The man rose-an uncertain hgure
In the stealing dawn-and went down
the path into the ravine above which
the dam doomed.
Pausing at little shack round whose
step were signs Of the flowers that
come in the early spring. he opened
the door.
Are ye awake. Maggie" he asked.
moving softly in, and subtly conscious
of the murky corners Of the small
room that made his home.
Sure, Jim Cebrian. you know l
can't sleep, an you out in the dark an
rain" answered Maggie, stirring un-
der the bedclo.hing. Her white
gowned arms thrown above her head
moved. and she half sat up. support
ing herself on her elbow. What 10
1t, Jim?" she asked in a voice born
of the nights suspense and anxiety.
Jim came over and went on his
knees at the side of the bed. Mag
gie-Maggie. grill" he exclaimed,
with convulsive breath.
With her free arm Maggie drew to
her shoulder the shaggy black head.
why. Jim," she said, soothingly. Il
amt never seen you like this be-
fore"
"Sh! Don't you wake Jimty!" Jim
cautioned, in catastrophe still remem-
bering the small things. AS he spoke
he looked beyond the bed to the rough
trundle that he himself had knocked
together, and on which was dimly re-
vealed the figure Of sleeping child.
I'm not thinkin' of Jimty!" Maggie
brought Jims face to hers. and he felt
the tears on her cheeks. THE child's
] all right-but you. you!-roamin' in
| the night time an where to don't
know" she accused.
I've got to tell somebody" he
whispered, his tune turned to des-
perate straits.
Maggie, 1 tell ye can't stand 1t no
longer. l guess the preachers the
best human bein there is, an after.
wards the boys may string me up II
they want to. Maybe"-jealousy-
maybe Helms'll git ye after all-no!
l can't bear that! I'D ruther die to-
gether. Come, Maggie. my brains all
burned up"
When he returned blue-eyed little
Mrs. Cebrian had arisen and had
dressed little Jimty.
| Accustomed to sudden summons,
John Richard. the travelling evangel-
list, came into the room where the
little family huddled.
Preacher" the man began clumsily.
II amt slept for a week, an I'm like
one in the tremens for drink. But If
was dyin' the truth would be easy. be-
cause why, couldn't think o. nothfn'
else"
"Yes, my man. go on" encouraged
John Rickard, clear-visioned in his vo-
cation. Any man could have trusted
him-tall, smiling-faced. and with a
spiritual eye. Jim Cebrian trusted
him.
Because l was big an strong,
Helms put me at work on the dam.
When he first knew me was a chop
per, an afterwards among the ma
chinery here at Mill No. 3. Out of a
good many men he chose me on the
dam, an then he made me boss
there an could give the orders. You
know the turn the creek used to make
q ways up? Well. by bringin' 1t this
way. the logs an timber gets q pretty
straight shoot from all the mills along
the line"
Mr.. Richards nodded understanding
ly as Jim paused and wet his lips,
while Jimtys fist beat his fathers
shoulders.
"one day." Jim went on, "scotty
come to me. Scotty's head O. the
teamsters. He says. Jim says he.
this here clay an gravel you're order
in comes from q long way he says,
an it's hard work teamin' over the
grades. Besides, I'd like to make a
hurry job. fer I've another contract
pushin'.' Yes says to him, but
Helms is set on the stuff. Helms says
it sticks together when it's wet an
| hardens like cement, an makes a safe
! dam. Helms says it fastens the rocks
like they'd growed.' Scotty says.
'Sho! Helms is q blow. l can git as
good clay an gravel a lot higher.
Two or three days before that I'd
seen Helms take notice to my wife,
here, an'-an I'm Jealous dog, sir.
| an 1t helped me listen to Scotty.
There's fifty dollars in 1t for you,
scotty says, II you'll let me bring the