The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1909-05-12
ny Bryce.


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 StOreroom-it was
off to the right. you understand. and
considerable tore up, like ours-and
try to make her way over the ruins to
her father.
1.-THE boss heard her cry. turned back
like 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. But the move
| ment 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.
81 spose it hadn't needed but the
least little iar-or. maybe, it wasn't the
jar at all-but. anyway. the next min
ute there was 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 or
course a few was struck with fyin'
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 Il queer night. | don't re-
member when or how the storm stop
ped. but shall always remember what
clear. starry night ii 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. one 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
bit | 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
DdDy, anu TIE tears Gunulu over
Jim's brown face all the while.
"T'd give anything if ! could jest
git back to this mornin' again" says
Jim, with a groan. To think
"But he couldn't finish sayin' 1t. and
it was best not. Most folks thought it
was the lightnin' that had done all the
damage. and the rest of us didn't know
but the lightnin' might "a done it all.
and that not bein' sure was the only
comfortin' thing about it.
mo. he wasn't killed. after all.
Darlin' wasn't. The piles Of rubbish
he had fallen between mostly saved
him from bein' crushed. Everybody
thought he was dead. and. even after
we found him alive, it seemed for a
long time as if he couldn't live. But
he come round again at last and got
back to the mill to finish up his In
| vention.
ut was a success too. Yes. sir. that's
what built up these mills the way they
are now-the most fourishin' ones In
this part of the country-and brought
better times to every one workin' in
| 'em. That was what he was amin
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 60
through that sort of thing and come
out jest exactly as they was when
they went into it But II you happen
to meet Boss Darlin' and don't think
he's good lo0kin' now, why. this valley
wouldn't be healthy place for you to
mention 1t in"