Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-11-20

hurry in.
On damp days like this the ends ran
badly, with much twisting and break
ing. and. though Janet was 'nimbie I'M
gered and the best spinner in the
room. she had all she could do to keep
her sides pieced up. Especially was
this the case after dofing, which oc-
curred twice a day. With the bobbins
noorlv full the threads ran more
smoothly. but with them empty or
nearly so there was greater strain
unon the threads, causing them to snap
freouentlv. The doffers pieced up the
FIRST irregular breaks, but after that
tho simmer had TO attend to her own
sides.
This doaing of the full bobbins and
renlocinc them with empty ones upon
the spindles had always been an in
teresting operation to Janet, and she
could doff as quickly and neatly as the
experts themselves.
: There were always two of these
doffers. each taking a side OF frame
and going up one row ana down an
other until the room was completed.
They use small sleds or carriages
which could be pushed along the sides
by the right knee as they worked. 1t
tool about two hours to don the whole
room. and then the doffers were al
lowed to leave the mill or do what
ever they pleased until dofhng time
came again.
This long leisure between work
made the position of doffers very de-
sirable one, and there was a saying
among fine spinners that ''once doffer.
always doffer." The present two
had held their positions for years.
soon after the morning dofting the
ovarseer made one of his observation
tours among the frames, reprimandlnG
nv blowing upon his shrill whistle
onv NEGLECT of work he found. No
matter where the operator or SIDE
might be. when she heard that whistle
she fastened back to her neglected
duty with apologize and crimson face.
In Janet's alley this whistle was rare
IL heard. When he came to her now
the overseer was smiling. He usually
was smiling when he found good
work.
"You had hard morning coming
down, didn't you, Janet?' he asked
Eyes, sir. 1t was pretty wet ana
muddy"
"Weu. why don't you ask for the
Harding tenement? They're going to
leave next week, and it would bring
YOU TO within n few rods of the mill
gate. It's the same rent as your house
out there In the country, L think, and
would make It a lot easier for you
this winter Suppose 1 Speak to the
outside manager about itP'
THANK you. | wish you would
she said gratefully.
She could leave her mother later and
be back to her earlier in the evening.
and it would save that long walk dur
ing the winter But, on the other
hand, there was the apple orchard at
the country place and the big garden
and the flowers around the house.
Her mother loved flowers, and one Of
her chief pleasures was, to be out
among them in the spring and during
the summer. And they had planned so
many vines and beds for the next
year. 1t was really beautiful out
there, while the Harding tenement
was only the counterpart of fifty 9th
ers, without yard or even fence around
it. And even if it was cold and dis
agreeable sometimes that mile walk
would very likely be good for her to
counteract the mill confinement. What
had she been thinking about?
She went straight TO the overseer.
Il don't believe you'd better speak
to the manager about that tenement
she said. You see, we've got an APP
pie orchard out there and a big gar
den and flowers, and mother loves such
things. I've been thinking it over, and
I believe the walking viii do me good
Yes, 1 don't know but you're right"
he answered. I'D forgotten the or
chard and flowers. But wait a mo-
ment," as she was turning away.
About the Harding girls Job OF dof-
ing. There's been a dozen applicants
after it already, but you know more
about the work than any Of them, so
you are the proper one to have The
place. You may commence Monday.
You've done your work conscientious
Is, and I want You to feel the manage /
ment appreciates it. This JOB will |
give you q lot Of time next spring 70
look after your garden and the 1iow-
ers. and you can get home earlier |
nights. Your mother viii like that"
Janet turned away, smiled happily |
but with something choking in heI |
throat that prevented speech.
Lewis Single Binder - the famous
straight cent cigar, always best