The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1909-06-24

/ " H'ht wan H'dli IS thlnpltllOu III
| Number Six when MIR Baxter came
| strollng by Suddenly he halted back
| OF the furnace. Mr.. Baxter was the
head Of the department. So. when he
called sharply; "McNally, come here "
| McNally responded on the run. John.
son was of duty, and McNally was in
charge
Peter could see Mr.. Baxter. and
heard what was said. or part OF it.
Mr.. Baxter pointed to spot mid.
high on Tn" back wall Of Number Six.
Looks nasty he said Looks as If
It were coming through Was afraid
Hh" wouldn't stand another hcat--lin.
iucs worn out"
McNaIly nodded. ana together they
watched a curious spot OF dun red on
the brick.wuil. It spread slowly, but
visibly Frightened
Metals oaun through. Sand.lin.
ings given way. Sixty thousand
pounds OF melted metal! Wherell it
go"'
Mir Baxter did not say that the cs.
cap" oil the heat meant n loss in
tim" and money Tor the works; but
Peter knew that
What can We do?" asked McNally
in louder voice. lie scratched his
head. once she gifts { runnln' -"
lie stretched out an eloquent arm
Mr EaXtcr turned abruptly. Get
the fro.hose-1uck'" he commanded
We may be able to cool down the wall
and hold it in"
NcNally ran off with a call to his
men. In two minutes the great hose
was writing across the floor McNal.
~ and another man held the nozzle
A score of idle hands made u circle
about Number Six. Peter ran to his
old place OF vantage on mold
Mr.. Baxter gave signal with his
arm, and the hose filled and squirmed
with the flow OF water. A two-inch
stream shot out. McNally and his
mate took up n position close to the
edge Of the pit" and turned the
stream on the spot on the furnace
wall, now glowing cherry red
There was n loud kissing. n vast
cloud Of steam puffcd up. The bricks
OF the wall could be heard cracking
under the drenchng shower of cool
water.
Then there was sharp explosion, a
pause, then series of explosions The
cloud of steam WAS rivcn, bits of
brick were thrown out. Next came
an explosion louder than any, and
piece of metal band struck Mr.. Bax.
ter on the knee. He gave sharp
cry and fell A volley of smaller
pieces was blown about the heads of
McNally and his companion The
from the furnace were ON.
inOus
With a cry of alarm the pIpe.men
dropped the nozzle and ran. The cir
Gle OF onlookerB scattered. They all
knew that 10000 pounds of liquid fire
was in the furnace, and that its touch
was almost certain death.
For moment Mr.. Baxter was
stunned. The stream from the hose
squirted idly into the pit" The
cloud of steam lifted and showed the
spot on the wall. glowing angrIly.
framed In irregular cracks. Then MIR. |
Baxter found his voice Come back"
lac roared. Turn the hose ON her. |
Wen save her yet"
But no one stirred. Something |
stronger than the bidding of their
master held them where they were |
You towards, You towards" yelled |
MIR. Baxter. He tried to crawl to
where the hose.pipe lay.
Then into the circle OF light cast by |
he arC.lamp overhead ran small |
iGurc and grabbed the pipe. Peter"
;asped McNally. And Peter 1t was
Peter, his eyes shining. his mouth
working in an odd. spasmodiC way,
honGh none of them saw that.
The hose twisted as he picked 1t
Up; the nozzle jumped and knocked
lin down. He scrambled to his feet
nd seized it again. He wrestled with
[; and again 1t threw him down.
Then he dropped to his knees, and
ripped 1t between his legs and held
[. The stream of water crept up the
vail and conferred on the glowing
pot
Again came tremendous kissing
nd burst of steam. In a moment
n explosion and another and another.
Tits of brick and splinters of metal
we're thrown out rs from a gun. They
,hizzed over the kneeling figure and
yer Mr.. Baxter
But In the glare of the electric light
hey saw dwarf silhouette of thin
houlders and bullet head standing
ut against the rosy curtain of steam
'hich shrouded the wall of Number
tx. And the stream of water held
rue to its mark.
a half minute went by; It seemed
n hour to the men. The explosions
nased, the cloud of steam paled. Only
ne kissing on the hot bricks told
lat the fight went on between fire
nd water, and that water was prov.
IL itself the master.
And then shame mustered McNal. :