The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1909-08-24

'
strolling 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 the back wall CT Number Six
Looks nasty" he said. Looks as II
it were coming through. Was afraid
she wouldn't stand another heat-lin-
ing's worn out"
McNally nodded, and together they
watched curious spot of dull red on
the brick-wal]. 1t spread slowly, but
visibly frightened.
Metals eatin through. Sand-lin-
ings given way. Sixty thousand
pounds of melted metal! Where'll it
go?"
Mr.. Baxter did not say that the es-
cape of the heat" meant loss in
time and money for the works; but
Peter knew that.
What can we do?" asked McNally
in a louder voice. He scratched his
head. "Once she gifts t. runnin'-
He stretched out an eloquent arm
Mr. Baxter turned abruptly. Get
the ire-hose-quick." he commanded.
I'VE may be able to cool down the wall
and hold it in"
McNally ran off with call to his
| hnCQ
was writing across the floor. McNal-
ly and another man held the nozzle.
A score of idle hands made a circle
about Number Six. Peter ran to his
old place of vantage on mold
Mr. Baxter gave a 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 a 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 a loud Kissing, vast
cloud of steam puffed up. The bricks
Of the wall could be heard cracking
under the drenching shower of cool
water
Then there was sharp explosion, a
pause, then series of explosions. The
cloud of steam was riven. bits OF
brick were thrown out Next came
an explosion louder than any, and a
| piece of metal band struck Mr.. Bax'
| ter on the knee. He gave a sharp
cry and fell. A volley of smaller
pieces was blown about the heads OF
McNally and his companion The
rumblings from the furnace were ON
nous.
y, With cry of alarm the pipe-mer
dropped the nozzle and ran. The cir
Gle of onlookers scattered. They al
10 knew that 10000 pounds of liquid fire
N was in the furnace, and that its touci
v, was almost certain death.
r. For a moment Mr.. Baxter wal
stunned. The stream from the hos
N squirted idly into the pit TIT
IS cloud OF steam lifted and showed thu
=" spot on the wall, glowing angrily
I'd framed in irregular cracks. Then MI
IS Baxter found his voice. Come back.
a he roared Turn the hose on her
pc Well save her yeti"
I'd But no one stirred. Something
lie stronger than the bidding of thei
On master held them where they were
I'D You towards! You cowards." yelle
d. Mr.. Baxter. He tried to crawl t
of where the hose-pipe lay.
e; Then into the circle of light cast b
no the arc-lamp overhead ran a SINAI
ct figure and grabbed the pipe. Peter!
Id gasped McNally. And Peter it was
ok Peter, his eyes shining, his mout
working in an odd, spasmodic way
ir- though none of them saw that.
ne The hose twisted as he picked
1T up; the nozzle jumped and knocke
lis him down. He scrambled to his fee
sh and seized it again. He wrestled wit
tut it; and again it threw him dow
It. Then he dropped to his knees, an
Sc gripped it between his legs and hel
it. The stream of water crept up tn
lat wall and centered on the CLOWN
He spot.
of Again came a tremendous hissin
Ok and burst of steam. In mOmeI
ct an explosion and another and anOthe
lot Bits of brick and splinters of met;
ed were thrown out as from a gun. The
1T whizzed over the kneeling figure an
N; over Mr.. Baxter.
en- But in the glare Of the electric ligl
"" they saw dwarf silhouette of thi
he shoulders and bullet head standiI
i'm out against the rosy curtain of stea
which shrouded the wall of Numb'
'as Six. And the stream of water he
d." true to it's mark.
led A half minute went by; it SCENE
-ay an hour to the men. The explosion
ceased. the cloud of steam paled. On
be the kissing on the hot bricks to
he that the fight went on between fl
he and water, and that water was pro
the ing itself the master.
He And then shame mustered McNs
the Tvs COURAGE, and he ran to whe
vas Peter kneeled. But the wall WI
the saved, the metal checked. Peter ga
uld up the pipe.
the He danced up and down. ITS don
IT'S It's done" he cried, twisting his f
be | ,~orc 9Th, watpr did IL Mr. Rayfor