Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-11-03
The load OF cobbles was delivered
a couple Of blocks beyond the next

Now, boys" Simpson said to the
horses, well go back for another
load.' He always kept Prince and
Sager Informed in regard to his
movements.
On the return journey he was de.
layed few minutes, where the chat
tering laborers were making ready
with planks to turn the boiler end
wise through the gates.
Simpson could see straight down
the few hundred intervening yards
to the Wave nesting in the freight
piles at the foot of the street. A
clear passage showed between the
heaped boxes and bales to the gang.
plank of the little craft; and as Simp-
son recognized Peterson in blue shirt
and rakish cap boarding the vessel.
humorous notion popped into his
head.
I'D like to give that boiler little
push while Peterson is in line" the
teamster unused. He'd be SO ever
lastingly scared when that big rack.
ETY. thing came Looping after him that
he'd run right out from under his
hat
The Juggling laborers had cleared
a way now. Chuckling in the en-.
joyment Of his fancy, Simpson lifted
the reins. spoke to his horses, and
left the workmen to the difficult task
of moving the big boiler
Passengers for the afternoon trip
of the Wave were going aboard as
Simpson began throwing in another
load Of cobblestones. The steamer
was due to leav in an hour, and
rafting trucks of freight alternated
with groups of passengers In passing
up the plank.
Watch out for Peterson there,
Reddy!' voice suddenly shouted.
The warning sounded SO genuine
that, somewhat startled, Simpson
turned quickly about A laugh of ap.
probation for the success of the ruse
greeted him. One of the crew was
passing by on an errand.
Fraid of our man.. aren't your
the deckhand queried. with teasing
good nature. Tomorrow noon you've
got to stand up to him and take Mat
blanket back, or else we are going
to chip in and hire you to get Job
somewhere else. We're pretty sensi-
tive about the kind of people we have
around"
A stentorian hail summoned the
loquacious sailor to the Wave. Simp-
son continued to heave in cobble-
stones thoughtfully He fully intend
ed to get his blanket back; but II
possible he wanted to do it without
shaming the redoubtable Peterson,
who had reputation to maintain in
wrestling.
Another load was on before start
ing-time for the Wave. In stray
CLING line passengers were still wend-
ing their way toward the steamer, and
the freight trucks ratified more quick
ly and merrily on and off the plank.
AS was his custom, Simpson mount.
ed the seat to thread his way diagon-
ally across the river street to the
corner where he mounted the grade.
There was just room enough to pass
between line OF cotton bales on one
side and a carpenter at work on the
other, shaping a new bulkhead tim
her.
Wouldn't you like a blanket to
sit on?' the carpenter chuckled. as
he squinted an eye to set his jack
plane. 81 understand Peterson is go.
ing to take the seat, too. tomorrow
Simpsons only answer was a wave
of his hand and a smile. He was
more concerned Just at present lest
he should guide Prince carelessly and
scratch his sleek side on the metal
straps OF cotton bale.
VII have to convince Peterson
somehow that have little sand,''
he unused, smacking his lips to urge
on the horses bit.
A quick tug on the rein at that mo
ment was all that saved Sager, the
off horse, from being grazed by a
sick of timber which some careless
hand had left protruding from be
tween two bales. Simpsons eyes had
been turned momentarily from hi.
duty toward a gay young party bound
for the. steamer. A charming couple
of laughing girls were in the lead
and behind them, weighted dowr
with baggage, a young man gallantl,
escorted a stout old lady. The part,
Joined a waiting crowd at the gang
way. where the breaking of an over
loaded truck had caused, Blockade
Simpson was just starting his
horses of again when booming
| clang! struck his ear. He heard Il
again, a fierce, exultant cling-clung
With startled glance toward the
hillside street he understood. In the
process of being turned end on toward
the factory gates the monster boiler
had broken loose! Now 1t was hur
ting noisily down the street, bang
ing the cobbles furiously, while the
voices of the workmen were raised in
frantic warnings.
lnstinctively Simpson turned his
eyes toward the Wave. The opera
ton Of repairing and repaving sec.
ton Of the wharf had caused a con.
gestion Of freight IN her vicinity. The
steamer lay, as 1t were, at the end
of a street built high on both sides
with boxes and bales-a street. down
which. in moment more, would
come bounding that terrible mass OF
charging steel. And the two hundred
feet were thronged with workmen
and passengers.
In imagination Simpson saw the
freight-lined alley swept clear, the
deckhouse of the Wave torn away,
and the boiler plunging overheard.
He gasped as he pictured the trapped
people crushed beneath the rolling
cylinder, or tossed against the side Of
the steamer.
One or two men scrambled in wild
panic over the abandoned truck to
the deck; but for the most pan
the throng seemed paralyzed by the
imminence of the danger and the