Evening star., 1914-03-08
THE LEAK
Winner of SIS Prize
By H. S. Hall of Cleveland

r WORKED two years in grain elevator when was
young, back in the days when broad backs and
strong muscles did much of the work that improved
machinery takes of. 1t galley-slave toll
in that elevator quit just soon as something less
body-wrecking offered itself
Then was on the road for the Planet Paper Com
pany, selling paper bags My best business from
fourmils and feedstores, and had big circuit of
these establishments throughout the Middle West. My
principal competitor the Globe Bag Company,
ST. Louis These people active and agress
i've, and their statesmen gave me trouble.
There little hundred-barrel mill in the Wabash
Valley owned by crusty old curmudgeon who had
never given order in the five years had been
going to see him. The Globe people had strange hold
that business.
One day came into this town, and found it dead and
deserted The streets empty of people, the stores
locked up. Everybody had gone to Old Settlers Day
at Somebody's Grove twelve fifteen miles south.
Every man wished to had his place of business
closed. wondered if old Sykeman, the mill owner,
would take day off to go to picnic.
found him in his office. No picnics for him He had
been compelled to shut down his plant for the day. for
all his employees had gone with the crowd but he had
stayed on watch, hoping for stray customer
| sat down and talked weather, crops and politics
for half-hour; then l came to bags.
He had enough in stock to last him six months, and
didn't about anticipating future requirements.
With this announcement he switched the conversation
back to politics.
Beyond the railroad track that ran into the mill yard
the elevator building of some thirty forty
thousand bushels capacity, and at the time fairly well
filed The building stood the top of steep hil at
the bottom of which flowed small creek.
As looked out of the window my attention
drawn to disturbance in the creek such raindrops
would cause. For moment was puzzled; then sud-
denly realized what had happened
you've got leak in your eevator!' said to Syke
The old man jumped to his feet and hurried out and
the tracks, l following close behind
\ stream of wheat dribbing out from behind the
corrugated sheeting thirty feet above ground and rain
ing into the creek in shower In the clear depths
could big pile of grain
"Its number three bin!" cried Sykeman ats full to
the top! Here's nice fix! No way to stop it, and
every bushel that will go into the creek!'
"Have you an empty bin up there?" asked
There's one that's half empty. But what good will
empty bin do?'
run this bin into the other until you have low
cred the level beneath the leak, l replied.
"How am going to do anything when every man of
my is away? l don't know anything about this
part Of the work. ! wish picnics had never been in
vented! Look at it! III lose thousand bushels of
wheat if it isn't stopped
start up your engine and I'll help you transfer it,
| said. a used to work in elevator, and know
something about Them
mo steam up!' he groaned. ave shut down at six
this morning
@Wcll lets take look suggested running to the
engine ROOM
The gage showed over twenty pounds. | threw open
the fire doors and that the fireman, going off