Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-06-08

window Of her implanted pine shack
and twisted together slim fingers that
bespoke her former tation in life.
The arse blue flannel shirt and
short skirt told plainly enough that her
lot these days was "roughing It"
Outside the sight which greeted her
half tragic eyes was drear to the point
of desolation.
As she looked the door Of the power
house opened and a tall man came out,
swinging up the path to the cabin with
the rhythm OF youth and health.
Hello, Miss Prettyface," he laughed
"How's dinner"
She did not answer and turned to the
well laid table. pouring the tea with
shaking fingers.
Presently the man noticed the look
of her eyes, and his face sobered.
whats the matterT be asked. "Biue
AGAIN."
For answer she turned suddenly
away. pressed hard by food of tears
that cIamored for escape.
When she could command herself she
turned to him, though her lips qufv-
cred.
"Jim," she said, simply. 'if you don't
give I'D this work and go back to the
world 1 shall go mad. I could tear
these hills to pieces! And / hate that
monster down there" She glanced at
the power house. at menaces me.
And 1 hate the river"
The mans face saddened. and line
of perpIexity came between bis brows.
Ellen" he said, I'm sorry-sorry
that you feel like this-and If you can
not change I will give it up, though
1 wish you could learn to see it all as
I see il. Why, love it all-the bills,
the river with its uncounted strength,
the power house there with its mag
nificent tasks Of labor, its glorious
serving of man, the very towns and
cities that you love SO much. 1 am
happy here, dear. II only you could
bel It's great work.
Think it over, honey" he whispered
as he kissed her to return to his shift.
Don't you want to come down and
stay with me awhile this afternoon?
Charlie is going over to the settlement.
How that chap manages for sleep 1
don't know"
1t was O'Clock of a rainy after
noon before she could bring herself to
battle her swollen face. wrap up in
waterproof and go down the crooked
path to the power house, crouching
low and ugly beside the river.
AS she crossed the rallied approach
above the food gates the deep throat
ed hum of the dynamos struck her
ear, and she shuddered involuntarily.
The constant menace of that stored
death was always before her-the aw-
full power whose lightest touch meant
eternity appalled, her.
She was thinking in this shrinking
strain as she opened the door.
AS they always did, her eyes swept |
swiftly over every bit of the wide
open space in the center of the build |
ing for Jim.
Now, as she looked in growing fear,
the door of the telephone booth, little
room set up on a waist high platform
to the right, few open and Jim tum-
bled out literally. his face gone white
and horror in his eyes.
"JimP screamed Ellen shrilly.
At the sudden cry the man essayed
to turn sharply as he reached for the
fight of shallow steps leading to the |
LIS lDOtluS WGHL
down straight from the platform on |
his right knee, the foreleg bent back, |
with the toe caught on the platforms |
edge
There was a report as Of a cracked |
plank above the hum, and she reached |
him to see the foot fall useless.
Broken, by GeorgeF' gritted the |
man. And there's been a bad disas-
ter at the Black Drift mine-cave-in--
thirty men Enthusiastically want |
"Ellen-they must have all the pow
er We've got-extra drills-air COM
pressed-more hoistsI Oh, my God! |
And can't get therer'
His wife covered her eyes with her
hands, and horror shut Off her breath.
When she looked again Jim lay In a
limp heap-fainted-out of the running
done fori
And thirty men in the Black Drift
mine waiting for air!
She drew herself up slowly, her body
weak and mist in her eyes.
AS she stood so the bell In the booth
rang madly, and she dragged herself
up the steps. numb and slow.
"HargraveT cried a mans hoarse
voice. For Gods sake turn the DOW
err on! Hurry. We've got on all the
drills. but they're working slow.
For the love of God. man. give US
all the power you've got. Cut Off ev-
erything in Bartell City and along the
ines and let US have it allr
He shut of abruptly. dropping the
receiver. and Ellen Hargrave came
but of the booth wringing her hands.
What should she do? What could
,he do?
Then suddenly she Strengthened. took
her hands from her face and crept
Town the steps
Air. Her own throat was choking.
But she must do what Jim would have
ione-she must handle the monster.
At the east doomed up the red streak
marble face OF the great switch
a ri rWlNN