Oxford Democrat., 1914-07-14
BAPTIZED BY
POWER
Or Saved by a Woman's
Courage
sy vlNdIe E. Roe
Copyright By Frank A Munsey Co.

q by vIN0Ie Z. EO6 =
Copyright By Frank A. Munsey Co.
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Ellen Hargravs stood at the little
window Of her unpainted pine shack
and twisted together slim fingers that
bespoke her former station In life.
The coarse 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 desolat1on.
A. 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
Flows dinnerT
She did not answer and turned to the
we'll 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
againT
For answer she turned suddenly
away. pressed hard by food Of tears
that clamored for escape.
When she could command herself she
turned to him, though her lips quiv.
cred
.Jim," she said, simply. If you don't
give up this work and go back to the
world I shall 60 mad. could tear
these hills to piecesl And I hate that
monster down there" She glanced at
the power house. ut menaces me.
And I hate the river"
The mans face saddened, and a line
of perplexity came between bis brows'
"Ellen," he said. "Tm sorry-sorry
that you feel like this-and II you can
not change will give It up, though
wish you could learn to see 1t all .as
I see It Why. love It all-the bills.
the river with its uncounted strength,
the power house there with its mag.
niflcent tasks Of labor. its glorious
serving Of man. the very towns and
cities that you love 30 much. ! am
happy here. dear. II only you could
be! It's great work.
Think 1t over. honey" he whispered
a. 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
don't know"
II was 8 O'Clock Of a rainy after
noon before she could bring herself to
bathe her swollen face, wrap up In q
waterproof and 90 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'
ful power whose nghtest 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 q waist high platform
to the right, few open and Jim tum
bled out literally. his face gone white
and horror in his eyes
"Jimr screamed Ellen shrilly.
At the sudden cry the man essayeo
to turn sharply as he reached for the
flight of shallow steps leading to the
floor, missed his footing and went
down straight from the platform OF
bis 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 Georger' gritted th'
man. "And there's been a bad disas
ter at the Black Drift mine-cave-ln-
thirty men Misunderstanding wan
-power-power
"Ellen-they must have all the pow
| er we've got-e1tra drills-air com
pressed-more hoists! Oh. my God
And l can't get thereT'
His wife covered her eyes with hel
hands. and horror shut OF her breath.
When she looked again Jim lay IN
limp heap-fainted-out Of the running
done for!
And thirty men In the Black Drif
mine waiting for airl
She drew herself up slowly, her bod!
weak and q mist in her eyes.
As she stood 80 the bell in the boot
rang madly. and she dragged hersel
up the steps. numb and slow.
"HargraveT' cried a mans hoars'
voice. "For Gods sake turn the pow
or oni Hurry! We've got on all th'
drills, but they're working slow.
"For the love Of God. man. give u
all the power you've got! Cut of ev
erything in Rartell City and along tn
lines and let US have 1t all!"
He shut of abruptly. dropping tn
receiver, and Ellen Hargrave cam
out Of the booth wringing her hands.
What should she do? What coult
she dot
Then suddenly she Strengthened. tool
her hands from her face and crep
down the steps.
Air! Her own throat was choking
But she must do what Jim would hav'
done-she must handle the monster.
At the east loomed mp the red streak
ed marble face Of the great switch
board. glittering with brass and cop
per switches. big and little.
To her right Nos. and 2 sang theil
constant high pitched song Of power
over beyond the booth 3 and stood
In sinister silence.
Along the western wall ran q narrow
space leading out to the little room
above the travelling ropes and the tur
blnes.
Here the governor stood.
Here vas the power the Black Drift
needed to force the life giving drills