The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1916-05-06

his thick eyebrows when
he reached the boat landing
where ordinarily they
crossed. He brushed It out of his
eyes with the back Of his sleeve and
stared at the place where usually the
boat rode. 1t was Gonel Smaltx had
taken 1t instead of the overhead tram
in which he always crossed.
He kept on running along the river
Until he came to the steps of the
platform. where the heavy iron cage.
suspended from O cable, was tied to
. tree. Bruce bounded up the steps
two at . time and loesened the rope.
1t was not until then that he saw that
the chain and sprocket, which made
the crossing easy. were missing. This,
too. was strange. There was no time
for speculation. Could he cross in It
hand over hand7 For answer he put
his knee on the edge and Kicked of.
Tho impetus sent It we'll over the
river. Then It struck the slack in
tho cable and slowed UP. Bruce set
his teeth and went at 1t hand over
hand.
When ne reached the platform on
the other side he was Just able to
throw an arm around the tree and
crawl out. while the ponderous iron
cage. squeaking on the rusty cable.
rolled back to the middle Of the river.
where 1t swung to and fro.
Bruce stepped up on the wooden
casing which covered the pipes and
MOBILES inside the power house.
Down below. Banule had thrown
out the switch and the machinery
was running away. A rim of fire
sncircled the commutators.
For a moment the amazing. unex-
pected sight deprived Bruce Of the
power to move. Then he jumped for
the lever and shut down.
smaltz stood his ground a. Bruce
advanced.
why didn't you answer that ts''-
II declaremths receivers dropped
or tho hook!"
"why didn't you shut down"
How should I know? Tho bell
didn't ring-Banule hadn't told me
No."
= Bruce turned to the telephone and
rang the bell hard.
"Hello-helio-hello!" came the fran
tic reply.
Can You swim. Banule"
Then take Il where the cable
crosses the river. Come quick" He
put the receiver back on its hook
and stepped TO the lever. Smaltz's
eyes opened wide as Bruce showed II
hard. He stared as though he thought
Bruce had gone out OF his mind. Then
the dynamos began TO pick up.
What you goin' to dor" shouted
Smaltz above the screech OF the belt
ing and the hot bearings.
Pm going 20 kill you! DO you
hear?" His eyes were bloodshot.
more than ever he looked like some
}. battle-crazed grizzly seeing his VIC
tim through blur Of rage and pain.
III can-throw you-across those
commutators-before the fireworks
stop-I'm goin. to give you fifteen
hundred volts!"
A wild fright came in Smaltz's eyes.
Let me up" he begged.
I'm all in. I'll tell"
go on, then-talk!"
'I-was paid"
For the fraction OF a second Bruce
stared into Smaltz's scared face.
you were paid" he repeated slowly.
"Who"-- and then the word came
rapier-like as had the thought
"Sprudell!"
HE told me to see that you didn't
start. He left the rest to me-" With
sullen satisfaction: And it's cost him
p,snty-you bet
tyou turned tho boat loose in
Meadows"-
Eyes"
"you wrecked it on that rock"-
yes"
You fouled the mercury in the
boxes?"
yes"
"And Toy!"
Smaltz Indispensable could barely
speak-"Pm tellin' the truth-it was
an accident. He jumped mel threw
him off and he fell In the sluice- box
--backward-I tried to save him-I
dld-that's straight"
Finally, Bruce took his knee from
his chest and got up. SmaltZ pulled
himself to his feet and stood I'M
certainly.
"Well,-I suppose it's Jail" There
was sullen resignation in his voice.
IL want you to write what you told
me-cxactly-word for word. Write
II in duplicate and sign your name"
He was still writing when Banulo
same. breathing hard and still drip
.,ng from his frigid swim.
Smaltz handed Bruce the paper
when he had finished and signed his
name. Neither the writing nor COM
position was that OF an illiterate
man. Bruce read 1t carefully and
handed IL 10 Itlnulc'
"Rcad this and witness It.
Ranulc did as he was told.
Now copy it, said Bruce, ana
SmaltZ obcyed.
Bruce stepped to the double doors
and slid the bolt
"There's your traIf-now hit ill.,
He motioned into the wilderness as
he threw the doors wide.
Smaltz wheeled and turned sharply
TO Bruce.
"You know even a liar sometimes
tells the truth and I'm goin' TO give II
10 YOU straight now I've nothin to win
or lose. This machinery never will
run. The plant was a failure before
n II was put mp. And" he nodded con-
I unanimously al Banule, nobody knew
Atter than that dub.
wA through he's lied and hlutfcd
TAXED. He has yet 10 put UP his
successful plant. Look up his
W you think it amt the truth
Ne eyes of the law I'm guilty
IN this plant but In fact