The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1916-07-15

With a Bed Ridden
p,other ISL" asked Margery. gathering
up her skirts as she glanced into the
dingy storeroom feebiy lighted by it's
one dlngy electric bulb.
I'll be back in a minute, ma'am, the
girl replied. only too glad OF any rea.
sonable excuse for disappearing.
Margery. In the meantime. peered
doubtfully about tho somber building
in which she found herself so unex-
pectedly a visitor Along one side of
the room in which she stood she could
make out dark masses OF dye wood
piled as high as her head. Beside this
she saw, In the uncertain light. an
open pit filled with water. IntV one
side of this pit ran a cement-walled
sluiceway, stained almost black. with
a watergate set in the upper part OF
It's channel. The opening In the Gar
side OF the pit, which was guarded by
q heavy iron grill 90 big as a park
gate, led into a high-walled cavern
across which stretched q number OF
huge steel drums. Set In these drums
were rows OF knife-edged cleavers.
The polished surfaces OF these great
blades OF steel shone ominously In the
half-light.
Margery was still staring at the
great drums bristling with cleavers
when with a suddenness that startled
her the electric lights we're thrown on
| across the roof OF the chamber. She
wheeled about quickly to discover the
cause for this. As she did 30, an invol.
untary gasp escaped from her lips. For
standing beside the door, with his I'm.
ger still on the switch. the Iron Claw
himself confronted her.
"Why are you afraid OF me?" he con
fidently purred. For the girl drew
slowly away while he as slowly fol
lowed after her, step by step. Then
with a movement that was feline In It's
! qulckness. he flung out an arm and
seized her. Then he turned her delib
erately about until she faced the black
walled sluiceway. But the girl shranA
back
Don't be afraid OF IT, my dear" he
Knocked as he led her forcibly, step by
step, to the lip OF the channel through
which the mill water was curling and
eddying. I'm fact. want you TO look
at Il closely and understand II fully
It's wonderful, wonderful for many
reasons. AT the end OF this sluice, yoJ
sec, is a log mangle. | have seen those
knives shred a slx.inch timber In lest
than a minutes time"
He turned and stared down at thu
white-faced girl, drinking to the full
| the dizzy wine OF her terror. wringinI
a voluptuous delight out OF her word
less cape OF horror. Then the look OF
his face suddenly altered, and h
wheeled about, still clutching the cir
close TO his side. He stood staring a
the door which he had locked but
minute before. And his face sudden
ly hardened as he saw the heavy iror
latch OF that door move.
Margery, following his glance, als'
watched that door. And when sh,
heard the thump OF q heavy timber OF
It's panels q new hope sped through
her. That hope equipped her will
fresh strength. II prompted her 4
struggle against the Iron Claw will
the utmost power OF her desperat
young body. But her enemy, for al
her efforts, was too much for her. Foo
by foot he forced her back toward
the open sluiceway. Then, with NUT
tered gasp OF ffnality and q sudden NJ
ward heave OF his shoulders. he nunl
the girl headlong into the water.
As he did so the door burst open
For the heavy hearted Peggy o'Mara
after slipping guilty away from tn
sluiceroom where she had left he
quite unsuspectins victim. awakene'
for the FIRST time TO the fun enormit,
OF her offense. As she stood there n
tho darkness, staring back NJ the darl
mass OF the factory walls. the aches o
remorse lay heavy on her young heart
She was standing there. with tear
OF helplessness In her eyes. when
figure stepped up to her. She woul'
have fed. incontInently. at the ar
proach OF that intruder. But tn
stranger held her with a gently re
stralning hand. And a. she peered "a
at his face she saw that Il was th,
man In the laughing mask.
Tho righting OF wrongs is a part o
my business I'm life. Can I help your
The girl hesitated.
yes" she finally confessed. with
burst OF tears. And through her sob
she brokenly recounted as much "a
she dared or that nights proceedings
But she continued 10 weep.
And me father1i be goin' TO tn
pen for what I'm teilin' you" sh
| ....ff.A o,,t t. hor Knfaor~