The Monticellonian. [volume] (Monticello, Ark.) 1870-1920, 1917-10-12

someone whom she wanted too. Tom
called to her as she went up the stairs
Saturday morning but she did not no
tlce him. All at once she felt great
bitterness against the whole cruel
pressure, the daily grind that ate up
youth and happiness the pitiful little
81 that was due her that night, old
Levinslly's face nj the time clock when
she rang up, Miss Gulitsly, the fore
woman giving out the work of the
daX-what was 1t all worth in the big
count up of life2
That morning at breakfast her moth
er had been telling of her homo in the
old country, of the beautiful lakes of
Killarney and of the lifting glory OF
the hills around them. It seemed Hike
another world to Tess from this mar
row street filled with crowded Italian
children. and endless rows of factories
and shops below Bleeclicr street.
She was thinking of this. hating her
work, her companions, Telka's sleek,
dark head. tile sound of the machinery.
everything in the place.
Wen be let out ut twelve noon to-
day" the girl nj the checking desk
said. "BoSs's got soft heart, guess
on account of the picnic. What You
going 70 wear, Tess 2"
Tess scowled 1t WAS on the tip Of
her tongue to say she wasn't going.
The clock over her head said ten min
III -, lta hnr
last load of boxes and started for the
inclosed wooden stairs. And half way
down she saw little curling of
smoke. 1t was ever SO slight. hGrdly
noticeable. only when you work IN II
paper box factory you grow to see
such things very quickly. In ten min
ates or less il would eat its WAY
through and the wood partitions would
blaze UP like matchWood. Tess
stared ut it. and then went deliberate
ly on to the second floor.
They would have their picnic with
cut her. would they? They would
laugh n her red hair and call her
Irish. would they? She'd show them.
Ii gave her the strangest, most won
derful thrill to know how she held the
fate of the whole factory in her hands
or course they would get out in time.
She just wanted to give them "A good
scare. All the time her last lot of
boxes were being packed for shipment.
she stood looking at the clock count
ing minutes. Five six. seven. Sud
denly She turned and ran for the
stairs. Levinsky called after her that
the door WIS locked, she'd have to
use the freight elevator tf She want
cd 10 20 up. But that red hair was
not without its own significance. Tess
reached the little fire alarm box by the
door and before anyone could stop her
she had smashed the glass and turned
the key around.
Twelve noon found the girls making
for the stairway in panic of fear. the
fear of the paper box worker. And
the stairs We're filed with the peril of
death. rising clouds of choking smoke
that drove them back. Toms voice
above all called them to the freight
elevator. and Tess was leading them
like lot of sheep to safety. when
she missed Telka. She went back
into the smoke just as the firemen
came Oh a run.
II was Tom who found her, still
gripping the fainting girl In her strong
young arms her ankle twisted In her
fall: and he carried them both To
safety. The next day as the steamer
turned slowly up the river in the flood
of late May sunshine Tess snuggled
closer to the broad shoulder beside
her There had been cheer given
for the girl with the red hair who had
given the alarm in time at II noon,
but she hardly heard 1t. Her face
vas bent over bouquet of rose ge-
ranium and heliotrope and mignon-
cite from Toms mothers garden In
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