The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1921-04-15
"Pop's" Nina
By KATE EDWARDS
20. 1891. Western Newspaper Union)

cSVihluiiy. nun III you Ielicls
wasn't In such a blame hurry to get
out of the caissons so as to knock
of work you wouldn't be In danger of
them"
Though he was only fifty-five. every
body knew old Stiefel. the foreman
of the construction company, as "Pop.'
"You see. boys" he would explain
to the newcomers, them bends Is
caused this way. Under two, three
four pressures the blood gets full of
air. Now you got to go back slow,
or else when you gets back to one
pressure them air bubbles hasn't
busted yet. and it's going to get into
your heart and kill you maybe"
Which was as nearly scientific as was
necessary for their comprehension.
"Bills anxious to git back to meet
that girl of his when the Smith build
Ing turns out its people," said one Of
the men.
Everybody knew Bills girl. Bill
was the popular sobriquet for Mr..
William Allen, whose uncle was junior
partner In the construction company
that was sinking It's caissons deep in
to the edge of the East river, adjoin-
ing the Smith building. Allen was
qualifying for an engineer by learn
Ing the practical details of the work.
Miss Elizabeth Strickland was en-
ployed in the Smith building, a little
three-story structure soon to be pulled
down because Of age and general de-
crepitude. 1t was rarely that the
men going to work did not see Miss
Elizabeth seated at her desk beside
window on the top story, and look
Ing out to wave her hand to Bill.
Pop" Stiefel, the sentimentalist, was
once found almost in tears, though he
stoutly attributed his condition to the
onion which his landlady had placed
In his lunch basket that morning.
Say. you fellers-when see nice
girl like Miss Strickland and fine
young Teller like that Teller Bill. IT.
sort Of makes me think Of my Nina"
he said.
Old Stiefel's wife had died two
years before, and his only daughter
had been killed In a railroad accident
a year later. He lived absolutely
alone. for mt fifty one does not often
make new friends.
"What I'm afraid Of" he continued,
his luncheon, sis that that
rotten old Smith buildings going to
fall. Yes, fellers. them foundations is
fellers. I've been down
and I've seen them.
Miss Elizabeth always waved a well
coming hand to "Pop" Stiefel. He
would have died for her. She had
whispered to him, before anybody else
vas told, the secret Of her engagement
% Allen, and had told him he was to
consider himself privileged guest at
he little bungalow which was being
Juilt for them out on Long Island. She
"Pop" more than ever Of
Nina. He went away, wiping the
ears out Of his eyes.
He had gone down In the caisson.
Under several pressures Of atmosphere
he men were pushing the great shield
scooping out the soft, cheese /
Ike clay of the river bank and send
ng up the debris. When the gangs !
lour was ended old Stiefel remained
lown alone He wanted to inspect :
hose Smith building foundations
gain.
Suddenly Stiefel became conscious
hat something abnormal was happen :
m foot TIM oi Ind
een slightly lowered and little silt
vas drifting In.
"Pop" Stiefel knew what that meant.
he rotten foundations would simply
e swept away. The building, resting
n nothing. would collapse.
The sweat poured down his face.
lie looked round him in agony. Then
q rushed back to the air lock and
ntered the chamber with the next
ressure of atmosphere. One man
,as waiting there, and he was just
bout to pass back into the upper air.
"Run!" shouted Stiefel, plucking
i'm by the sleeve "Run like all you
vas worth, you Teller, and tell 'em
he Smith buildings going to fallw
The man caught the Mortified look
q the old mans face and turned and
beyed. Then Stiefel turned back in
, the lowest chamber again and waded
trough eight inches Of swampy sand.
"F1ve minutes 7" he muttered. Five
linutes and she falls. But Wen save
err
He knew that slight obstruction
ften checks vast momentum for a
hort space Of time. And he, with
Is ponderous body-what better pur-
Dse could he serve? SO he sat down
cavity In the mud which reached al
ost TO his armpits. AS he did so
3 became conscious that the qulv-
ing mass was temporarily halted,
ke some wave meeting breakwater.
he ripping surface undulated away
ON him; then slowly 1t crept round
Id upward. But he had saved a
mute. And minute meant the
argin between death and safety.
He looked at his watch. "Four
inutes," he said. Five. Good. Now
[ her Gomez And the mass rose
his neck and gulped his watch and
e hand that held 1t, and Tapped Mt
g chin and nostrils. The old man ,