The Washington times., 1937-12-09

whom he knew to be strong and
level headed. Both qualities would
be needed. In few moments they
were in the large hold where 500
boxes of powder we're stored. The
cause for the shift in cargo was
! -
Immediately apparent.
The great weight of the powder
boxes, combined with the violent
motion of the vessel, had found its
weak point, it had given way there,
and the break had spread until
the cargo shifted rumblingly from
one side to the other. A side of
four feet is not very much, but
when you are dealing with dyna-
mite, an inch is dangerous.
John looked around at his com
panionS. They grinned compre-
hendingly, and his heart warmed
to them.
There's not much we can do,
boys. What we can try may work
or may not. Anyway, we'd be
blown up just as much topside as
we would down here, so we may as
we'll do what can be done"
Working like a beaver himself,
he gave swift orders to wedge as
many of the boxes as possible into
the first large vacant space that
developed into the shifting.
The cargo hold was long enough
and narrow enough even with the
additional four feet permitted by
the break in the bulkhead, so that
if the entire beam could be packed
solid, the three men with the
help of timbers might keep the ex-
ploSive mass from shifting fore
and aft.
DEADLY PERIL
With each second a deadly risk,
and every shift of box a menace,
Doyle and his helpers worked
frantically. 1t seemed almost i'm
possible to jam the boxes success
fully.
The job would appear to be all
but done, when another and yet
another would break loose and
commence sliding across the hold
deck. The barge had reached the
George Washington Bridge by the
time they had finally completed
their task, and then it was a
question.
Each moment seemed century
as they strained against the tim
ber, bracing themselves against
the after bulkhead, and John lost
consciousness Of the passing Of
time.
The strained, rugged faces at
either side of him indicated relief
at the same knowledge that he
enjoyed, and finally they heard
shouts above, and felt slight jar
as the barge came alongside the
quay. A moment later the skip
per'S red face showed through the
open hatchway.
Bring it out boys, and work
fast" he roared, and climbed
down the metal ladder into the
hold followed by Torrens and the
rest Of the crew.
SKILLED SPEED
There may be faster records for
nloa a ding 500 heavy 4x3x2
wooden cases from ship, but if
so none of the crew of the Blast
will admit it.
Although as carefully handled
as so many day-old infants, the
cases ranged along the quay as if
by magic. At length the task was
completed, and the skipper sighed
with relief as he gave the order
to cast off and the barge backed
away for its trip back to the pow
der yard.
They watched the blasters
ashore stow the cases into the
magazines scattered about the
island, and shuddered as they
watched a blast rip tons of rock
from the granite-faced cliff at
one end.
IF a load of IL sticks would
do that, what would 500 boxes
with so sticks each have done to
U.s." TarrenS sighed.
The next day, John listened to
Ethel, and said nothing. He
couldn't quit now - the others
would think it had broken his
nerve. He didn't even try to ex.
plain things to Ethel, just said
he'd think it over" much to her
annoyance.
The funny thing is that he never
took another trip in the Blast.
On Monday the New York office
OF the company sent for him.
They told him they'd been con.
Slderlng a shift to the sales force
Tor him for long time-that the
sklpper's report on his handling
OF the crisis had clinched it for
him.
John and Ethel are married
now. They took a little place near
Doo6's Ferry and they commute
on the same train. Now and then
they see the Blast entering the
Harlem, and sometimes Ethel signs
as she recalls the days when She
used to wave at it.
Then she tells John how ro-
mantle it was, and asks him if he
wouldn't like to be doing that
now, and not have so many wor.
rleS about sales problems, pleasing
other people and all that sort of
thing. -
On such occasions, John smiles
grlmly and looks out over the
river. With little shiver he won.
; derS what things ara Ill ho1Sr,,