Year: 1869

surely, tnOugnt L, lie VINO sees the SparrOWS
tall, will not desert me in my present need


Slowly my hands parted end fell to my
side, and slowly [ crawled back towards the
end OF the boiler, where l knew was the man.
hole through which I had been showed by the
wicked engineer while | was under the in
fiuence OF the drug which he had admins
tered.


passed my hands over the cast-iron plate
which shut up the only ingreSs to the boiler.
pushed against it with all my strength :;
still know that one hundred pounds of steam
pressure could not remove that plate. l felt
exhausted by my efforts, and / threw myself
at full length upon the tlues The water
covered me up to my neck and head, which
! kept above its level


A desperate thought came to nv mind. !.
Why should not drown myself by lowering
my head. 1t would end my misery at once
Some one seemed to whisped into my ear,
:" Do it, Then another voice said :" 1t is
suicide, and God will punish YOU


l laughed, yes, I laughed. Its only a
dream said l. and will soon awake and
once more see the blessed light of day


But it was not dream, it was terrible re-
ality. The love of life came back to me.
Again l pressed my hands over the cold sur
face OF the boiler. They came IN contact wtih
son7etttag achich n,ored!


God in His infinite mercy had given to me
the means OF escape from that living tomb.
MY hand was grasping the short iron bar
which the boys had propped into the boiler.
1t was lying across some of the stay rods
which traversed the boiler in all directions


used it as a hammer against the cast-ron
plate which covered the man-hole One sharp
blow, crack, and a stream of binding light
fell upon my eyes. Ii was the rising sun, for
the back part of the boiler looked towards
the east. Two more blows, and the broken
plate fell with splash into the water and
left the aperture open and clear for my es-
cape.


1t is YET wonder to me that the intense iov
that I experienced did not kill me. With diff
ficulty | crawled through the opening. |
staggered towards the engineers room and
opened the door. The apartment was ten
antless James had gone to his breakfast
looked at the clock it still lacked fifteen
minutes to six.


a strange thought flashed across nv mind
"What, if l should take the spare man hole
plate from the storeroom close by, and fix it
into the aperture9 | had vet ten minutes
time. Would not James think that I was
still within the boiler?


ran to the store room and took the plate
from the shelf. 1t seemed very heavy to Inc
as | carried it to the back part Of the boiler
There | laid it down and closely examined
the lead gasket which was around its rim
Everything was complete with the exception
of putting on some red lead, went back to
the store room. got the little cask of lead and
put some of it upon the tow that James had
wound round the lead gasket. Then fast
ened the plate to the aperture by means of u
clamp and nut. While | was at work heard
nt tI,a Ia
at the neglect Of the watchman in not lighting
the fire. There was no danger of my being
detected He, as he afterwards told me-
thought that ii was James making ONE repairs,
for he heard the clanking of iron, while he
was employed about the furnace.


1t was near six, and in minute more
James would return from the boarding house
that stood some distance apart from the saw
mill | looked about me. Near the boiler
and close to the steam gauge was high shelf
half concealed by large beam. By Jump
ing upon the boiler l could reach that shelf
/ was not minute too late. Scarcely was
concealed behind the beam before l saw
James enter the engine room. He looked
very pale, and large black circle were around
his eyes as if he had passed sleepless night


There was no partition between the boiler
and the engine-room. One glance at the
steam gauge told him that the watchman had
neglected his duty He rushed down the
few steps in front OF the furnace and shouted
to the fireman


"Quick, Jim throw more pitch pine slabs in
to the fire. Mr.. Smith will give us fits. Look !.
he is coming now 10 find out why I haven't
blown the whistler


'Watchman's fault" grumbled Jim, open
ing the doors and shoveling into the furnace
a huge pile of shavings. Nfr Smith entered
the fire-room and James explained to him why
steam was not up high enough to start the
engine.


George ought to have fired up at five, but
| suppose he was sleeping at his post CON
cluded he


WELL" said the father Of AIinna, Il will
tell Louis to pay him his wages and discharge
him.


When James heard my name mentioned, |
could see that he trembled from head to foot
been to breakfast and he did not sleep in his
room last night said Mr. Smith


II don't know taltered the guilt \
wretch, turning away his face.


.'He said to the second sawyer that he was
going to S----on some businessr' said JIM
looking up.


..All right. Now Mr.. Alton do your best
to get up steam rs soon as possible, for every
hour'lost is money out of the companv's treas
ury,'' said Mr.. Smith leaving the tire-room


felt faint and weary, yet remained at
my post. James was passing to and fro with
restless steps. Once he stopped and lifted the
safety-valve from which now came sound
like a sigh. Quickly he dropped the cord
connected with the lever, and something like
groan issued from his half open mouth


He then lit his pipe, but after one or two
puffs he threw it upon bench. Then again
he resumed his rapid walk l looked at the
steam guage. 1t indicated ten pounds pres
sure to the square inch and was rapidly rising.
James stopped in his walk and began to oil
the journals Of the engine. The fireman had
gone out of the room. Nov is my time"
thought l, rising up and jumping on the boiler
next the engine.


''James-James" - cried l, and my voice
sounded even strange to me. He quickly
turned and sank upon his knees as he saw my
form standing only a few feet from where he
had been at work.


4Mercy. mercy groaned he with upltted
hands


s.No mercy to a murderer" shouted |,
jumping from the boiler with the intention OF
seizing him,


But he was to quick for me. With cry
of intense horror he sprang to his feet and
ran up the broad steps leading to the upper
part Of the mill.


''Save me, save me :" shouted he to the
working men rushing past them upon the log