Year: 1877


the huge mold so soon to be filled with
the precious" cast. He knew and could
see that all the channels for tho flow of
the fiery liquid were ready, and that near
iron rod that was to be used when the
moment came to Teton the molten stream.
All this his limited thoughts took in by
habit. Dimly conscious that something
great was soon to be done, he sat with
his eyes on the furnace, absorbed and in
tent.


Suddenly something startled him.
There was n slight noise, and burning
crack appeared near the top of the fur
mace. Then another crack and scorch-
ing brick fell out and rolled to the ground
at his feet.


The lad opened his mouth and shrieked
but SO terrified was he that the sound
stuck in his throat, as if he had been in n
fit of nightmare.


A thin red stream followed the fallen
/ brick, and trickled down tho furnace side
like running lava. Then came another
alarming noise, and II thin gap half way
down the masonry let out moro of the
| Kissing metal.


Where was George He did what por-
haps lad in his right mind would not
have dared to do. Rushing to the mouth
of the furnace, he seized the long iron
rod that stood near, and tapped the vent.
One desperate thrust with sharp point
up tho terrible funne-a few quick, pry-
ing strokes Stand back, now Tho con.
iinng clay fell away, and tho yellow
white 1ood spurtod out with rcsistlcss
force. 1t leaped into tho clay lined
troughs, and hsscd its way.


The " fool " has done decd worthy of
a general on n field Of battle.


Was it too late? Every moment now
iissures opened in the doomed furnace
Some of the upper stones toppled over
Still the metal poured out into the mold.
But the waste was great from those gap
ing flaws. The pressure was relieved by
the open vent, but the leaks multiplied
continually. 1t was running n race with
ruin.


Poor Mopus stood powcrloss before
the coming catastrophe. His knees
knocked together aud his head swan. A
great heap of rubbish fell at his feet. He
had barely thought to go out of tho way
and save his life lie heard n wild shout
of human voices in the distance, then an
awful roar behind him, and he saw and
felt himself pursued by surgos of seethng
fire. Sharp, bistering pains pierced his
flesh Mt II hundred points. The rest was
all horrible dream. 1t was as if he had
suddenly sunk into the earth and had
been swallowed up forever.


BY o'clock, comparative quiet reign
ed upon the scene Of the disaster Ruins
lay everywhere. The engines had qucnch
ed the flames that had caught tho build
ing, and the men, blackened with smoke,
stood in silent groups about the remains
of the furnace. 1t had fallen to pieces,
and nothing was left but heaps OF steam
ing rubbish.


Poor Inventor" who had been
found with the tapping rod in his hand,
lying on his lace in the sand, frightlully
burned, had been carried TO his home.


Little was said, but the few words spo-
ken, uttered with no mild emphasis the
natural wrath Of the master, and hands
against the man George, whose excuses
for himself only exaggerated his olonso


See what he's DONE" said they, few
days later, as they stood in the half-burn-
cd foundry. Five thousand dollars
gone to waste in minute The best job
in twenty years spoiled The rascal to
go hunting for his pipe, and leave the
suffering idiot to watch Is that all he
can say for orhimself? out upon such caro-.
lessness Why, the boy didn't even
know enough to bawl out when he must
have seen the furnace tumbling TO piec-
es!"


The master who had more at stake
than the men, Of course felt the loss more
keenly thar they. Ho almost wept with
mingled grief ard rage. Suddenly some
thing peculiar caught his eye among the
debris, and he cried in startled voice


Hollo What's this Whats this2"


He scratched up fragment Of one OF
the troughs which had led from the fur
mace to the mold. There was traces OF
the stream Of bronze still running in it.
Then the possible meaning Of the iron
found in the injured boys hand flashed
upon him.


Bring me a shovel, quick !" he shout
ed.


A spade was put into his hands, and he
began nervousy to hesve away the hot
mass that lay piled over the bell mold
1t was "A he rculean task, but he worked
like n giant, and three or four Of his men
took hold and helped him.


Brickbats, ore, Stag and ashes flew in
every direction. Presently the masters
, spade penetrated the sand and touched
something hard. lie stopped down.
Then he leaped up like one half frantic
and plying his spade with redoubled en-
ergy, tore away the remaining sand, dis
closing what looked great metallic ring


" Men," he cried out, lifting his hush
ed face, the bell is cast %


Who did this ?" asked every excited
voice as soon as the cheering died away


Come with me two or three 0
you ~ cried the master. 81 think
know who did it. It's a miracle"
They hurried away to the home Of tn,
half-witted boy. The attendant me
them with her Gnper ON her lins