Page:The Cannery Boat.pdf/222



, rumble, rumble!

A truck which had taken copy to the rotary presses came bounding on its own momentum along the passageway of the K. Printing Works. The paved track was slippery and the truck was empty.

The boy in charge of the truck noticed a group of girl workers about twenty yards ahead and suddenly brightened up.

“Let’s have a shot at teasing the girls.”

Rumble, rumble, rumble!

The girls, who had left off sorting out used type, were skipping with a rope, singing the while. They had left their galley lying beside the track and were completely absorbed in the game. As the rope was turned faster and faster, the puffing girls bobbed lightly up and down.

“Oow! Look out!”

The truck came charging at them. The front girl, who was turning one end of the rope with her back to the truck, suddenly realized the situation and gave one piercing shriek. Holding on to the rope, she ran for dear life. The bodies and legs and red petticoats of the others got entangled.

“A–a–ah!”