The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-03-22

; should, shortly see brought up out G
! the 'dep:bs.
, Finally, as they approached n
; top. We were able 10 catch occasi0na
! glimpses lover Bills shoulders) Of
. pa.e face aud black, bushy beard
. Then. when they reached the las
ladder, slipping up toward us, lher
was added 10 the picture q pair o
black and esger-lUvkiDg eyes-hGn
gry-looking IS probably the better tx
preSsloa-
We al the top became so much ex
cited that We came near ya0kiGg
toe Inau I'D To the top Of the shaf
al a single baul-would have dope
so. perhaps. bat for the warning cries
from Blh whom We were IN danger
Of disludging from the nOtched pois
on hich be had precarious foot
ing.
The man was al last safely landed
at the TOD Of the shaft. He was q
stranger 70 Us ALL A tall young
fellow, apparently about Se years d
age-stood befOre Us He wore q
! black felt bat and ordinary miners
garb. The man was weak, and tot.
tered rs be opened the moose at the
end of the rope, dropped 1t 10 MS
feet, and stepped out of it.
Suddenly he sank upon bis knees.
! We were about to 60 to his assis-
tance, thinking be had tainted, when
be raised his hands, and We saw, by
the motion OF his lips, that he was
doing a thing We did not often see
done in the mines.
We took OF our hats aud'stood by
in silence.
Z When the young man attempted
TO raise from bis knees he fell over on
I bis side, aud came near falling into
the shaft again, for be had tainted
Some water from the eanteen revived
him, and a spoonful Of brandy soon
gave him strength TO stand, and even
10 walk slowly, supported on either
I side by one IF our men.
We we're all dying Of curiosity, and
as We moved down the side of the
mountain toward my cabin We could
not refrain from asking q few ques-
tiO1s, weak and sick as the young
nan looked
Your name Is Jacob Pritehard?''
sked enc Of the men.
1T Is, said the straoger.
Did vuu write this note. said L
exbibi,in the scrap of writing | bad
found
i did. said the man; "but there
is blood on il, How came that | am
Dot bur''
1T Is as | found it on my cabin
floor. where you left t." said L.
- here left IT, How could L."
said The yoGag man giving me g re-
pruachful look.
Well, said | chat is what |
waat to know-snd you all the tine
iu the shsfl,"
Was u really brought 10 your
cabin:
~Ofcourse; how else would have
: OF it," said /
1T IS c miracIe." cried the young
man
Bet bow could you send the note
up out Of the shaitz" asked one Of the
men
The story is too long to be told
now: besides, what Won want to
Lnow is 30 simple might say SO
silly-that you will be inclined to
laugh at me when | tell you But
when | am rested | will Iell you
all"
This was gasped out little At
tine and 80 feebly that We all saw
that the Young man was in no eOndi-
tion to tell . long story. such as his
promised 70 be- Bill, who felt proud
Of his part OF the business Of the
rescue, swore that the man should
novsav a word until be had swallow
ed something in the shape OF food
and till be felt himself able 10 speak.
As the TWO men assisted the stran-
ger down the steep face Of the noun
taiu-much Of the time almost carry
ing him-some of US fell behind TO
discus the words be had let fall. But
we could make nothing out OF any
thing be had said
After We had reached nv cabin,
and after the stranger had partaken
of such food as we thought suitable
for him 10 his weak state, We asked
him 10 tell Us MS story.
Il ought TO ask you TO tell me your
story said be, "as there are things
that puzzle me not a little, and which
you ought TO be able 10 explain /
think you have said you found nv
note here on the aoor of your cabin :"
Il have said So | replied, "and
cannot understand how it was left
there"
The circumstance cannot astoaish
you more than it does me-" said the
Young man. The hand Of God Is
in it, When you shall have heard
my story you will probably be able
10 tell me how the note was brought
TO you; indeed, that is mystery
which it will remain with you TO ex-
plain--it is what | do not under
stand
Then it viii never be explained" "
said /.
I'VE don't know that" the young
man said.
"But | will tell you all / know
about this curions business "
Coed, Let Us have it," said al
hands
CHAPTER III
TIE STRANGERS STORY.
well, 4" said the young man, ''to
begin; | have teen mining about