The Lake County star., 1877-11-22

"I dunnot know"
Rex got the same answer from every
pitman he saw, sometimes Joined with
anything but kindly sentiments. He
went back to the banksman.
"Where is John Bowles ?"
"done home for his dinner"
Rex followed him. 1t was not easy
to alarm Bowles.
"The constable. - he said, twas sure
to come up the first chance; half an
hour would show him he'd lose HIM
self heap quicker'n he'd find Dave
Harly-speclap II Dave didn't want to
be found"
But no one saw him come up, and
Will Hewitt said some "grewsOme
words about him.
"Will Hewitt's out o. his head; but
If yo' really think the fellow is down
pit all this time, I'll go down WI yo'!
John Bowles isn't q chap To see his
worst enemy die 4 coal-pit"
The overman's questioning received
more attention. A few minutes sur
feed to alarm Bowles. He put flask
of brandy in his pocket, saw his Dsvy
lamps were In perfect order, and ex-
aiming thoroughly his map of the mine,
went down with Rex.
They went first to the great hall,
and Bowles left there light and a
map.
'sEvsry twenty minutes, Rex, yo'll
come back here-all the seams run frO'
this place-yo'll take that side, I'll take
this; irt chaps int pit, We'll find him
fore long,
They came back once, and separated
again; then, before Rex had finished
his second exploration, Bowles heard
his voice frantically calling for help.
In a few moments they ran against
each other.
"Bowles! BOwles! Your brandy
flask !-the man is OH his face in Pat
rick's old seaTu-and, great heavens! !!
Will is right there are more rats
round him and over him than you
can countv
Bowles pushed Rex aside and ran
first. He knew every turn Of the pit
as a policeman knows his beat; and
when Rex arrived he had raised the
man, and was trying to pour brandy
down his throat. From every Granny
and dim recess cleaned the half-saga-
cious eyes of the cruel pit rat, bold
with hunger and numbers, and
scarcely to be driven away even by
blows.
He's gettin' his death, I'm feer-
en-"
They carried him quickly to the hall
and laid him down as tenderly as If he
had been sick child. Then Rex ut
tered cry of horror. 1t was evident
that the last act of the unfortunate crea-
ture had been to turn on his face, in
order to protect it, when he had no
longer the strength to fight his accu-
mulating foes.
"See here, Bowles land here!-and
here! My God, what brutes men
must be to do such a cruel deedw
"Easy. my chad easy; he's much to
blame himself. Anybody living near
coal pits knows that it's dangerous
gate to taxi yo'r own way in mine. I
was all o. two years learning tn old IAN
new seams-why there's nigh on forty
miles o. passages IL yo'll put EN- togith-
err"
Itwas nearly dark when Rex solemn
ly took his way home. The thought
of what he had lett under the sheds
made him not only sOrrOwful, but an
CRY; and the groups Of pit-bOys play.
ing in the black streets, or fighting out
with knotty fists some underground
quarrel, added to his anger. He soon
came back to the village ale house.
Upon the patch of blackened grass In
front of it, q group of colliers sat, each
one with his favOrite bulldog between
his legs. They were Dragging of their
prowess, and taking bets upon the next
Saturdays fights.
Rex strode In among them like an
accusing spirit. ''Dave Hartly, yOn
man that came to see you yesterday
morn is dead. John Bowles and ]
found him in Patrlck's old corner.
The rats had begun to eat him"
"The poor rats! Hunger maun he
fearful thing IL it gars them to eat a
constable !"
"You are as big brute as your dog,
Dave. You'd better never speak to me
again."
"I'll set my dog on thee, thou proud
tyke, if thou talks to me at that gate. +"
Rex raised his hand, dropped 1t, and
walked rapidly away.
The news made small impression
upon the group. "Twere only q con
stable" Constables were the natural
enemies Of colliers. 1.-THE man would
go down pit, 1t was none Of their busi-
ness to hinder him none Of them had
orders to leave their work and conduct
him about the dangerous underground
city. They had no fear punishment
until the law could define not only the
guilty party, but also the fault and
the corOner's verdict Of accidental
death" made their consciences quite
comfortable. Dave Hartly, indeed,
said 1t was far too mild, ,''and that they
ought to have decided that he ''died OF
his own daftness."
But when Saturday came most of the
men had something else to think OF
than bull dogs aud bets. The fever had
spread like q plague, Scarcely q cot
tage had escaped. Strange hands were
working the pit, and Rex and those
still well had enough to do to give the
barest attention to the dead and dying.
Rex seemed to know neither fatigue
nor end OF resources. He went from
house to house, controlling the raving
men, helping the women. nursing the
children. BY some persuasion he got
doctors, and induced bakers to bring
bread to within little distance of the
infected village. In short, he was the
human arm on which two hundred
families leaned.
This did not seem q good time fof
the growth of love; and yet in the
short, solemn meetings he and Bessie
had at Lowther stile-when he took
the news of her parents, dried her
gears, and comforted her with growing
hopes--love found all the food It need
ed. Bessie became very dear to Rex,
and Rex to Bessie and, though no
promise had been asked or given. they
knew very well that they belonged to
each other forever.
But time and the hour run through
the hardest days. The fever died nj
last, and those who had escaped from
its clutches were beginning to creep
into the winter sunshine again. Will
Hewitt was talking OF going to work.