The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1885-02-13

all of one pattern"
Light or darkY"
Light, 1 think"
sWas it tweed suit?"
II almost think it was. What had he
been doing? Anything wrong? He
seemed to me to be rather scared like"
(Which way did he go, sirg"
IL think he made for that great house,
sir"
"Come ON said the deputy. and he
followed this treacherous indication,
hot in pursuit.
Monckton lost no time. He took off
twenty years, and reached the Dun Cow
as an old acquaintance. He hired the
one vehicle the establishment possessed,
and was off like shot to Derby; thence
he despatched note to his lodgings to
say he was suddenly called to town, but
should be back in week. Not that he
ever intended to show his face in that
neighborhood again.
Nevertheless events occurred that
stopped both his fight and Bartley's
and yet broke up their unholy alliance.
1t was Hopes final Inspection of the
BARLEY mine, and he took things in Or
der. Months ago second shaft had
been sunk by his wise instructions, and
but for Bartley's parsimony would have
been now completed. Hope now ascer-
tanned how many feet it was short, and
noted this down for BARLEY.
Then, still inspecting, he went to the
other extremity of the mine, and reach
ed sort of hall or amphitheatre much
higher than the passages. This was a
centre, with diverging passages on one
side, but closed on the other. Two of
these passages led by oblique routes to
those old works the snoring of which
had been reported unsafe.
This amphitheatre was now busy
scene, empty trucks being pushed off,
full trucks being pushed on. all the men
carrying lighted lanterns that wayered
and glinted like "wills-Of-the-wisp.
Presently a bell rung and a portion of
the men, to whom this was signal,
left off work and began to put on their
jackets and to await the descent of the
cage to take them up in parties. AT
this moment Hope met, to his surprise,
figure that looked like Ben Burnley.
He put up his lamp to see if he was
right, and Ben Burnley it was. The
rufiian had the audacity to put up his
lamp, as if to scrutinize the person who
examined him.
did not discharge you?" said Hope.
SAY, lad" said Ben: "but your master
put me on again." With that he show
ed Bartley's order and signature.
Hope bit his lips, but merely said,
@He will rue it." Burnley sided away;
but Hope cried to one or two men who
were about;
Keep sharp lookout on him, my
men; your lives are not safe whilst he's
in the mine"
Burnley leaned insolently against a
truck and gave the men nothing to OBJ
serve: the next minute in hustled the
honest miner at whose instance Hope
had come down the mine, and begged
him to come and visit the snoring at
once.
Hope asked if there were any other
men there; the miner replied in the
negative.
saVery well, them" said Hope; 'I'll
just take one look at the water here,
and I'll be at the snoring in five min
utes."
Unfortunately this unwary statement
let Burnley know exactly what to do;
he had already concealed in the wood
work canister of dynamite and fuse
to it to last about five minutes. lie now
wriggled away under cover of Hopes
dialogue and lighted the fuse, then he
came flying back to get safe out of the
mine, and leave Hope in his death-trap.
But in the mean time Grace Hope
came down in the cage, and caught
sight of her father, and came scream
ing to him, Father! father!"
"You here, my childp
There's a plot to murder you! A
man called Burnley is to cause an ex-
plosiOn at the old works just as you
visit them"
IAN explosion cried Hope, sand fire
damp about! One explosion will cause
fifty. Ring the bell! here, men! danger!"
Then there was a rush of men.
ben Burnley is firing the mine."
There was q yell of fury; but a dis
tant explosion turned it to one of dis
may. Hope caught his daughter up in
his arms and put her into cavity.
ely, men, to the other part OF the
mine!" he cried.
There was louder explosion. In ran
Burnley terrified at his own work, and
flying to escape. Hope sprang out up
on him. mo, you don't; living or dead,
you are the last to leave this mine"
Burnley struggled furiously, but Hope
dashed him down at his feet. Just as
far more awful explosion than all took
place, one side of that amphitheatre fell
in, and the very earth heaved. The
corner part of the shaft fell in upon the
cage, and upon many poor miners who
were hoping to escape by it.; but those
escaped for the present who had Obeyed
Hopes Oruer ana Ieu 10 atOlner part VI
the mine, and when the sitting vapOrs
drifted away there stood Hope, pale as
death, but strong as iron, with the as
sassin at his feet, and poor Grace
crouching and quivering in her recess.
Their fate now awaited these three-a
speedy death by chOke-damp, or slow
death by starvation, or a rescue from
the outside under circumstances of I'M
paralleled difficulty, since there was but
one shaft completed, and that was now
closed by mountain of debris.
CHAPTER XXI.
BURIED ALIVE.
The explosions so tremendously loud
below were but muffled sounds at the
pits mouth; but alas! these muffled
sounds, and one flash of lurid flame
that shot up into the air, told the tale
of horror to every experienced pitman
and his wife. and the cry of awhole vii
Al