San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-07-01

ton"
glanced al johnson, but as that worthy
made no attempt TO 90 proceeded:
ut is about the Mine began, when he
interrupted me.
"Oh, the miner he said, impatiently; II
think have heard a good deal on this sub
/ ject from you before?'
You have, sir; and you have taken no
heed; but the time has passed for all that
each day the danger grows, and now, at any
moment the sea may break IN and every
soul be killedp'
While had been speaking he had been
engaged in lighting cigar, when had fin
lshed he removed the cigar from his mouth,
| pulled out volume of smoke, which he
watched ascend, and asked quietly:
DO the men know Of the danger which
! you say is threatening themP'
Most asSuTedly they dO!'
And do they refuse to wOrkP'
mo; where would be the use? II they
left the mine they would be thrown out OF
employ ment, and then their families would
starve. Better for them to hold their own
lives in their hands than to expose their
wives and children to such fate"
VERY good; then, since by your own
showing you are the only discontinued spirit,
it's time for you to gO!'
The cecil way in which he uttered these
words fairly took away my breath.
What do you mean?' asked.
just what / say, he returned; that
from to-day you may consider yourself dis
missed from the mine, and had better seek
! elsewhere for employment II you are dis
satisfied, other people are not Mr.. johnson
is qnite cont"nted with the state of affairs,
and is willing to take your place"
Seeing that resistance would be useless,
accepted my cong with as good a grace as
possible, but / was determined not to resign
without freely speaking my mind, so faced
George Redruth firmly, and said, placing my
hand upon his arm just a he was turning
away.
Il have been expecting this for long time,
and it has come. Well so much the better.
| warn you, however, thR | shall do my
duty, and let the company know the exact
state of affairs
He turned to johnson, and | saw the two
exchange a significant smile; then his face
hardened as he replied, contemptuOusy:
You will of course, do as you please; only
Ohlige me by getting out of my employment
as quickly as possible"
IL VIII nc EoOtl Ilubillce! muttered
johnson, breaking in for the first time Tire
lawney has always been 4 crOakcr."
The fellows in,o}cmt Icrr provoked Inc far
more than his masters sang frod
"Tll croak to some tune cried, facing
him, ''if yOlt Presume to talk to rner'
Presume indeed" he repeated, turning
white with fear or malice. "'rain't much
presumption. guess, 20 take down young
-O'-thr-wIlk who puts on airs as If He
was gentleman. II Mr. George had listen
ed to my advice, bed have got rid of you
long agO!'
Come along, Johnson" said Redruth;
"he's not worth talking to-"
But | cIinched my fists and blocked the
way. | suppose there was something in my
face which looked ugly, for the two men re-
cOiled before me. Several of the miners, at
tracted by Our high words had now gather
ed, and were looking on IN establishment
81 know well an honest man is not wanted
here" said. "l'v" SHOWN that for many
long day: Like master like man. You. sir
want ScOundrel To do your dirty work; and
here he is, ready made. TO your hand-as
her money would restore TO him. Thus II
was that he watched the growing friendship
between myself and his cousin with ever in
creaSing anger; and finding lie could not
openly control her. he determined, | after
ward learned, to gain his ends by treachery.
1t was not to these things, however, which
was able at this time to give my entire
thoughts; other and more painful matters
occurred which for time drove the young
master from my mind.
At home things were going very badly
with us. My uncle remained in the same
Responding state, while every day fresh
wrinkles appeared in my aunts face-the
tears were often wet upon her cheek. 1t
seemed a sin for me to be happy while so
much grief remained at home; and l some
times felt inclined to 90 right away and not
return till | could bring DIR lost one along
with me.
began to wonder, too, if my uncle could
be right when he said that the new Oyerseer
had hand in poor Annie's downfall. 1t was
strange, but since the night Of Armies dis
appearance JOhnsOn's face had not been
SON in ST. GurlOtts. | was bordering over
a solution of all these mysteries when one
day an event happened which threatened to
bring matters to a climax indeed.
had come up from the mine after pro-
lOnged inspection of it, and stood at the en-
trance, blinded with tallow and drOppings,
when suddenly heard a wild sound of
voices, and looking round i saw two men
face each other, and looking as ifthey were
about to close in deadly grip. One Of the
men was my uncle, the other was johnson,
the oyerseer.
At sight of the man whom he believed to
be his bitterest foe, all my uncle's feebleness
seemed to fall mraculously from him. He
lowered above the other, and raised his
clnched fist as If to strike.
You vilhinV he cried, "YOu cowardly,
treacherous vlllainl Tell me, whar is my
lass? Tell me, or. by the Lawd, strike zee
dead before nep'
In another moment the arm would have
descended, for johnson was paralyzed with
fear ;.but l sprung forward and caught it
with cry. My uncle tried to wrench him
self free.
Let gaw, HughI' he cried, iercely. 81
told zee what I'd do il met the villain, and
I'll do t. Look at 'un, the white-faced cur;
he Brought trouble to my lass! And nav,
while she's wanderin' about the earth in
misery maybe, he coOms var to laugh at what
he's dawnp
still held him firmly; and johnson, cur
that he was, seeing that the danger was pass
ed, recovered his presence of mind
'Perhaps, now you're little calmer," he
said, you'll tell me what you're raving
aboutP'
81 will answer for him, replied. "Where
is Annie PendragOnP"
He shrugged his shoulders and raised his