Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-01-28
GRA NUMBE


wont to be punctual, and she was about TO
say so, when the butler entered hastily aud
whispered something IN his masters ear.
Mr.. Goodwin rose quickly, saying:
"My dear, this is bad news. There has
been fall at the lead works"
"How unfortunate. / am thankful the
men were not Mt work. Or, even worse, we
might have been viewing them, as Robert
has been plaguing us TO do, and been all
crushed together, like any common laborers.
But where can Robert bel"
Here the butler spoke:
al fear, ma'am, that Master rRobert-least-
wise he went that way when he came back
lis in there, and John has gone to the viz
lage for help"
The gentlemen rose and hurried from the
room; but almost as soon as they reached
the scene the women were there too. The
BOYS sister could not be restrained, and
Mrs. Goodwin signed to Gertrude to let her
go. Anything was better than inaction.
Mr.. Godwin's wad- hole and works were
hardly quarter of a mile from the house,
though hidden by a shoulder Of the hill. He
guessed at once that the boy had taken the
key that he might exhibit to the ladies' the
wonders of the wad- hole, and probably had
gone to make his preparations. A servant
seeking him when dinner was ready had dis
covered the accident and alarmed the vii
lage.
SIS there any hope?" asked Gertrude, in
a trembling voice.
"No," replied her father, with groan.
''The props at this end are gone, and the
men say the hill is coming down. We must
wait for help from Keswick."
Gertrude was turning to the group indig-
nantly, but one was before her.
"Now, men, l can handle pick, though
l am Londoner. Ten pounds to every
man who joins me. Don't let them say that
the Cumberland men left their masters s
guest to perish because they were all cow
ards"
The cold, impassive face was aglow with
energy and excitement. Was it Gertrude s
fancy, or was it that that word in his voice,
struck her like whip?
THE hill is on the move, master, and he
be Dead too," said the foremost man.
"Hush, his sister be there!' put in a
woman, in a low voice.
There was an instants hesitation while
the whole crowd watched the big miner.
"We be with you, master!' cried he, seiz-
| ing the tool at his feet like giant aroused.
The spell was broken, and who then so
reckless as the Cumberland men? Losford
soon had to check them, and assist the fore
man to underI in and take other precautions
as they worked. In time more men hocked
from neighboring pits TO the spot, aud the
work was carried on in gangs. Notwith-
standing Mr.. aud Mrs. Godwins entreaties
Violet would not leave, and hour after hour,
while the countless loads of earth We're be-
ing wheeled away, she walked to and frc
with Ger:rude's hand in hers. How each
workman was gazed at as he came from the
darkness into the blaze of the fire and de-
1 .,...t.I Load WhnaVar W. Ea1 hx
Spells, the figure Gertrude knew best did
not appear. But, when The faint, linger-
ing hope was dying out, one of the mer
staying in the house came quickly up tC
Violet.
Miss Marston, do not be too sanguine
There is hope yet, however. The fail is
only partial. and he may lie in the main
workings. The men fancy they heard hin
knocking.
Violet made no reply. She was sobbint
on GeItrude's shoulder.
"Is any one hurt?" asked the latter
eagerly.
Hardly. Only few cuts from stones.
Another hour passed, while the crowC
thickened, and listened breathlessly to tn
dull sound of the tools and the creaking o
the bauows. A fresh gang was at work
and tney came out more quickly. The SIX.
ont III cold majesty.
Suddenly the work ceased a barrow ol
its way out stopped inside the entrance
The crowd outside drew close and breathet
more quickly. and women hid their faces a
the sound of voices came from the PIT
Then n crowd of men pressed out, ana II
their midst Walter Losford, stained ant
ragged, with the boy in his arms. He lai,
him on the wraps by the women. The bloc,
was tricllling from a cut in his own forehead
and his face, where it was not lead-grimed
was pallid with fatigue.
"He has only fainted," he said to the doc
tor.
'Just so; he only wanted a glass o
whisky" said the latter, cheerily.
Gertrude rose from the boy to thank hi
bearer, but he had turned away.
"The worst time was just before the
broke in, Gerty. l thought the earth mus
fall again, or something happen to preven
them reaching me-" Bob said to her, whe
! she visited him in his room next day. "Bu
that Losford is no end Of trump. He
been up to say good-by, and l told hin
what an ass I'd made myself about him.
heard his voice first, and Mrs. Goodwin say
, they would not have got me ont but fo
him."
The likelihood of this alternative ap
peared TO give him unmixed satisfaction.
81 don't think they would, said Gertrude
r presenting him with large bunch G
J grapes. I'll get you some more, Bob"
/ "You bet your boots they wouldn't 1t
pity he can't climb. Fancy fellow hk
: that with what the doctor calls constitu
, tional vertigo!' can't make it out"
| And Bob fell into brown study whic
, ,,assed into doze; and thus refreshed,
was enabled to chatter all dinner time.
Gertrude stole out of the room, and, run
ning down stairs, found him in the hal
He had nislaid favorite stick.
"Mr. Losford," che began, standing be
fore him in she knew not what attitude G
. pretty humility, II said something yesterda
the memory OF which is burning me wit
shame. ! cannot forgive myself, but WI
YOU say that you do? Bob has mad
amends. Let me do 50. What a FOOLS
girl said cannot have huryoHp' she PLEADED
as he made no answer.
Rather should not have hurt me-" he rt
plied. grayely; syet it did, cruelty, Mis-
Godwili. But for the chance occurrence {
last night, you would be thinking so still
n was ungenerous as well as tb0ughiless,
, Gertrude WINGED under each almost cor
, tenfutnons word. She Ind net bargaine
for this. Too much hurt for tears, she mui
INJURED rs she turned to leave him:
II am sorry"