The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-04-10

dingy workshop like SO many slaves, am the result of secret process. Even the emperor didn't know how l was made"
 And you interrupted the Knife inquisitively to the Weight, what did you cost? How much are you worthy
 II asked sarcastically
 II really don't know, replied the W eight mo,iesti, never asked
 Never asked repeated the Idol dis dainfullv. Have you a history Have you anything to recommend you to this remarkable and choice collection2'
 Il don't know, answered the Weight rehectively after short pause. " was dug out of an iron mine in Michigan. Michigan? Where that? queried the Vase. Anywhere near Paris2'
 No" responded the Weight artle>sly. Michigan Is in this country This mne is near the white shore ot Lake Super for, by the side of mountain brook which tumbles over the sharp rocks and seeths and boils a> it rushrS through q narrow cut in the hillside. On one Side of the great shaft with it's Steeple ot pine boards is the lake. on the othcr side are the pine forests, thick and dense as when they were owned by the Indians. In this forest little space has been cleared and within this are a score or more of houses. where the miners live. One day not many wears ago, a stout, strap ping miner named Bill left his wife and babies at his cottage door-tor the miner wife was a neat and thrifty soul and had hcautitied their house until Il was the pride ot the eamp-and started for the shaft. In his great coat pockets he had few slices of bread and flask of liquor, together with piece of meat, in cas,. h, met with any accident while un- derground With his comrades he de seconded the long shaft, the end of which reached way down into the very bowels of the earth, Hand over hand he climbed down the first ladder, then down the next, then the next, and still down another, and then another, get ting deeper and deeper into the dark ness, farther and farther into the warm blackness of those regions where the light of day is never seen. down another ladder and still another he went until at last he reached the solid rock anu was soon at the farther end of one of the great tunnels which stretch out from the
 
 so crooked and black are they All morning long they worked until 1t was almost noon time and he was ust pre- pairing to leave his work fer his luncheon The lamp on his glazed hat had burned almost cut His strong arms were tired with their hard work and he was not sorry that the day was half over. He gave one more stroke with his pick, sinking its sharp point into the ore and bringing to his feet small piece which sparkled and glowed like great black diamond in the dim rays of his lamp
 As he stopped over to pick it up he heard sound that blanchcd his brown cheeks turned his blood into water and made his heart stand still--a sound that once heard is never forgotten TT the sound of fire damp explosion. It was a dull roar, which made the earth trcm- ble as if with fear. Then there was darkness an unhealthy, sutiocating closeness-and all was over. With wis dom born of experience Bill instinctivc- 1 ly felt in his pocket for his matches then | hastily extinguishing his lamp threw | himself prone upon his face and waited
 Soon he heard call which was answered i t> another call, then another and he 1 soon found that there were six live
 miners cooped up in this narrow tunnel
 for the explosion had blocked one
 end with an unyielding mass of rock in i Egyptian darkncss-cooped up there to 1 starve, or perhaps to Sutiocate. shut out forever from the blessed light of day, ! from the free, open air; shut up thcr" 1 as though they were buried alive III 1 their cotfins-with not q single chanc" 1 to live With all instinct more than
 reason Bill kept this little piece of iron | in his hand until it was warm and damp
 with the sweat of horror before he dis i covered that he had it. Then he put it i into his pocket mechanically then took i it out to throw 1t away and then again
 unthinkingly put it back, as a man
 might idly count his fingers az he stood ! upon the gallows
 How long they sat there dumb with i horror they couldn't tell The tunnel, 1 fortunately was high and the air they
 breathed promised to last some time 1 but what use was that? It only pro l longed their agony, and when the real l ized this they swore again. At last they
 felt the bangs of hunger and they ate. l At length, tired out with excitement. ! 1 into days until finally their food treas
 ured with the utmost care, had dwndled ] into nothing-not even blte-and,
 weak with hunger, they dragged them ] selves to the lower end of their grave i and laid themselves down to die.
 Finally they heard the faint tapping
 of pick The miners were coming to their rescue. At first they could
 hardly believe their senses But there i could be no mistake about it Louder grew the noise. Nearer came their res cuers At length they could almost near their voices Then for time t!ese ceased
 Oh, the fools ga-ped the prison CTS in horror They are going to leave Us now that they are only foot away. and we cant make them know ] tk ali ln.. -t U. r..I