The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1888-08-10
A FRIGHTFUL AFFAIR.

do not recall whether the conflict
that 1 am going to describe occurred
in the mine of. La Gaia or in that of
Rayas. Both are situated in the
Mexican mineral district IF Guana-
juatO, and with the readers permits
sion l will assume that it happened in
the latter.
The main shaft of the Rayas mine
has the vertical depth Of nine hundred
yards, and sixteen yards of diameter.
For its dimensions, it is ranked us the
first mining shaft of the world.
In the epoch to which I refer, eight
w%indiasscs, operated by mules. We're
constantly employed in raising water
from this enormous hole in the planet.
The administrator ut that time was
Don Rafael H. so years of age,
pale, slender, feeble in appearance;
but in whose gaze shone the flame of
iaughtiness and energy, and tho rali-
uni. spark Of intelligence.
The %cajoneyo, or person charged with
the operation of the windlasscs, was
called Jose. He was an athletic fellow,
sincwy and vigorous; but with the
hungry, apprchcnsive, and unquiet look
Of the jackal. Under his orders and
immediate direction were the cables by
which the miners descended, the
stleam-cables for hosting water, aud
all that related to the various services
of the shaft.
Among the ''properties' of the adj
ministrator wasa young woman gilmore
beauty than chastity, whose voluptu-
Gus form had turned the head of
the cajOnero. who had a long time en-
deavored vainly to ingratiate himself
in her favor. The jade treated his ad.
vances with arrogant disdain. aud this
is easily explained when il is known
that from the administrator az to the
cajonera ~ the distance is the same
rs between the housekeeper and the
scrubwoman.
Jose laid siege to this strong fortress
of virtue. but finding that the garrison
vas not likely to accept terms Of capi-
tulation. he one day made an assault
that cost him a superb whipping by
order Of the administrator.
Jose endured the chastisement but
wore in the teeth of his master that
he would have his revenge. Don
Rafael treated the enace with con-
tempt and the cajonero continued to
occupy his post.
Sometime afterward, the damsel, in
order to give a further proof of her
consistency. ran away with a cavalry
officer; whereat Don Rafaelmanifested
neither Indignation nor surprise.
One morning Jose entered precipit-
ately into the apartments of the admins
istratOr. before the latter was awake,
aud said to him that, to Judge from
/ the unusual singing aud hurralling Of
the miners at the bottom of the shaft,
they surely must have found a bonanza.
This word bonanza produces q
more wonderful effect ON the ccre-
brum of q miner than all the catl-
clysms and earthquakes joined to
gether. Don Rafael sprang out of bed.
leapel into his garments, and, with
out waiting to make inquiries, o to
the shaft. harnessed himself to acable
of descent, and so suspending himself
over the enormous abyss. said to the
cajOnero: LET her CO."
The horses of one Of the windlasses
began to move. the cable to unwind,
and Don Rafael, holding q torch
in one hand and with the Other
steadying himself in his hanging
saddle, slowly descended into that i'm.
mense black hole without observing
that no sound whatever came from DO
low. nor that the face Of the cajonero be
trayed asinister smile when he saw hin
going down.
Peril not only swakens instinct, but
enlightens It. When Don Rafael found
Il l&---N -.----22 r. Al-A A4.N
abyss. he suddenly remembered tn,
menace of Jose. comprehended that b,
had acted inconsiderately. and that hi
life was suspended by q thread which
his enemy could cut athis pleasure ani
dispatch him to eternity without MOTTO,
and also without q passport.
By the reflection Of the torch nigh
have been e great drops of cold per
spiration upon his brow, the convul
y sivs tremor that sgitated his membeEs