Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-02-16

it would take too long to pull both
ont of danger at once. Then there
was a sublime sacrifice on the part
of the man, than which there has
been no greater. Joe di-cncaped
himself from the rope, again made
the signal accompanied with a shout,
gave the young woman a passionate
embrace and his first kiss, and step
ped back--fo death This time the
burden was lifted easily aud moved
quickly up the shaft, Molly not re-
alizing the danger to its full extent,
yet wondering at Joe's actions, es-
pecialIy the last. And yet was the
love of life strong in the doome !
man, for looking back she saw him
make a desperate leap at the lad d er
full twelve feet above him, aud fall
back with a thud to the bottom: and
there had been no word spoken, on
y she remembered the fond yet des-
pairing look on the stern, set face
when last he looked on her.
wv AT Is the matter, maid" said
Sam, as he drew her from the shaft;
but he WAS at once fearfully answer
ed by dull explosion below, and a
small rock struck him in the face
cutting deep and knnckin him back,
and then he showed himself the
man.
Run, run, my little maid" he
cried To Ina "t0 John Sampson
diggings and tell un that Joe Ton
kins is killed.
T1en carrying the fainting form
| OF Molly back from the yellow dirt
TO the surrounding sod aud laying
1t gently down, he returned and
quietly letting down the rope he
fastened it securely, carefully, and
let himself down hand over hand.
John Simpsons diggings was not
far from the scene Of the accident,
and Ina was fleet runner to whom
fright had lent additional speed, so
the story was soon told in broken,
breathless accents, and John Samp-
son and his partner we're at the shaft
in very short time. Molly was
found sitting up looking around in
d ,zed manner, wringing her hands
and calling for Joe.
"Listen, my maid" said John
sampson, edo zee 90 down the ill
with the little un 'ere. This is no
place for such AS thee, or soon won't
be. / needs a man ERE. Now do
zee 90 down"
"Nol Nol l ,oW wait for Joe! |
must see him. He stayed to save
me, aud | will not leave him." she
cried wildly.
"Thpn must curry thee down.
Thou'It be sorry to the last day OF
thy life If 'pe doesn't 90. VIII Zee
60? and we II fetch joe to ZEE pres
emily --an' "A pretty sight 'e'Il be"
said horest John to himself; he had
seen the like before.
SO they went; but getting down
to the bottom of the Hill they sat
down and cried together, and looked
tremhhngly mp the hill to watch, all
afraid, yet impatient, and half in
clined 10 90 back
John Sampson very quietly let the
bucket down the shaft in answer to
Sans signal, and when back came
the sign to hoist, both men bent
their backs to the windlass which
creacktd and complained loudly at
its double burden. Steadily, with
the guinness of fate, the men bent
70 their task, and soon Sans head
appeared. He was standing upright
in the bucket, with one hand grasp
ING the rope aud his disengaged arm
thrown around and supporting Joe''
motionleSS form.
Careful now, men. Josh, do Zee
'old the 'andle, and John sampson,
do ee take un under the arms,
There, now lay un down softly-'e'>
done for, reckon. See the great
cash in is lead, an another on the
chack (cheek), aud is leg is broke
clean off; see 'ow it 'angs But it's
a wonner Zee wasn't blown TO pieces.
/ Never saw the likel
SOW did 1t 'appen?"
"Dinged if | knaw! but the maid
coomed up alone, au' then the blast
went. Poor Hoe! | found an la the
shaft with a great Il At rock ia front
of units an that saved IN; an |
don't understand why a'wasn't
blown 10 pieces auy'ow.
Here the injured man moaned
feebly aud ut THIS sign of life one
of the men was off 40 once for a
doctor, passing the two girls ON the
road aud telling them te 90 home
ana got thing, ready for joe, which
they fastened TO DO. the doctor
came AZ once az The summons, and
Joe was carried down over the hlu
uu few boards put hastily together,
followed by "a great crowd for every