The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-10-05

OUV-0ut-Out yawning pit, and heard the water dripping on the rocks below now back on It's long, circular sweep
 Out once more, deftly pouring oil on the massive journals, hanging there as 1t stopped before going back.
 One, two. three seconds, 1t seemed, as she hung darkness below, ciDRing tightly to the greasy iron quick, startled glance into the depths, blacker than night, but a small, yellow flame, far down, caught her eyes.
 she came, her heart beating quickly and jumped to the stone where her lamp was placed.
 Who was down the shaft.
 The shaft had long been abandoned, and was only used to pump the water from new workings on higher ground. Whoever was down there had como in that way, Alice knew, as there was no other way to go down but the ladders from the engine-ro room where she stood.
 Did their presence bode good or evil? She must seei
 Had she hesitated she would not have been true to her fathers blood. To find out what they were doing she would have to descend the ladders. She could not take her light with her as that would attract attention.
 For moment she felt a little doubtful about be- ing able to take 90 perious journey in the dark, but only for minute. Opening the small door at the top of the shaft she the first ladder leading down into the pit, and grasping the topmost round with both hands she began the descent.
 After the second step she was in darkness blacker than night. Round after round she descended till she reached the first platform. It was q small affair only heavy plank nailed between the bunt- ngs but reaching out she felt the next ladder, and then the next
 its edge. About two hundred feet below her the small, yellow flame was visible, moving around now and then, but too far off to betrAy any ones presence. She must go farther down.
 She had nothing to guide her but the sense of feeling. The least slip or the fAintest noise would be alike fatal to her. Cautiously and silently she felt her way, the water from the rocks dripping on her, and the rods from the walking beam, now far above her, lunging up and down in their bearings within reaching distance.
 She could almost feel the darkness, SO heavy 1t seemed, and the monotonous drip-drip of the water was painfully distinct. Down, and still down, till the tenth platfrom was reached.
 Here she made another cautious reconnaissance. The light was plainer, and she imagined she saw several dusky outlines of men moving around but she must descend still farther to what they were doing.
 She had made the descent many times before with her father, by the light of lamp, and the knowl- edge she had gained of the ladders and platforms served her now. There were twenty three ladders in all, each twenty feet long. On the twelfth one was broken round. Her calculations was right, and she passed 1t safely.
 When she reached the fifteenth platform she light was brighter, and it's glow disclosed the pres ence of three men.
 They were one-two-three she counted, plat forms below her. Sixty feet! Nearly to the bot tom, but still she could not make out what they were doing. She resolved to descend to the next platform.
 The water, which far above was in drops, now came down in small streams, and its noise drowned all other sounds save the beat of the plupgers in the water finders It slenced her cautious foot steps, and she reached the platform without attract ing their attention Her heart was beating quickly with excitement as she looked down She was near enough to see them, and what they were doing
 They were,-she could hardly keep back cry of afright,-oDe of them had 6 wrench, and was screwipg the nuts from the bolts that held the guides in which the rods rani If they loosened them all it would disconnect the engine and the pump and the rods, with nothing to hold them in