Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-11-14
LOVE OR MONEY;
OR,
A PERILOUS SECRET.
BY CHARLES READE,
Author of ''Put Yourself In His Place"
etc.. ETC., etc.


twenty years, and reached the Dun Cow
as an old acquaintance. He hired the
one vehicle the establishment possessed,
and was OF like shot to Derby: thence
he despatched note to his lodgings to
say he was suddenly called to town, but
should be back in week. Not that he
ever intended to show his face in that
nelghborhoOd again.
Nevertheless events occurred that
stopped both his flight and Bartley's
and yet broke up their unholy alliance.
1t was Hopes final inspection of the
BARLEY mine, and he took things in or
der. Months ago second shaft had
been sunk by his wise instructions, and
but for Bartley's parsimony would have
been now completed. Hope now ascer-
tanned how many feet it was short, and
noted this down for BARLEY.
Then. still inspecting. he went to the
other extremity of the mine. and reach
ed sort Of hall or amphitheatre much
higher than the passages. This was a
centre, with diYerging passages on one
side, but closed on the other. Two of
these passages led by Oblique routes to
those old works the snoring Of which
had been reported unsafe.
This amphitheatre was now busy
scene, empty trucks being pushed off,
full trucks being pushed on. all the men
carrying lighted lanterns that Wavered
and glinted like "Wills-of-the-wisp."
Presently bell rung and a portion of
the men, to whom this was a signal,
cleft off work and began to put on their
jackets and to await the descent Of the
cage to take them up in parties. At
this moment Hope met, to his surprise,
a figure that looked like Ben Burnley.
He put up his lamp to see if he was
right, and Ben Burnley it was The
rutlian had the audacity to put up his
lamp, as if to scrutiniZe the person who
examined him.
Did | not discharge your" said Hope.
SAY, lad" said Ben; "but your master
put me on again" With that he show
ed Bartley'S order and signature.
Hope bit his lips, but merely said,
Gle viii rue it." Burnley sided away;
but Hope cried to one or two men who
were about;
Keep sharp lookout on him, my
men; your lives are not safe whilst he's
IN the NINE"
Burnley leaned insOlently against a
truck and gave the men nothing to OBJ
serve; the next minute in hustled the
honest miner at whose instance Hope
had come down the mine, and begged
him to come and visit the snoring at
once.
Hope asked if there were any other
men there; the miner replied in the
negative.
VERY well, them" said Hope; "In
just take one look at the water here,
and | III be st the snoring in five min
utes"
Unfortunately this unWary statement
let Burnley know exactly what to do;
he had already concealed in the wood
work canister of dynamite and fuse
to it to last about five minutes. He now
Wrlggled away under cover of Hopes
dialogue and lighted the fuse, then he
came flying back to get safe out of the
mine, and leave Hope in his death-trap.
But III the mean time Grace Hope
came down in the cage, and caught
sight of her father, and came scream
ing to him, "Fatherl father"
You here, my child"
There's a plot to murder you'll A
man called Burnley is to cause an ex-
plosion at the old works just as you
visit them"
IAN explosion" cried Hope, land fire.
damp about! One explosion will cause
fifty. Ring the bell! here, menl danger!"
Then there was rush of men.
Ben Burnley is firing the mine"
There was a yell of fury; but a dis
tant explosion turned it to one of dis
may. Hope caught his daughter up in
his arms and put her into cavity.
Ely, men, to the other part Of the
minel" he cried.
There was a louder explosion. In ran
Burnley terrified at his own work, and
flying to escape. Hope sprang out up
on him. mo, you don't; living or dead,
you are the last to leave this mine"
Burnley struggled furiously, but Hope
dashed him down at his feet. Just as
far more awful explosion than all took
place, one side of thatamphitheatre fell
in, and the very earth heaved. The
corner part of the shaft fell in upon the
cage, and upon many poor miners who
were hoping to escape by it; but those
escaped for the present who had oheyed
Hopes order and fled to atother part of
the mine, and when the sitting vapOrs
drifted away there stood Hope, pale as
death, but strong as iron, with the as
sassin at his feet, and poor Grace
crouching and quivering in her recess.
Their fate now awaited these three-a
speedy death by chOke-damp, or slow
death by starvation, or rescue from
the outside under circumstances of I'M
paralleled difficulty, since there was but
one shaft completed, and that was now
closed by mountain of debris.
CHAPTEK XXI.
BURIED ALIVE.
The explosions so tremendously loud
below were but muf1ed sounds at the
pits mouth: but alaSi these muffled
sounds, and one flash of lurid flame
that shot up into the air, told the tale
of horror to every experienced pitman
and his wife. and the cry of awhole vii
lage went up to heaven.
The calamity spread like Wild-fire. II
soon found its way to Clifford Hall, and
the deputy ran himself with the news
to Mr.. BARLEY. BARLEY received it at
first with stony glare, and tremble all
over; then the deputy. lowering his
voice, said: "Sir, the worst of it is
there is foul play in it. There is good
authority to say that Ben Burnley fired
the mine to DESTROY his betterS. and he
has done it: for Mr. Hope and Miss
Hope--that is, Miss BARLEY that was
are both there" He added. in a broken
voice: And if they are not buried or
stifed, it will be hard work to save
them. The mine is a ruin"
BARLEY delivered wild scream. and
dashed out of the house at once; he did
not even take his hat; but the deputy
more self-poSseSsed, took one out of the
hall, and followed him.
BARLEY hurried to the mine, and
found that several stout fellows had
gone down with their pickaxes and 9th
er tools to clear the shaft, but that il
must be terribly slow work. so few men
could work at time in that narrow
space. BARLEY telegraphed to Derby
for more powerful steam-engine and
experienced engineers, and set another
gang to open the new shaft to the bot,
tom. and see if any sufferers could be
saved that way. Whatever he did was