The morning call., 1891-08-30

a-telling you OF is me and you. / couldn't
bear TO leave you without a-telling you.
I on wont be angry, will you, Miss Mabel? |?
L suppose 1t aint no use, though"
just then there came loud knock at the
front door. Mabel hastily arose, without
making any reply to Toms story, and
shortly after ushered in John Benton, the
young mining engineer to whom Tom had
referred.
Pleasant evening this, Miss Arlington, :"
remarked the newcomer in rather super
cilious voice, and then, on seeing Tom,
added in an undertone. Who is this-per-
son? Some miner, presume, whom your
father wishes to study as a model"
Tom heard the remark and fierce look
came nto his face. He rose from his seat
and, walking up to the newcomer said,
EXCUSE me, boss. but L want to say some
thing to you outside"
The young engineer followed him, but had
handy reached the door when the young
miner sprang on him, They were both
strong men, but Benton was no match for
his antagonist, and IN few moments he
was down.
From the bosom of his shirt Tom drew a
long, cleaning bowie-knife and raised it
above the PROSTATE man. One moment he
held it thus, when a light hand caught his
wrist and soft voice said, TON Basses
never yet struck man who was down"
The knife fell from his hand and he hur-
ried away in the darkness.
Turn out here, boys, quick. There's a
fire in Tunnel s." Shouted man exctedly
early one morning some three weeks after
Toms adventure as he rushed into the min
ers' b0arding-house.
In an instant all was confusion, and out
hurried the men. All realized what a fort
innate thing it was that the fire had occurred
at that hour. as no one would be in the mine
then: Quickly they reached the Turner's
mouth and there found faint blue clouds Of
smoke issuing from thence. Far in the
heart OF the mountain they could distinctly
hear great roaring and rumblng, and at
intervals from the tunnels mouth great
puffs of heat would burst.
They all looked on in horror when they
considered the awful sacrifice of life which
would have occurred had the fire not
happened at this oppoTtune time.
1t did not take long for the news to spread
over the little village and soon the whole
population was assembled
Mr.. Arlington and Mabel, seeing every
one hurrying in the direction of this partic-
ular mine, and fearing that some accident
had occurred. joined the people at the mouth
OF the tunnel
OF a sudden some one exclaimed: ST
reckon l saw Mr.. Benton going into the
mine afore breakfast"
Then from mouth to mouth went the ques-
tion, "Where is Benton?" but no one could
answer.
At last the dreadful truth began to dawn
upon them all; the young engineer was
within the burning tunnel Was he dead or
only overcome by the heat and smoke
Mabers face was deathly pale as she heard
what the men were saying. If some one
would venture in now he might be saved !:
but who would dare enter that awful place? |?
The sound OF the flames grew louder a nd
louder, and all knew that if anything was
done at all 1t must be done at once.
Mr.. Robinson, one of the wealthy mine
owners, suddenly stepped forward and said :
Men, which of you dare go in there?
know it's dangerous business and just as
like as not you wont come back again, but
I'll give $1,000 to the man who will co. Not
a man stirred. for they felt it was almost
certain death.
Mabel, who all this time had stood in hor-
ror, with her eyes fixed upon the tunnels
mouth, turned, and saw Tom standing near
her looking at her, oh, so intently.
She smiled at him, almost inYoluntariIy.
The next moment she saw him step forward,
and heard him say: "Well, boss, if these
here men are 'fraid to try, don't mind if |
do"
Then he turned, and giving one long look
at Mabel, rushed forward into the burning
tunnel.
1t was an awful moment and all waited,
hardly daring to breathe till they should
know the result,
1t seemed as, though he was gone ages,
and many feared he had perished, when at
last he emerged from the tunnel carrying
Benton as easily as though he had been a
child.
The men SET up great shout and threw
their hats into the air.
Tom marched straight up to Mabel and
tenderly laid the uncon seious form at her
feet
Here you are, Miss Mabel. You were
right Tom Basset never hit man that
was down. he said, then turning to the en-
thuslaStie miners, lie added. "You duffe rs
thought | was a dead bird, didn't yer?"
And Mabel, what did she do? Why, she
rushed to the brave miner and, throwing
her arms about his neck, said:
Tom, brave Tom, l do love you, and you
only
And old Joe. the miner who didn't like
ladies, remarked to the man nearest him:
BLOW me il there aint bit OF good in
women arter ALL" PORTER EDsuNSTER.