The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-11-10

W oounuou mat one nj the END OF TIT
week.
What will you do with the ma
chinery?'
Walden smiled. Hc.kncw the picture
that was presented 10 her mind by tn.
'mine"-great hosting works an,
mammoth pumps, like those in the Con
tention and Grand Central mines, with
a half million dollars worth of ma,
chinery.
That will be very simple" he said
''The mine ! spoke of lies just Over
here, between those buttes. Would
you care to ride ove and look at it?'
He wanted to give her the full impress
sion Of poverty which would be made
by the sight of the twenty-foot hole
with its one short drift of fifty or a
hundred feet, and which represented in
its barrenness his sole possessions.
The little trail led them through a
narrow canyon in the hillside and into
a tiny valley, in the center of which
was his claim. A wooden shed leaned
against "A rock beside it, containing the
tools and candles. A windlass and
bucket were over the shaft.
II should think people would steal
your things in that open place"
Nobody ever comcs here except the
men who work. Cassidy and Peters.
They ought to be here now; but I sup
pose they think an hours work more or
less will make little difference in an
abandoned claim"
Maybe they are down inside"
Manette suggested.
NO; there is the bucket on top. They
are of until tomorrow"
"How do they get up and down. any
way?" Miss Hale was of a very in
curing turn Of mind and given to the
investigation Of mysteries.
Its shallow. They usually let each
other down in the bucket, and the last
man climbs down the rope. It's very
easy"
What is it like inside?"
There was a dawning purpose in the
young woman's eyes, which Walden
was quick to recognize. He knew that
he ought not to encourage it; but the
fire of youth and adventure burned in
his veins-and it was such a simple lit.
tie adventure. and would be shared by
the girl he loved.
Its like all the rest, but-should
you like to go down."
''How?'
I'll let you do wn in the bucket It's
a big one"
But ! should be afraid unless you
came"
'Oh, ] should come down the rope"
"And how could we get back?"
II can certainly climb up twenty
Ieet of rope" Remembering some of
his college feats, Walden thought that
ne might almost have promised to climb
i've hundred.
I've never seen a mine like this. and
+ they arc going to stop working this
may never again." Manette said,
n all seriousness, and Walden never
smiled rs he thought Of the thousands
hat dotted the plains and hills. Nor
lid he think to mention that an aban-
Toned mine changed little after work
vas stopped; his attention was all
aiken up by lifting the sweet figure
from her saddle. and in picketing
he horses.
'Are you at all afraid?" he asked. as
he tucked her blue habit gingerly
bout her in the great, earth-stained
afraid? No indeed"
lie had put a dozen candles and a
hort-handled pick into the bucket be-
ore Miss Hale stepped in, and now he
urned the windlass and let her slowly
In two minutes, with the most
handling, she had touched
Elm here" she called up.
Light a candle before you get out"
eplied Walden.
He could hear the scratching Of a
match and see the fare of the paraffine.
Then he threw himself on the tarred
ope. and without soiling his riding
rousers went down hand over hand
nd stood beside her.
lie took his gloves off, and lighting
candle he led the way into the
1t was longer than he had
lncugnt lie ndu Ottu 81 Dusy WIFI
ther affairs the past week that he had
Iot visited tie silver Thread" The
had even made a turning in
GLOWING some dip of the vein-which
.ontinually refused to deserve its
Iame-and sunk a WINE" Walden
vas unconscious Of how long he lin
erred over'cach point where an explana-
ion of any sort could be pu. in, and it
vas quite an hour when they turned
rom the new drift and started back.
''Such an odd odor," Manette said.
her pretty los Like some
hing burning"
Walden turned quickly and caught
{ her candle hand. Let me carry
hat. You have been within an ace of
citing your dress on fire u half dozen
lines. l suspect you have scorched
our habit"
mo, ] haven't"
They had come out into the compare
i've daylight Of the short shaft, and
gave a cry Of genuine dismay.
low it had happened they could not
ay; but in some way the tarred rope
which held the bucket had been set on
ire. probably by Manette's careless
way Of holding the candle. and 1t was
,lazing merrily away almost ut the