The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-10

the intervening Saturday.
When Colonel Bestor rode up to Mrs.
Truson's gate the chain-bearer had already
said ''Good-by." Ellen was in her room
in the doorway shrewishly berating the dis
consulate lover. who for his part did not
look as if he heard word she was saying.
AS the surveyor and his attendant pass
the saloon on their way down the street
toward the old Union prospect Colonel
Bestor is surprised to see Don Sanchez, who
stands Just inside it's door, angrily scowl
at the chain bearer.
whats the trouble between you and
Don Sanchez, Jimmie?' asks the surveyor.
"Hellens give UNI the SACK sorr," he
said.
"And accepted you, Jimmie2'
mo, sorr," the chain-bea replies, his
lower lip quivering, "hern's Steve Gle
mow's, SORT"
"Ah, I'm sorry spoke of her." said the
surveyor. care you sure?'
The chain-bearer affirmatively mods his
head.
well, am not" said Colonel Bestor.
While the surveyor and his man are
silently descending the hill toward the
old Union prospect it may be well to say
that Colonel Bestor is vet young man,
and that although be had been but lieu
tenant in the United States army he had
the New Carthagena mines because it was
deemed that his title should greatly out
rank the bosses of the mine, who were
called captains.
"Are we almost there?" asked Colonel
Bestor.
.Us 'u'd save time if I'd cut acrost ERE,
sorr,' said Jimmie, pointing toward a
footpath, IAN you'd 'urry hup yer 'orse."
"All right" assents the surveyor.
In a moment the chain-bearer disap-
peared in the chaparral.
Urging on his pony, the colonel IS soon
out of sight of the Mexican camp, the last
vestige of it which he saw being the tree OF
execution and the fiutterlng remnants or
poor old Judas Iscariot.
Meanwhile there is trouble in the Eng
| lish camp.
Them men SEE they won't work no
more on the four 'undred after to-day,
sorr, an l can't get none wat will
neither said Captain Black, the under
grouna boss, entering the office.
what do you think 1T ISL asked MT.
| Rose, the manager.
1--WE no hideur, sorr, but you know 'ow
the men ave been complainin' all long
O. the water W at leaks on to EN- has bein'
pois'nus. Lots of ems sick, or as sore
heyes. An We can see by the timebook
ow many as give hup their jobs rather n
work were hits so weakenin' an SICK
enin'"
"See here" said Mr.. Rose; and going to
the other side of the dranghting-table he
took from a drawer large map and un-
rolled it. This is one of the plans we got
when We bought this property. Here,
he added. pointing to the map, lis
our new shaft; and here three-fourths
of a mile to the north is the old
Union prospect. Now the men in the
| raise off the north drift of the 400-foot
level of the new shaft are about under the
old Union; but you see by the plan that
the old Union is only 270 feet deep, and
that makes $50 feet between its bottom and
the 400; of course it's nearly full OF water,
but it is certain 1t never could have seeped
through 100 feet of the kind of rock We
have there
"Sartinly not, sorr."
Nevertheless l have sent our new sur
veyor to measure the old Union shaft on
the chance that this map is incorrect"
Mr.. Rosel' excitedly exclaims the cap
tain, rising from the table on which ne
has been leaning, that's jest hit.
"Oh, think not" answered the mana
ger, for"
IAN this ere map" continued the old
miner, regardless of interrupting his chief,
and forcibly striking the plan with his fist,
as no true survey, an the lives"
Colonel Bestor walks leisurely into the
office.
"Three hundred and forty-two feet to
the debris"
''What!" shouts the manager, 'three
hundred and for"
The Office door dashes open and Jimmie
James drops into chair, gasping out:
"Haccidentl two men-dead hin-skip!
that's hall hi knows"
Mr.. Rose, followed by the others, rushes
out of the Office.
Hits Tommy Davies an Jimmie Tay
lor." And "They uns be hall dead,
the men in the shafthouse yard were say
ing.
Beside the mouth of the shaft DR.. Sy-
mons and the bucket-tender, Don Sanchez,
are vigorously rubbing the PROSTATE forms
of Taylor and Davies.
"How did it happen?" interrogates Mr..
Rose.
WAITS hup?'' inquiries Captain Black.
"Mine's flooded, answered Dick Vivian,
the surface "boss.'
Chow do you know" asks the manager.
aIf full o. dirt, an Taylor an Davies
| a-lyin' hon it onsensible; shown hit must
a-been student, has they ms was a-fillin'
O. the skip. Us took 'em out an sent fer
the doctor. Down skip goes agen, an hup
she comes full O. water, showing has the
mines flooded"
"Do ANYTHING else?" asked Mr.. Rose.
Notuin put ESSP VIC pump o-6OAiA
SORT"
"Good Clear the yard and shafthouse"
orders the manager.
Jimmie" said the doctor to our hero,
who had Just arrived, "go to the boarding
house and have them get two beds ready
quick!''
Passing out the gate the chain-bearer met
Mrs. Truson and Ellen, both weeping.
ooh, Jimmiep' passionately cries the
| girl, ''saye i'm! save 'im!"
Hits Steve explains Mrs. Truson.
'sE's hon the four 'undred."
Hi can't stop" said Jimmie.
"But Steve's--'
Eyes, yes hi knowsl" he impatiently
interrupts. "I'll be back soon," he calls,
hurrying on, keep hup cart"
The men, their heads uncovered with in
| finite gentleness and that peculiar care and
reyerential tenderness that is uniformly
characteristic of even the toughest miners
under such circumstances, carry Taylor
and Davies to the clearinghouse.
All day the pumps are at work and huge
buckets, which have been rugged up to
assist in the emergency, are hoisting out
the water; and inspection parties of the
most experienced miners, exercising the
utmost caution not to be suddenly over
powered by the deadly gases, are every
little while descending and ascending the