The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-24
they sat apart and afraid of each other il
the darkness

"Who was it thought of your benevo-
lent societies signal?" asked Mr.: Rose. :,
at was Clemow. sorr," he replied, land
Jarvis said, lit hit hon the compressor
hagen, an didn't git no answer; an. so
they uns thought they never couldn't ear
'em in the hengun-room an the hair were
that bad they couldn't 'ardly breathe hit. !"
Nevertheless Jarvis again and as last
hope hit the pipe, and they thought they
had heard, family. an answer. So they
signaled again. and crowded around and
put their ears close to the pipe, and again
faint, far-away rap replied; and several
answers were received, and then the air
was sent to them down the compressor.
And some laughed and some cried and
others were very, very quiet, but "Jarvis
got a-praisin' of the Lord until e got
shoutin' 'appy."
Then Jimmie related his own adven-
lures.
After getting out of the skip, he walked
along safely until he came to where the
raise" off the south drift of the 400 bends
to the southeast, and where the water only
came to his waist; but at that turn the
bag caught on nail and tore. He also
told that when he had called out IN the
darkness the men were afraid to answer
until convinced 1T was not the voice OF
Cation or some other evil spirit; and how
delighted they were, and how grateful and
glad to meet him, and to get food and
lights. And then he, Jimmie, had told
them how the accident had occurred, and
how the water was nearly 200 feet higher
than they, and the manner in which he
had come to them. So having succeeded,
after many trials, in mending the rent in
the airbag, and as they all insisted on his
compressor pipe in the raise, and he re-
turned to the surface.
Having thus reported, being praised
again and promised the reward, Jimmie
James was excused from duty, and
straig htway made his way TO the home OF
Ellen Truson.
After consultation Mr. Rose ordered
three rescue suits, such as Jimmie had
worn, to be prepared.
Everything is ready. SIR" said Colonel
Bestor, coming to the Office door.
Reaching the shaft Mr.. Rose finds Don
Sanchez equipped and waiting in the skip.
The good-byes are said. the sigma, is given
and the engine begins to lower into the
abyss.
In half an hour the gong rings the signal,
"Hoist, men,"
An immense cheer goes up from the
crowd
The chain-bearer is standing near the
shaft.
Among the women present-for all who
have relatives below are now allowed in
the yard-are Ellen and Mrs. Truson but
the women are kept little back from the
pits mouth.
The skip arrives, and before any one can
assist him Don Sanchez steps-alone.
"Alas!' he said, 'the Senior Clemow ees
no more-a!'
"Whatr' exclaims Jimmie James, seiz-
ing him by the arm.
"Plees-a to leaf go of my-a ar-rum,
senor," said Don Sanchez, threateningly
adding, as he was released, "the Senior
Clemow ees there cen the skip, tied-a to
the seattle ees dead"
At this Ellen tainted, and if Jimmie had
not caught her in his arms, would have
fallen.
AS jimmie was carrying Ellen away he
saw Captain Black and Colonel Bestor lift
out OF the skip the body of Steve Clemow
A great rent in the air bag on his back in
dlcated the manner of his death.
But the aIn-bearer was not satisfied
with this apparent explanation, and as
soon as Ellen recovered consciousness he
returned to the office, where he had pri-
vate interview with Mr.. Rose. Although
the manager thought that Jimmie exag-
gerated the importance of the circum-
stances which had aroused his suspicious,
he admitted that they were of sufficient
importance to justify him in having Don
Meantime all the other miners and the
boy Tommy Pearce had been rescued
After supper Jimmie told Colonel Bestor
that when he drew fast the last buckle
Don Sanches had whispered, "strike hard !"
This and the rivalry which he knew to exist
between the Spaniard and Steve Clemow
led the surveyor to examine more carefully
the air bag which Clemow had worn and
resulted in his discovering and calling Mr.
nJc oft AMI 10 hn fon Eo+f Co.,
an inch and half in two opposite CORE
spending places the edges of the leather
were smooth, as il made by the sharp
point of q double-edged knife, the bag be-
ing afterward torn, and also that the bag
had been torn upward instead of sideways,
as it must have been if it had been done
by the nail, as Don Sanchez said.
Ten minutes later, Colonel Bestor and
the chain-bearer are going mp the hill to
have Don Sanchez arrested. As usual, Don
Sanchez is one of the managers of the cas-
caron* fandango, which is to be tonight
and which every inhabitant of the Mexi-
can camp who can do so is sure to attend.
1t is moonlight, but cloudy, and bursts
of gay music and OF boisterous merrirnent
sweep down from the heights, interrupted
fitfully by gusts of wind, the fierce wall of a
fast gathering storm.
AS they climb up the trail the surveyor
tells Jimmy he has found out why Steve
Clemow chose to live in the Mexican
camp.
IVY was it, sorr?' asked Jimmie.
"He was naturaliZed five years ago."
said the colonel, land two years ago he en-
listed in the United States army and was
made hospital steward at Fort Alcatraz,
and the reason he kept so to himself is be-
cause he deserted and has been here in
hiding"
"Be we sure, sorr?"
Certain answered the surveyor, "for
was on duty there at the time
IVY didn't We ave i'm harvested before,
sorr?" asked Jimmie.
"You forget" said Colonel Bestor, al
have only been here four DAYS, and had
never met Steve until / saw his corpse.
But L instantly recognized him, although
he has shaven off his beard and dyed his
hair. His true name-at least, the one he
went by in the army-is not Clemow, but
what's that?" exclaimed the colonel in a
startled voice. abruptly interrupting him.
self and pointing toward the Judas tree,
which has just come in sight.
AS he spoke the moon passed behind
mass of clouds.
In answer to request that he would call
this evening before the ball and again re-
late the full particulars of the death of
Steve Clemow, Don Sanchez called at the