Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-09-29

"Don't be afraid, Joe. Don't cry. Pm
not mad" he said.
mind can understand. I'm going to take
you to great big city with me. I'm
going to give you good things to eat,
better than anything you ever tasted
warm clothes, too" he said, slipping
his hand through the broken jacket and
laying it ON Joes flesh. "You shall see
the sea and everything that boys love.
Oh, I've never loved anything, but III
love you! You'll be happy boy yet if
it's not too late'-he groaned defiantly
eff it's not too late. Oh, you poor,
little baby with your terribly wise eyes,
will you come with me? Joe, will your"
Anne made her way down the shak-
ing ladders without being heard. Her
swollen heart seemed crowding her
throat. She stood in the chilling rain
quivering with excitement. She had
had her first glimpse into Donald's soul,
and it had terrified her.
1t was still early when they returned
for lunch to the hotel. Joe, stunned
into silence and with round eyes, &C.
companied them.
"I'm going to adopt him." was all
the explanation of his presence Donald
had given. He was again as unreliable
as a mollusk, and Anne could almost
believe the scene in the breaker had
been of her imagining.
Hours afterward, as she sat in the
rainy dusk writing an impassioned ac-
count of the day, faint knock sounded
on her door. Donald stood outside, very
pale, an unusual eagerness in his man
ner.
eff you want to see what mine looks
like, Miss Garrick, this will be your
only chance. The sheriff and his men
have come over with militia, and for
the past hour the engines have been 60
ing, pumping down air, you know
They think that perhaps Red Evans is
hiding there"
"But could he? How could he get
down if the cage wasn't worBing?"
"You see, besides the cage there's an
iron bar-a sort of ladder with fiat
prongs laid upon it, the whole only half
yard wide. This goes down through
separate opening It's put there as a
III CcS0 VI GA p1OolOAo VI III
| jury to the cage, but it's matter of
life and death to use it. A desperate
man, however, wouldn't hesitate 10
take the one chance. The sheriff fancies
Red Evans may be clinging to the
| bar good way down beyond sight, yet
not too far from the air. don't believe
it. It's almost absurd. But they're 60
ing down and will take us along.
"All right" said Anne. "But l
won't tell DR.. Ericsson. He might be
nervous"
Twenty minutes later they were
again at the mine. The scene was ami
mated now. Lanterns like the eyes of
uncanny animals shot from one point to
another in the falling night. A line Of
soldiers controlled the swell Of the
mountain, and above the strikers, with
/ their families, sullenly watched. From
|, wooden sheds came the braying Of
mules. Four men stood near the cage,
| which resembled huge brass boiler
| with a round opening for air at a mans
height. The kissing and throbbing of
engines and the sound of many voices
filled the valley with life.
Anne's fingers were unsteady as she
put on the miners protecting outfit
This was a rubber blouse to her knees
and wide brimmed, glazed hat, lit
tie oil lamp Pickering in front just
above the brim.
Ready" said the sheriff, and the
wire rope throbbed.
The cage shot down with tremendous
speed. The lamps on the hats fared in
the gust through the circular opening
lin the wall. 1t was breathless, anxious
descent. Anne closed her eyes and stood
like one in trance until the journey