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

was COMPLETED.

into the underworld, an overwhelming
depression seized her. She had not
dreamed how the knowledge of being
2,000 feet beneath the ground she trod
SO lightly could chill heart. The rank,
moist place smelled of death. She gazeo
at the jagged ceiling of coal upheld by
tremendous tree trunks placed at regu-
lar distances and forming rude aisle,
the fungus on props and beams, the
sluggish pools in every depression, the
empty mule carts and discarded picks
Just where the hat lamps flung their
beams there was light, and beyond lay
appalling mystery.
you'd better sit on this knoll. "
And Donald, circling his lantern over
his head, showed her the up hill recesses
of vast worked out chamber. "I'll go
with the men down this gangway bit
Well not be far away. See, they're
looking in the mule carts. I'd like to
be on the spot if they get him. 1 want
his face"
"I'll be alone herer' was Anne's in
ward exclamation. "You won't be
long," she said and sat down, apparent
ly calm.
"We're just going down this gang
way" And Donald turned away, his
fingers tingling to sketch her as she sat
there, the light fiaring above her eyes.
Ten minutes passed. Anne saw the
r7en entering into the various hewn
2bers, plunging their lanterns into
sy carts, leaping into pits. Her
Az seemed to have ceased beating.
- &c found herself waiting for cry Of
triumph and fancied the searchers drag
ging out struggling, stormy browed
figure, the murderer at bay.
Then an unlocked for thing happened.
Without warning the moving throng Of
figures turned a corner, and she was
alone in silence save for the dropping of
water, in darkness save for the light
upon her hat. She seemed to become
stone surrounded by an atmosphere of
horror.
This paralyzing spell broke, and her
blood crept in cold currents around her
spine, for up in the black hollow be-
hind her she heard quick breath, then
down the declivity to her feet. The
breathing came closer. 1t was just be-
hind her now. There was step, and
she knew horror unnamable stood at
her back. She did not turn or move
the stiff fingers clasping her knee or
flicker an eyelid.
She was reused from the thrall of ter
H., .-lx 30 xr-bi he
lived. A man groveled before her, his
supplicating clutch upon her knee. The
uncertain fame of her lamp flung blue
splashes into the hollows of his face.
His red hair was glued to his throat.
The red streaked flannel shirt was open
to the waist, showing his hairy chest
Mildew and coal black covered him.
There was mortal hunger in his
glance. She was gazing at Red Evans
and he was praying for his life, but
praying was mild word for the squirt.
ing whispers from his gaping mouth
as his eyes shot from right to left in
fear of the returning hunters.
Didn't set out for to kill Binkley,
as God hears me, miss. No, twas fair
fight, an he druv me mad. flung the
stone. didn't believe him dead till he
fell back wi the blood bubbiin from
him. I been hidin here for two days,
starvin on that ladder, tween earth an
hell, crawled down when the engines
begun to work, been lyin on my face up
here ever sence. They'll hang me.
Don't let 'em. Help me. I've had a
hard life emo 'thout hangin at the end
OF. Oh" and the word was long
shudder, my God, for one chance! l
never had moan. One chance-one.
1t seemed to Anne as if great length
Of time had passed, as if herself and her
life were myths, and nothing in all the
world was as positive as this mans
misery and his claim. She sat motionless
with strained, bright eyes.
He had taken another's life, it was
clear. She was newspaper woman,
face to face with an important opportu-
nifty. If she gave the murderer to his
pursuers, The Citizen would have gained
story unshared by it's rivals. AS a
newspaper woman she should make the
most of this moment. She hesitated.
The mans eyes looked up at her like a
famished dogs. AS newspaper wom-
an, yes, but as woman, no.
She sprang up, fired by the desire to
save him. His eyes were terrible as he
crouched in the slime at her feet. He
had suffered enough.
"Come along" she said, her voice
harsh with fear as a mans laugh dis
family awakened echoes in the caverns.
They've already searched the mule
carts. Climb into this one. They won't
look again. Lie down low, so. III put
my cloak over you. Try to breathe more
softly. Hush, they're coming"
Donald hurried toward her first and
found her sitting where he had left her.
Wagner said he'd come back and
stay near you," he said hurriedly us he
wiped his brow. GIVE just found out
that he sneaked on, the little beast -
"Did you find any trace of Evans?"
she managed to ask.
"No, he's not here. They might have
known that. You're shivering. Why,
where's your cloak?"
"Say nothing about that" she said