The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-09-07

once that something was wrong. She
was breathless, her lips We're blanched
and her eyes wild with terror.
kitty, what is it? Anything wrong
at the mines?" he asked anxiously.
She caught his arm to steady herself.
There's been a slider she gasped.
"and Clay
A sob choked her voice. and the ago
ny in her face went to Joe's heart like
a knife stab. His face whitened.
"Is Clay anything to you. Kitty?" he
asked huskily.
"Everything-all the world to me-"
| moaned Kitty. my heart will break
IL he diesr'
Joe unclasped her trembling fingers
from his arm.
please heaven we won't let him
die, dear" he said gently. and n mo-
ment later he was gone.
How the men worked to reach the
death trap where six of their com
rades were entombed until, exhausted
they We're compelled TO fail back. while
others filed their places, How one
man. tireless and determined. kept al.
ways ut the head, never resting for a
moment. To tell all this would make n
story of itself
Joe Bartlett inspired everybody and
cheered and encouraged the despairins
crowd that gathered about the entrance
of the mine. and when. after hours of
hard work, the last dividing wall of
/ earth was penetrated and an opening
made large enough for a man to enter.
1t was Joe Bartlett who. with no
/ thought of his own danger, climbed
| through into the chamber beyond and
one by one lifted the half dead men
to those waiting on the outside to re-
ceive them.
Young Ames had been farthest back
and was the last to be rescued. He
was very weak, but he waved his hand
| feebly to the cheering crowd as Joe
lifted him back to life and safety.
Through the opening in the wall of
! earth the excited, shouting crowd had
a glin.'~e of a grimy. radiant face-Joe
had caught sight of Kitty when she
| first saw Clay Ames-then there was a
sickening sound as of mufIled thunder
n horrible underground groauing. fol
lowed by crash. y second slide had
occurred and Joe Bartlett was buried
/ beneath it.
For second or two the crowd was
awed into silence by the awfulness of
the tragedy and then a cry of horror
burst from hundred threats. Women
screamed and men grew white and
| covered up their eyes as if thus they
might shut out the memory of the
brave face that but moment before
had smiled ut them from it's grave.
1t was hopeless from the first.
Yet never did men work more hero
ically than the miners of Clear Greek
camp for the next II hours to react
their comrado. Rough men most OF
them were. but they cried like babies
when at last Joe's crushed body was
lifted from under the debris and the
light of day fen upon his unconscious
face.
They carried him to his own cabr
and laid him upon the bed. The bray
est man in Clear Creek camp had givel
his life for his comrades, and the en-
tire camp was in mourning
Moonlight flooded the cabin where
Joe lay The smile which had illumi
mated his face in the last moment OF
his life still rested upon it. Two PEG
plea man and a girl-stood besid,
him. The young mans arm was abou
the girls face. and her face was hid
den upon his breast.
HE was SO good" she sobbed. II,
died for your sake and mine"
Yes. dear" said Ames gently. III,
was the best and bravest man | hay,
ever known" His arm frightened abou
her slender waist 81 am glad" h,
said huskily. THAT he did not have {
sweetheart"
1T would have killed her" whisper
ed Kitty, laying her tear wet cheek
against her lovers face. "But Joe die
not care for women. am sure he new
er loved any one"
And they never knew. for eternal ST.
lenee had kissed the dead mans lips
San Francisco Examiner.