Passaic City record., 1900-06-16

fully.
It was the work of hurried mo
ment to tie him securely into a strong
rope, to arm him with shovel, ant
to lower him into the cavity.
Stanley felt thrill of self-approva
as he caught a last glimpse of the
ring of admiring faces bending tc
watch him-Jack Kemble's among
them.
The little group waited breathlessly.
Up from the depths there came the
sound of rapid shoveling.
Five minutes passed-ten. Still
the sound could be heard, accom-.
panied, at last, by Stanley's exhausted
gasps.
Mr.. Decker peered down into the
darkness anxiously. There was dead
silence.
sThe ropes jerking!" said Molly,
family.
A dozen hands seized it, and pulled
eagerly.
ssThar they be!' said Mr.. Decker,
breaking q painful silence.
Yes, there they were. But not pre-
cisely as the waiting group had ex
pected to see them.
Cullen Berry, with his bare head and
his blue wooden shirt plentifully be
sprinkled with dirt, but otherwise un'
harmed, was clinging firmly to the
rope, bearing in his arms the uncon
scious form of the city boarder
''It was leetle too much for him,
he remarked, calmly, laying his bur
den down and addressing the specta-
tors. "It was pretty tough job,
come to think ont; reckon 1 was as
much as three foot under
"Oh, Cullen!" cried Molly, with a
shudder.
And the spectators ex claimed in
Mr.. Decker, aided by Jack Kemble,
lifted Stanley's unconscious form and
bore it into the house.
"He's comm to-" said Mr.. Decker,
as they laid him down on the sitting
room sofa.
Stanley opened his eyes weakly,
conscious Of an unpleasant lameness
and exhaustion.
'Wal, walw said Mr.. Decker,
heartily. ''Feelin' better?"
Stanley tried to smile carelessly.
'You done plucky thing, young
mani" said Mr.. Decker, emphatically.
"And we're all mighty grateful.
Molly, now-Molly won't know how
to thank you strong enough"
''Molly?" said Stanley, tenderly;
while Jack patted his head in con.
gratulatory triumph.
eyes; Molly'd been clean distracted
if anything'd happened to Cullen.
Mebbe I hadn't mentioned it-bui
they're expectin' to git married next
spring"
Stanley sat up suddenly, with con,
sternation in every line of his pale
face; and Jack Kemble uttered al
ejaculation.
eyes," said Mr.. Decker, serenely-
'snext spring. Didn't know but I'c
told you. I shall give up the farm te
Cullen" Mr.. Decker went on. SIN
gittin' pretty old myself; and he's
Jest as good manager as I be.
Mighty sharp, Cullen is. It was hi
idee, now-this lie business.
"Oil?"0said Stanley, family.
"We hain't give it out yit," sale
Mr.. Decker, confdentially, "nut that
thar we'll amt well no more'n I be.
We're diggin' for lie. You see, I've
alters sort of suspe cted, from the
looks of things, that thar was lie OF
the place; and the minute Cutler
clapped eyes onto it--Cullen lived ou
in the lie district for spell-he says
says Cullen"
But the city boarders did not seen
interested. The occupant of the sofs
had lain down weakly, and turned
away in apparent exhaustion; ane
Jack Kemble had disappeared through
the door.
It was six months later that Stanle,
Carson, hurrying along downtown
street to his work one morning, came
face to face with a smiling young
couple, strolling along arm-in-arm, ir
an obvious state of happiness.
''Wal, now! don't mean to say yor
didn't know us?" said Cullen Berry
warmly, seizing Stanley by the lape
of his coat. "Wal, I shouldn't s
thought you'd forgot me! Molly, you
hain't forgot Mr.. Carson-him that
dug me out O. that thar lie holei
We've jest been gittin' married, Mr.
Carson"
Molly gave him blushing glance
"We struck it. Mr.. Carson" Cutler
pursued, exultantly. '.We're doin
splendid at it. If you'd come out
thar ag'1n you wouldn't know the
place-what with the lie machines in
the backyard, aud the new house,
and all the new fxin's-eh, Mollyi
You must come out and visit us, Mr.
Carson. I allus have felt as though
owed you somethin' for that thar gooc
turn you done me-"
Bnt Stanley had raised his hat with
cold smile, and was rapidly disap.
nearing. Saturday NIGHT.