Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-10-25

ind vas on his way to the mine. Look
ing UP. he saw Kitty's flying figure
speeding toward him. He knew at
once that something was wrong. She
was GREATNESS. her lips were blanched
and her eyes wild with terror.
kitty, what is it? Anything wrong
at the mines?" lie asked anxiously.
She caught his arm to steady herself.
"There's been slidrw she gasped,
'and Clay
y sob choked her voice, and the ago
ny in her face went to .Joe's heart like
q knife stab. His face whitencd.
lis Clay anything to you. Kitty7' lie
asked huslily.
Everything all the world to me-"
moaned kitty. My heart will break
If he dies
Joe unclaspcd her trembling fingers
fronl his a:'nl.
"please heaven we won't let him
die. dear" he said gently. and Il mo.
nlcnt later he was gone.
How the men worked to reach the
death trap where six OF their com
rades We're eltoEibed until. eshaust ii
they were compelled tn fall back. white
others filled their plnces. How one
man. tireless and determined. kept 81
ways ut the head. never resting for a
moment. TO tell all this would male a
story OF itself.
Joe BARTLETT inspired everybody and
thecred and encouraged the dcspairins
crowd that gathered about the entrance
of the mine. aud when. after hours of
hard work. the last dividing wall of
earth was penetrated and an open.n,
made large enough for Il man to enter.
1t was Joe BARTLETT who, with no
thought of his own danger, climbed
through into the chamber beyond aud
Gne by one lifted the half dead men
to those waiting on the outside to re.
.elve them.
Young Ames had been farthcst back
hnd was the last to he rescued He
was very weak, but he waved his hand
feebly to the cheering crowd as Joe
fitted him back to life and safety.
Through the opening in the wall of
Garth the excited, shouting crowd had
a glimpse of a grimy, radiant face-.Joe
had caught sight Of Kitty when she
first saw Clay Ames-then there was a
siclSening sound as Of muftied thunder,
q horrible underground grooming. fol
lowed by a crnsh. \ second slide had
occurred and Joe Bartlett was buried
beneath 1t.
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 tlroats. Women
screamed and men grew white aud
covered ~, their eyes as il thus they
might Shut out the memory Of the
brave face that but moment before
had smiled at them from its grave.
1t was hopeless from the first
Yet never did men work more hero
ically than the miners Of Clear Cretl,
camp for the next IL hours to reach
their comrnde. Rough men most OF
them We're. but they cried like babies
when at last .Joe's crushed body was
lifted from under the debris and the
light of day fell upon his unconscious
face.
They carried him to his own cabin
and laid him upon the bed. The brav
est man In Clear Creek camp had givel
his life for his comrades. and the en-
tire camp Yves in mourning.
Moonlight flooded the cabin where
Joe lay. The smile which had illumi
mated his face in the last moment o
his life still rested upon it. Two PEG
plea man and girl-stood beside
: him. Tie young mans arm was aboG
the girls face. and her face was hid
den upon his breast.
lie was SO goods she sobbed. "H,
died for your sake and mine!!'
YES, DEAR" said Ames gently. I'll,
was the best and bravest man ! have
ever known" His arm frightened abou
her slender waist. 81 am glad" h,
y said luskily. ''that he did not have ,
sweetheart"
ut would have killed her." whisper
cd Kitty. laying her tear wet cheel
. against her lovers face. but Joe di,
not care for women. am sure lie new
: or loved any one"
And they never knew, for eternal 81
lence had kissed the dead mans lips
/. San Francisco Examiner.