The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-19
doe RD|Aeeh.

9
amt got the show of a chance. How
in thunder can l expect a dainty little
girl plke Kitty TO care for rough,
igno1ant fellow like me?"
ThAt SO remarkable a creature
as kitty should ever love him
waS to be considered only In the light
Of Jan impossibiity. If his love be-
cayne hopeful be reviled himself and
bHshed at his temerity.
/Yet Joe was foreman of the new
mime at Clear Greek camp and the
fnost important man in the place.
~ "No, the man amt arrived VT
continued Joe, "an' when he does
he turned little pale-"when he does,
God help Joe Bartlett!'
That evening, as was his habit, Joe
was at Amos Carter's cabin. There
were two reasons why he liked to
spend an evening with Carter-he en-
ioyed swapping yarns with him over
their pipes; and Kitty happened to be
Carter's daughter. Kitty never sus-
pected his love. Joe knew that she did
He took the pipe from his mouth,
and, knocking the ashes from 1t, filled
IL carefully: but it was evident that
his mind was not upon his task.
Cant even speak grammar as I'd ort
to-" he muttered with disgust. But
they amt nothing l wouldn't do for
Kitty-Lord love her--even to study
ing q grammar book"
Joe was modest. He had no self
esteem whatever, and undervalued his
not return it, and he was not a man
to wear his heart on his sleeve. II
anyone had asked her about her opin-
ion of Joe, she would have confessed
frankly that she was almost as fond
Of him as of her father.
in the midst of a story of the plains
which he was telling for the twen-
tieth time, there was loud rap on
the door. Carter went to open it. A
stranger stood on the threshold, tall,
slender, well-made young fellow, wear
ing the garb of the city-bred man.
''Is this Mr.. Carter's place." he
asked.
"That's my name, young feller. VIII
you come in?"
IT was told" said the newcomer, as
he complied with the invitation. that
l should find Mr.. Bartlett here"
Joe came forward and offered his
toil-hardened hand to the stranger.
you are Mr.. Ames, the superln-
tendent's son, i guess. He wrote me
you were coming up for a spell, but 1
didn't low we'd see you till the next
stage. l am glad to see you, sir" he
said heartily.
A certain indifference or inference
which seemed habitual vanished from
the young mans face and manner He
held out his hand frankly.
THANK you. / have come TO rusti-
cate. have bad reputation at
home. 1t arises from slight differ
ence between the governor and my
I nnnnGaI n
work" He squared his shoulders and
laughed. "I am supposed to take
fathers place here, but I have per-
feet confidence in you, Bartlett. and
shall take it as a favor If you will
forget to remand me of the RESPONSE
bilities of the situation" Again his
boyish laugh rang out and the others
laughed in sympathy.
He was Enthusiastically a good dea'
of u dandy. His lips were as immac'
ulate as it would have been in the
city, land the hand from which a
diamond flashed was as white anC
shapely as a woman's.
I'VE must be good friends, Bartlett
he continued, "for l want you to le
me down easy on the labor problem
Dad wants to make life treadmill 70.
me-"
\ broken smile from his nearer!
..., greeted this statement.
r hope you know what work is
young feller," said Carter, his smil,
ending in an audible chuckle.
Clay Ames never knew what repl!
he made. His eyes for the first tim,
had met Kitty's and he forgot every
thing else but the tail slip of gir
with the wild-rose face.
1,
camp knew that the superintendent
son was in love with Kitty Carter
Half the men in the camp were hi
rivals, but they all liked the young
boss, who had made himself one O
them from the first night of his arri
val. Kitty's ways were maddening.
her wilful heart favored any one, ever
her handsome city lover, she discreet
ly kept the knowledge to herself
Joe Bartlett had just left the offic,
and was on his way to the mine. Look
ing up he saw Kitty's figure speeding
toward him. He knew at once tina
something was wrong. She was breath
less, her lips were blanched and he
eyes wild with terror.
kitty, what is it? Anthing wrOni
at the mines he asked, anXiously.
She caught his arm to steady herself
There's been a Slide" she gasped
"and Clay"
A sob choked her voice, and tn
agony in her voice went to Joe's hear
like a knife stab. His face whtened
'Is Clay anything to you, Kitty?" h
asked, huskily.
Everything; all the world to me,
moaned Kitty. "My heart will brea
If he dies"
Joe unclasped her trembling finger
from his arm.
! "Please heaven, we won't let hin
die, dear" he said gently, and mo
ment later he was gone.
How the men worked To reach tn
death-trap where six of theh Comrade
were entombed until, exhausted, the
were compelled 10 fall back, while 9th
rrs filed their places how one maI
tireless and determined, kept alway
at the head never resting for a me
ment. TO tell all this would make
story in itself.
Joe Bartlett inspired everybody an
Cheered and encouraged the despairin
crowd that gathered about the entranC
of the mine; and when, after hours
hard work. the last dividing wall
earth was penetrated, and an openin
, made large enough for IA man to ente
Il was Joe Bartlett. who, with I
thought of his own danger, Clmbe
through into the chamber beyond an
one by one lifted the half-dead men
those waiting on the outside to recei'
them.