The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-02-28

covered with the greasy red iron ore
mud. great streaks Of 1t were over his
face and hands. but the gravity of
events that were evidently poising for
crisis left little room for anything but
sober feeling. Stuart stood over Eric.
Poor fellow! This comes ut a bad
time for him."
"Yes. and for us, too! said the doctor
sharply. There's no telling what the
men will do without Erics influence to
keep them quiet. And 1t will be ques.
tion Of weeks before he gets up from
this
II hadn't thought Of thatw Stuart
put his hand ON Erlcs forehead. At
that moment Eric opened his eyes. He
was conscious Gid spoke feebly.
Stuart, you saved my life. You have
paid up old debts. You are quits with
me now."
Eric, we understand each other now,
lon't we|" Stuart spoke almost like n
lover. But we owe our lives to anoth-
er man"
"How's that?" Eric was too faint to
say mere.
"l'll tell you when you are able to
bear It, Rest now"
Eric closed his eyes, and Stuart went
away to change his clothes, and all the
! while he felt conscious Of the convic-
! ton that he stood close to the crisis Of
events which the evenings strange ad.
venture had begun.
Louise had gone out somewhere to
spend the evening with her friends, the
NaSplaines, SO Stuart and the doctor
and the new minister sat down to n
late dinner by themselves, and it was
while eating that Stuart learned the
details Of his rescue.
There was little more for Mr.. Burke
to tell. He was a stranger to the place,
but In the two days Of his residence in
Champion he had evidently made the
most of his time. He had inquired of
passing miner about the Beury tun-
mel just before entering it on his search
for crystals. The miner had vOlun-
teered the statement about the con.
nectiOn with the Davis lower level.
Burke had not thought Of that again
until he heard Stuarts cry for help.
do you always carry rope with
you on your afternoon walks" asked
Stuart.
mo, have not been In the habit Of
doing so, but think it might be a
very useful custom In this mining
country" replied Burke. THE rope
was lying on the platform at the head
Of the last row Of ladders. and | nat.
urally carried 1t down with me, not
knowing what might be needed ut the
bottom. suppose the men left 1t
there when the strike was declared. !
noticed their tools lying around in va
rious places as came through the
drift"
The doctor looked at the new minis.
ter with gruff approval. A man who
could note details like that was worth
knowing. The Rev. Andrew Burke
was evidently on the way to the doc
tors friendship.
But how did you happen to come
after us" asked Stuart, turning to the
doctor.
II was up at Rollins, the pump man
who was hurt, you remember. when
the boy. the same one who came to the
office the other day. came In and said
the engine house was on fire, and after
what seemed like years time We
managed to pry out of him that he had
seen you and Eric go down the ladders
a little while before. rushed over to
the shaft, and here Is the mystery of II
to me. Not soul was in sight. The
engineer, firemen and pump men were
all gone. The ladders were blazing. So
that there was no hope of descent by
them. Some Of the other men ran Up
from down town. Then we thought OF
the Beury tunnel and made II run for
that. You know. Stuart. it's over n
quarter Of mile from the shaft. hut
we made 1t in few minutes | fell
over on n rock and smashed n lot OF
valuable bottles In my ease. You've
cost me a good sum. Stuart. counting
all the days since you were born YOU
and Eric. don't know that believe IN
stubbing my toe very much for thar
hot headed young socialist and agita
tor. He will make peck of trouble in
the world. and don't know but In the
interest Of humanity ought to give
him little dose of something to finish
him up"
Just then Eric. In the room across the
hall, stirred and groaned. The doctor
heard him. and. dropping his napkin
absentmindedly into his soup. he hur.
ried In to see his socialist patient.
Before he came back Stuart and
Burke discussed the fact Of the engine
house FIRE. There was something to be
cleared up about that. 1t seemed also
to Stuart that the mass of iron ore
which fell upon Eric was something |
more than loosened fragment of the
mine. The doctor was right about 1t. |
The absence Of the men from the spot !
when the fire broke out also needed
explanation.
The doctor had come back. and the
meal was nroprassinp while tho fhrao