The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-10-17
THE APOLOGY OF ROBERTS
BY Philip verrII rligheIs.

HE RAIN descending on Top Oi
the snow had made Roberts
thoroughly wet. Standing in
side the mouth of his tunnel,
he lighted candle, and then gazed
out ON the dreary scene presented by
the gray hills.
"It's an elegant Christmas" he
grumbled, "and nothing for Christ
mas-tree this side Of Sugar Loaf
Gulch." There was nothing green,
certainly, save q single scrub-brush
of mountain-tea. II suppose I've got
to go" he added; "the kid don't ask
for much. and 1 reckon he's lonely
poor little man."
He started into the mine. On either
side upright timbers supported the
4 roof of the tunnel. Close to these, one
after another, the miner held his can
i de- sweeping it slowly down the
length of each. Every one was bent
inward, a few were splitting. and
omlnous cracks sounded along the line,
as the posts shouldered up the weight
of the saturated hill above Roberts
understood the situation. Had the day
i not been so far advanced he would
have gone to work at once to reinforce
the mine against the impending cal
amity. AS it was, he cursed his luck
and walked rapidly in, to secure an
axe with which to cut q tree for his
small boys Christmas. Having Sc
cured the implement he leaned upon
II in contemplation OF the end of the
tunnel, with it's meagre vein of quartz.
IF 1t wasn't for that color of gold"
he mused, "I'd let you go to the devil"
The crack OF the timbers further out
made him start. He shouldered the
axe and returned toward the day
light.
A chorus Of cracking and crunching
sounds greeted his approach; he felt
chill go down his spine. A moment
later loud splitting behind him re-
verberated down the tunnel, followed
by laundering sound and a rush of
air. His light went out.
Crashing of timbers, gritting of
rocks, and groaning of wood made
u terrifying din. The miner ran for
his life. The tumbling posts, the down
pouring earth, and the splinters of
splitting wood pursued him.
The tunnels mouth--a warping
square-was now in sight. Axe in
hand the racing man tore along the
laundering hall of the fast-flling
tomb. Another leap, and he would
clear the placei The sill OF the door
trlpped and threw him on the rock
floor. He scrambled away on hands
and knees. A single hunk of rock
crushed at the heel of his foot.
Hurt and limping, he arose. stepped
further along. and faced about. A
twisted scar in the hill marked the
place where he had labored so long.
Even In the rain cloud of dust was
slowly floating away. The axe was
buried.
Didn't git me!' said the man, in
peculiar spirit of triumph. But sure
enough. you've gone to the devil!" He
found himself surprised that the fur
row above the cave was so narrow
and shallow. 1t seemed utterly in
adequate to the work he had expend-
ed in delving. mo Chrlstmas-tree now
for the kid" he remarked. II guess
this mountain-tea will have to do the
business"
He hacked off the stem of the brush
with his knife, and swinging it on his
back, limped away.
The brush, with its candles, its bits
of ribbon which the man had cher
ished, and its odd array of presents,
pleased the sevenyear-old child in
Roberts cabin immensely. The little
chap was more than commonly lone
some, having been inordinately fond
OF the mother, who had made him her
constant companion. Since her death
1t had been her personal trinkets that
gave him the greatest pleasure. This
was the reason why the present on
the tree which delighted him most
was gourd which his mother had
employed in darning stockings.
Can | take 1t with me to auntys?"
he inquired wlstfully, holding it tight
in his hands
Why, of course you can, If you
want; but you know you amt coming
nome for week, and l wouldn't like
Tor you to lose it, little man."
On Christmas morning Roberts car
ried the boy as far as the caved-in
mine, and started him off on his visit
10 the camp over the hill
Don't forget to come back to Dad
on New Years Eve" he instructed.
start by four in the evening, sure.
You better not come If 1t happens to
snow-savvy?' And he kissed the lit
Tie fellow good-by.
CHAPTER III.
l.lin tln lnch Il. 4.