Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-10-09

ding them to remain and convince
themselves in spite of their in
credulity..
1t was this aggregation of humanity
that caught the eye of Tim Murdoch,
who had been scanning the country all
the way down from Virginia City for
sign or sight of the vagrant Beelzebub,
Tim was not a man who let slip an
opportunity of finding out a bit Of
news, and he reined his mule up the
trail leading to the group of people at
the tunnels mouth.
"Phwat's the disturbance, Hank?"
"Its you, is it, Tim? Disturbance,
you say? Well, l wonder! If you
never heard underground thunder,
now's your chance"
Faith, an did yez have an airth-
quake here, Hank?"
Sure, Tim. It's paralyzed our bo-
nanza tunnel, and locked up a roarin'
| fury inside of it, to boot"
who's the gintlemen with the
specks and KNOWN jibs?"
Scientists, Tim, and they hail from
some big institution of big learning"
'B'jakers, an yez are sthrictly in it
wild yer little wan-horse tunnel, amt
yeZ, Hank?"
And Hank nodded a ready acquies-
| cence.
Tim had guided his mule directly in
front of the tunnel; he halted there
and gazed in open-eyed astonishment.
The mule appeared unduly interested,
| foo nd
shifted the air suspiciously. A squirt
of steam was elected from the crevice;
it was forerunner of several denser
columns. Professors and all others
drew near, epecting to hear the result
ant rumble. 1t came; not so distinctly
as formerly, but loud enough to startle
| them. A hush fell upon the throng.
Mans significance seems infinitesimal
when Natures stupendous force as
| serts itself in a manner that indicates
only tithe of what she might do.
The hush was rudely broken-not by
a commenting human voice, not by
| another internal clamor, but by a stri
dent, grating cry issuing from the
throat of Tins mule. The bray of an
ass is akin to the filing of many saws
at once, and never an agreeable sound.
This particular bray created all of this
effect and more in addition. Although
not eactly a repetition of the subter-
ranean cannonading, there was much
similarity between the two.
"Mither of Moses! Yez gaping
gawks! An it's a foine thrick yer
afther playin' Underground thunder
it isis it? Him that shtuclz me good
mule Beelzebub inter that sweatin,
shteamin' hole fer the iddification of
blitherin' scientics will plaze to shtep
out an Oi'll paste his ugly mug!"
Professor Mellins fell back against a
convenient bank in dazed condition
The noted DR.. Endlin's countenance
reflected a sardonic sneer. Several
derisive hoots passed the lips of the
| hereinbefore mentioned incredulous
ones.
''Shtand back, ye domned fools, an
| let me rescue me poor darlint Bel
zie!"
Tim Murdoch had leaped from his
mules back; he tore wildly into the
now comparatively clear atmosphere
of the tunnel and disappeared from
view.
Different emotions filled the breasts
of the different individuals. DR.. End
Inns face was a. study; he glanced at
the hopelessly dispirited Professor
Mellins, and seemed to pity him, yet
he maintained a dignified and unap-
proachable aspect that best becomes
q man of letters. The mapority of the
spectators chuckled, looked wise, and
a number of 81 told you SOS" were
overheard.
Two or three brave souls ventured
a few feet within the tunnel; after 10
minutes or so had elapsed, a commo-
ton was heard in the darkened
depths.
Back, back. tell ye! Back again,
me Belize! Och. an it's a fool set of
fools out there, Belize! It's homesick
yez are for tunnel, acushla, me own.
Back vance more, darlint!"
Slowly, carefully surely, Tim Muir
dock steered his charge out of the
treacherous tunnel. Once the sure
footed mule slipped and his hind feet
wnt down into the crack that made
the tunnels floor dangerous ground.
Then, and only then, would Tim per-
NIT any of the fools" to assist him.
When Belize backed out into day
light, it added the last straw to Pro-
fessor Melinss undoing. He merely
glanced at the unsightly animal, then
skunk quickly down the hill. DR.. End
lin and his comrades could appreciate
the ludicrous side of things, and
smiled laughed, then fairly roared
as they beheld the cause of the sub
terranean rumblings, plainly audible" "
Tins riding animal welcomed Bel
zie with prolonged bray. Belize
bruised, famished, and with huge
patches of hair actually steamed from
his hide, responded In a woe-begone
groan. The warm-hearted Tim Law
,shed endearing terms upon his un
| lucky Belize: he procured a can OF