Gilpin observer., 1901-02-28

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 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 Stuart's cry for help.
DO you always carry Il rope With
You on your afternoon walls:' asked
Stuart.
NO, l have not been in the habit OF
doing so, but l think it might be
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 l nat
urally carried it down with me, not
knowing what might be needed at the
bottom. l suppose the men left ii
there when the strike was declared. l
noticed their tools lying around in va
rious places as l 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.
81 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 Ike a years time We
managed to pry out of him that he had
seen you and Eric go down the ladders
little while before. ] rushed over to
the shaft, and here Is the mystery of it
to me. Not soul was in sight. The
engineer, firemen and pump men We're
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 run for
that. You know. Stuart. it's over n
quarter Of n mile from the shaft, but
we made it in few minutes. ! fell
over on rock and smashed n lot of
valuable bottles in my case. You've
cost me 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 that
hot headed young socialist and agita
tor. lie will make peck of trouble in
the world. and l 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
absentmiudedly into his soup. he bur
ried in to see his socialist patient.
Before he came back Stuart anu
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 fel! upon Eric was something
more than a loosened fragment of the
mine. The doctor was right about 1t.
The absence Of the men from the spot
when tie fire broke out also needed
explanation.
The doctor had come back. and the
meal WAS progressing while the three
men were tryin. to solve the facts OF
the burning and the injury to Eric
when tramp of marching men was
heard coming up the avenue.
The three men rose from the table to-
gether. There was n menace in the
sound that was not easily mistaken.
Stuart went directly into the hall and
opened the great front door. BY the
light of the porch lamp could be seen
n crowd. ut least 200 men. each one car
rying his stick. which In most cases mp
preached more ncnrly the dimensions
of a club. They were n formidable ap-
bearing mob OF men. their sullen. heavy
faces brought into distinct relief In the
light of the electric lamp.
"Well. men," called out Stuart clenr-
ly, "what Is this?"
The men meanwhile crowded up close
about the veranda. One OF them, act
Ing as spokesman. came up on the
steps and said in loud voice, 1--WE
want TO see Erie
you can't see him. He's hurt. He
isn't 1T to see any one" shouted the
doctor, who stood just behind Stuart
In the doorway.
"What do you want to see him for?"
asked Stuart calmly.
The spokesman appeared confused
and did not answer Mt once. Then
here and there through the crowd rose
cries from the men.
"There's been foul plnyr'
"We'll string up the men that did it".
eyes, hang 'cm!'
"Show us Eric. We want him With
us tonight!'