The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-11-24

night shifts but u was always nlg1t
down there. The summer wsxsd s.i-
fling hot and autumn swept on, co0i
and refreshing. but the temperature
in the mines did not vary. Then one
day. when the first snow was on tie
ground. and the men coming from be
low looked like gnomes against the
glistening hillside. Arthur Marvin once
more presented himself before Super
intendent .Seeger The latter looked
up impatientiy. What did this son Of
a preacher want now? Promotion be-
fore his turn?
Well. Marvin, you must be taking
a day Of"
Perhaps in the tone was just a sug-
gestion that men who were above their
work we're given 10 taking frequent
lay-ofis Arthur made no reply TO the
thrust. but plunged at once into the
object OF his call.
There's a nasty bit OF firedamp IN
No. 7. and the fans don's seem TO carry
it OF"
Most miners expect 10 contend with
fredamp. They don't expect picnic
down there"
Arthur flushed, but his tone was re-
spectful
This is not an ordinary amount,
nor an ordinary kind. II means-uou-
/ BILE"
Seeger whirled round in his chair,
| impatiently.
"Our foremen are supposed to look
after these matters, Mr.. Marvin, and
\ believe Standish, our inside man, is
I perfectly competent"
Arthur did not mention that Stand
] 49,, ral Fn--r
DAYS TO distinguish between fredamp
and Illuminating gas. He lowered MS
voice a trifie
Mr.. Seeger, unless something is
done there'u be an explosion within
! FIVE hours
The superintendent rose, flushing
\ angrily.
Permit me 20 remind you, Marvin,
that YOU asked me for a joo in the
mines. not as my adviser
! His next words were lost in deep,
loud. reyerbrating defamation. which
l shook the very foundations of the
long. narrow office building.
The two men looked each other
silently in the face. No need for eX-
plantations now. From adjacent rooms
\ peered frightened faces. and the next
instant from the distance came the
! sound of many feet hurrying toward
! the top of the shaft. White to the
lips. but with a great determination
burning in his eyes. Marvin reached
: the place even before the startled su-
perintendent Yes. it was No. land
Caughey was down there.
The old heartrending scenes were
re-enacted. Arthur had witnessed
them before. The anguished faces of
, women lowering near the shaft and
about the carriage. the waiting
stretchers. that first awful load OF
manned and blackened forms, the in
slant of horrible uncertainty. then
thhe cry of cries-"Fire,"
Caughey and half dozen of his
men were entombed in one Of the
chambers farthest from the shaft,
with the fire creeping slowly toward
thhem.
Seegar had been directing the eff
, forts OF the rescuers. but now there
was more important work at hand.
The property of his employers was
' endangered. II could be saved only
by flooding the mines He had start
ed toward the long distance telephone
booth. when Marvin stepped in his
|. path
Mr.. Seeger.' he said, quietly
: there can't be more than five feet
. between the workings of Nos. and
6. and Caughey and the others must
be at the far end of the gangway in
lift they're alive. know every
inch OF that ground. A light charge
Of dynamite would break the wall
. They'd have a fighting chance. Al
: least. | could get in and see"
Seeger listened impatiently. He
was not thinking now of a few i'm
4, prisoned miners. but of the result tc
his company and himself If that fire
. was not controlled. He did not real
7 ize the brutality of his next words.
: They'd better drown than burn
; The mines must be flooded
!, Arthur's eyes were steelv as he
watched Seeger disappear. Then he
. turned swiftly and dashed toward the
! mouth Of No. shaft. The carriage
! swayed sullenly over the yawning
! hole He turned to face Lucy.
) "Oh. Arthur, this is awful, Cant
they do something? Mrs. Caughey
is nearly crazed What"
Arthur clasped her trembling hands
: There's not a second to waste. I've
: got TO beat Seegar. When he comes
back he'll food the mines. unless you
] tell him TO wait till he hears from
!, me"
"Yes: I'm going to break through
into No. !. Or" He bent over and
g Kissed her. s.Send some men here
III need them-after the explosion
She would have held him, but al
, ready he had stepped on the carriage
and with the rattle and clank of ca
bic drums he shot out OF sight. When
: Seeger came back from the telephone
with determination written on MS
. face. he met an equally determined
: but pale-faced girl. When he heard
her story he exclaimed
> He'll never come up alive.
"Yes. he viii" affirmed Lucy. heI
, faith in her lover paramount 10 hei
discretion. He knows the mines bet
ter than you do. He'll never Try I
, unless there's chance And you'll
give him that chance. won't youZ'
Seeger paused and looked into the
Heading. uplifted face 1t meant q
DELAY OF a few moments only. The
$50 .or,Ts zasy 1ftr1a naaiKay ir