The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1901-11-26
THE APOLOGY OF ROBERTS
Rv Philip VerriI rllgheIs.

HE rain descendluc on top OF
the snow had made Roberts
thoroughly wet standing in

the snow mad IIaue hobSA -
thoroughly wet Standing in
side the mouth of his tunnel.
he lighted n candle and then gaZed
out on the dreary scene presented by
the gray hills.
It's an elegau Christmas" he
grumbled. "and nothing for a Christ
mas-tree this side OF Sugar Loaf
Gulch." There was nothing green.
certainly. save a single scrub-brush
OF mountan-tea. Il suppose I've got
to go" hc added: 1.-The kid don't ask
for much, and reckon he's lonely,
poor little man."
He started into the mine. On either
side upright timbers supported the
roof of the tunnel Close 10 these. one
after another, the miner held his can
die, sweeping it slowly down the
length of each. Every one was bent
inward. few Were splitting, and
ominouS cracks sounded along the line.
rs the posts shouldered up the weight
of the saturated hill above. Roberts
understood the situation. Had the day
not been so far advanced he would
have gone TO work nj 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 Il tree for his
small boys Christmas. Having Sc
cured the implement. nc leaned upon
IT. In contemplation of the end of the
tunnel, with its meagre vein of quartz
If it wasn't for that color of gold"
no = LOT q 4 .
The crack OF the timbcrs further out
made him start He Shouldered the
axe, and returned toward the day
light.
n chorus of cracking and crunchinC
sounds greeted his approach; he felt
a chill go down his spine. \ moment
later loud splitting behind him re-
verberatcd down the tunnel. followed
by laundering sound and a rush OF
air. His light went out
Crashing of timbcrs. grittinS OF
rocks, and a GroaninG OF wood made
a 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-nllinc
tomb. Another leap. and he would
clear the place! The sill OF the door
tripped and threw him ON the rock
floor. He scrambled away on hands
and knees. single hunk OF rock
crushed at the heel of his foot.
Hurt and limpins. ne arose. stcpncd
further along, and faced about. \
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 a
peculiar spirit OF triumph But sure
enough, you've gone to the devil! lie
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 NO ChriStmas-rec now
for the kid" he remarked. Il guess
this mountain-tcI VIII have TO do the
business
He hacked of the stem OF the brush
with his knife, and swinging it on his
back, limpod away.
The brush, with it's candles. it's bits
of ribbon which the man had cher.
ished, and its odd array of presents"
pleased the seven ycar-old child in
Roberts cabin immensely. The little
chap was more than commonly lone
some, having been Unfortunately fond