The suburban citizen., 1901-10-19
TYHE rain descending on top of
the snow had made Roberts

the snow had made Roberts |
i 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.
ITS an elegant Christmas" he
grumbled. "and nothing for Il Christ
mas-tree this side of Sugar Loaf
Gulch." There was nothing green.
certainly save single scrub-brush
OF mountain-tea. Il suppose I've got
to 60" 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
roof Of the tunnel. Close to these, one
after another. the miner held his can
die. sweeping it slowly down the
length of each Every one was bent
inward, a few were splitting and
ommous cracks sounded along the line.
as the posts shouldored up the weight
of the saturated hill above. Roberts
understood the situation. Had the day
not been 50 far advanced he would
have gone 70 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 10 cut 4 tree for his
small boys Christmas. Having Sc
cured the implement be leaned upon
it In contemplation of the end Of the
uuuel, with its meagre vein OF quartz
IF it wasn't for that color Of gold
he mused. ia let YOU 90 to the devil
The crack Of the timbers further out
made him start. He shouldered the
axe. and returned toward the day
light
4 chorus Of cracking and crunching
sounds greeted his approach; he felt
a chill go down his spine A moment
later a loud splitting behind him re-
yerocrated down the tunnel followed
by laundering sound and a rush Of
air. His light went out
Crashing of timncrs, gritring Of
rocks, and a grooming Of wood made
a terrifying din The miner ran for
his life. The tumblng posts, the down
pouring earth, and the spiintcrs Of
splitting wood pursued him.
The tunnels mouth-a warping
souarc-was now in sight. Axe in
hand the racing man tore along the
thnn1ering hall Of the faSt-hlling
tomb. Another leap and he would
cleay the place. The sill OF the door
tripped and threw him on the rock
floor He scrambled away on hands
and knees. 4 single hunk Of rock
crushed at the heel of his foot.
Hurt and limping, he arose, stepped
further along. and faced about y
twisted scar in the hill marked the
plaee where he had labored so long,
Even in the rain a 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 devii..' lie
found himself surprised that the fur
row above the cave was 80 narrow
and shallow. Ii seemed utterly in
ADEQUATE to the work he had cXpend
ed in delying no Christmas-tree now
for the kid" he remarked, Il guess
this mountain-tca viii have to do the
business
lie hacked Of The stem Of the brusl
with his knife and swinging it on his
back, limpcd away.
The brush, with its candles, its bits
OF ribbon which the man had cher
ished, and its odd array OF presents,
pleased the seycn-yem-old child il
Roberts cabin immensely. The littl,
chap was more than commonly lone
somc having been inordinately fonC
Of the mother, who had made him ne
constant companion. Since her doatl
It had been her personal Tinkets tha
gave him the greatest pleasure. Thl
was the reason why the present ol
the tree which delighted him mos
was a gourd which his mother la,
employed in darning stockings.
Can / take it with me to aunty's:
he inquired wistfully holding It tlgh
in his hands.
why. Of course you can, if 20
want; but you know you ain't comm
home for a week, and ] wouldn't Ink
FOR you to lose it, little man
On Christmas morning Roberts caI
ried the boy as far as the cayed-i
mine, and started him off on his Wis
to the camp over the hill
Don't forget 10 come back to Da
on New Years Eve he instructed
Start by four in the evening, sur
You better not come if it happens (
snow-savyy?N And he kissed the Il
tie fellow good.by
CHAPTER II.
Late on the last day Of the year
miner walked across the dump Of ROI
erts' mine TO another tunnel whlC
had been locked uD and deserted T,