The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-05-15
The Black Maria.
Submitted in The Trbunes Short Story Contest.

He was separated for time from
the Kind man with whose family he
lived. but his companion, who was also
German explained many things
about the work.. yet when approached
on other subjects. seemed taciturn.
Then they worked on in silence. un-
til suddenly a strange noise was heard.
Franz's companion shouted. "Run, run
for your life!" Something terrible
| must have taken place. Amid the
| confusion which followed. Franz heard
someone call, Get the Black Maria.
quick" How strange. Black Ma
ra?" Where had he heard that name
before? Yes, yes! Now he remem
bered! His vision! 1t must be shc'
He stood as If rooted to the spot: then
he staggered away. luckily unhurt.
only daaed and cropping his way toward
the opening, where he saw n faint ray
of daylight. He encountered his com-
panion. who had shouted to him to
run. and tremblingly asked him.
"Who is Black Maria ." you'll learn
that soon enough" he replied. surlily.
and Franz. inwardly ashamed of hav-
ing let his dream so completely over
wheln him. laughed tneasily and
walked away.
All day he could scarcely roncen-
tiate his mind upon his work for
whenever he laid down his pick to
rest Il few moments. he seemed to see
Il thousand glittering eyes fixed upon
him. peerinc out of all the hooks and
projecting rocks,
He manfully fought against his inn
aginations and when night came. all
was once more tranquil within him.
How we'll the miners know the
BLACK Maria" for is she not Il famil
lar figure among them: How they
stand in the streets in groups whis
pering. as she slowly makes her way!
See the frightened faces at the win
dOws. How the fond mothers heart
anXiOuSly beats as she watches! over
there is Il newly welded bride--will
the "Black Maria" stop there? No.
no. 1t is up there on the hill: there
she stops, Thank God! Sobs are heard
as they lift the shapeless mass out Of
"Black Maria's' loving embrace, and
as the forms disappear within the
doorway. a piercing shrek bursts forth
on the still air!
You BLACK Maria" could tell many
an agonizinC tale. could you speak.
Franz had nearly forgotten his
dream and was quite contented with
his Ifate. Everything was Ching
smoothly at the mine and no accident
had occurred since that memoir
able day when he heard that
mysterious name, which caused
him TO shudder. when. ono day. he was
sent down the mine with several men.
to work upon rock which was to be
blasted. One of the men who was un-
usually busy that morning, explained
hurriedly to Franz how to proceed
with the work. and warning him of
danger orce more. left him. Franz
watched the tiny spark as it Greedily
licked the sqnib: how slowly it burned
Silence all around him. Look! There
she is again. that black devil. 81 will
escape YOU this time" Franz mutters
between his set teeth. hut her gaze
holds him as if by some magic spell,
His fee, feel like weights of lead and
he cannot move them, while she ap-
proaches in her wild beauty. Now she
stretches forth her white arms. She
is close to him! He can feel her
screening pfe;ttn on MS CEeCk. y hiss,
\ terrible report as if the earth were
being rent asundor and Granz sinks
beneath the dying debris.
After all was cleared away they
found him. with Il horror stricken look
upon his still. white face. and ten
derby bearing him out into Gods warm
sunlight. they placed him in "Bacl5
Maria's' arms, who was patiently
waiting to bear him away.