The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-07-04

fathers. with a miners lamp hooked
in the front, and when darkness came,
stole out of the house. pressing to her
heart a glove of Ellsworth's. which she
had picked up unobserved the previous
evening while searching for him. Near
the gate she saw Brave, noble dog
belonging to her lover. She patted
him and caressed him, then went on
her mission, the dog following her.
As she drew near the mine she grew
more cautious and pulled her cap we'll
over her eyes to avoid suspicion. A
new thought struck her. She led the
way to the cage and induced the dog to
follow her; he could help her find his
master. She then bade the dog lie
down, gave the signal placed her arms
about the animals neck and in an
other instant was down the mine. With
a wildly beating heart she led Riave
to whore she could remember of Gav-
ing last seen her lover gave him the
glove and bade him take 1t to his mas
ter. He seemed to understand a once
what was wanted, shifted around a
little, then started off, with Margaret
grasping him by the collar. ON they
went over the rough road. she finding
eager animal While she was tugging
at his collar and stumbling along, she
saw Dick approaching. almost on
run, his face ashcn, his expression
fearful to behold, and she shrank
aside fearing discovery, but her alarm
was needless; he glanced neither to
right nor left. but passed by and she
was once more alone with her
thoughts.
He had been working alone in his
chamber that night, when he saw
some men pass on their way to the
very part of the mine where poor ELS
worth lay. lie heard one of them say:
II leave tomorrow for the south, and
now that this beastly lawsuit is set
tied. | want to show you some of the
old workings. here to the left, that |
want opened up while | am gone"
Dicks heart stood still. What should
he do? Discovery was certain. He
stood irrcsolutp, but only Cor a min
ute, then started on full speed for the
foot of the shact, carrying a can Of oil
with him. \ diabolical thought
crossed his mind and he intended to
act upon ii instantly. He would burn
the breaker none of them would live
to dcnounce him. even if the crime
was discovered. He would be free. He
ascendcd the shaft and soon bright
tongue of flame shot forth and the
breaker was doomed. and it seemed
that the men in the mine were doomed,
too, AS the roof had fallen near the
slope a short time before. making
egress by that way impossible. A
large crowd soon collected. Dick
joined it. mingling with his friends,
who congratulated him upon his es-
cape. while Margaret travelled on, un-
conscious or her danger.
She thought she had walked for
hours; she was so tired The place
grew strange to her. but still she
struggled on h, roically until she heard
a thunderous crash, the dog broke
| from her grasp and she was almost
buried beneath large masses of coal
| and rock.
When the noise had subsidcd, she
heard some enc groan near her, and
| Brave was bowling dismally. She
tried to cXtriCate herself but could
rot. Her light was eXtinguished, and
| he" lamp was gone. She heard some
| one moan as if in pain and listened: :
| row all was silent as the grave. She
| wondered how long she might be COM
| PEELED to remain there. Would some
| one never come? She could not ac-
| compish her purpose now. Was no
| ore near? She would call, and natur-
| ally enough size called for the one who
| was uppermost in her mind.
| Ellsworth, come to me and save mo.
| Oh Ellsworth" she cried, raising her
| voice.
"Is that you, Margaret" asked a
! feeble voice that she recognized as
| EllswOrths.
Eyes" she cried gladly. 81 am be-
meath this rock. Where are you"
II am here, bound hand and foot,
and I'll be blessed if | can move an
inch" came the feeble answer. How
came you here?"
II came to find you, feeling certain
YOU were still in the mine, and | got
caught under fall of roof"
Did you really care what became
of me?" asked Ellsworth.
can you doubt it?" was her only
answer
4 few more words passed between
| his wife, if they ever got out of there
them and Margaret had promised to be
alive, which seemed doubtful,
In "A short time, however, they could
| hear men at work. but they seemed TO
be far off. The sounds grew palmer,
and they thought nearer every mo-
mcnt. Soon they heard a deafenng
noise; the wall near them opened, and
a glorious cheer greeted their cars
Margaret uttered glad cry and a
dozen noble miners were beside her.
When she was released she found Els
worth within few feet of her, with
his faithful dogs head on his breast
He had swooned and a few of the men
carried him to the surface, some as
sisted Margaret. while others went to
rescue their fellow workmen. The
rest is soon told. Dick fed at hear
ing of his rivals rescue and he has
/ never been heard of since.
] Margaret kept the promise she made
in the mine, and she and Ellsworth
live a happy married life. Ellsworth
says he has learned to carry lamT
when visiting a strange mine, and he
believes even then it is best to keeT
up with the party. All of the men In
the mine were saved through the open
ing made into the adjoining mine.
THE PEOPLE OF MARS.
mn