The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-09-19

the mead OFT of the nan who dared saw
he was a liar. Not a member of OAR
rers party, but standing close by on the
curb was a young, clean-shaven boy,
whose appearance suggested the age of
twenty. He had a sneering expression
on his face while Darrell was INDUCING in
this round of threats, but he did not en-
ter into the general, loud-voiced discus
sion. Darrell looking up, caught a quick
view of the sinister, knocking eyes of the
young man and calculated, all the time
pointing his finger menacingIy: Eyes,
you, too; can I do anything for you, my
pretty boy?',,a'
The boy addressed said nothing, but
prepared himself, for the worst. The rep
utation. Of Jack Darrell had not passed
through every nook and corner of the
mining town for nothing. The name that
bred terror to so many had some little
effect upon this young man, who, while he
did not hold himself aloof from his daily
associates in the mines, never was one of
them in spirit or companionship. His 81
lence was a torch to barrels intlammable
temper and without another word the
bully Of the camp began hostilities.
A fight was too good a thing to b.
stopped in its very beginning, SO the men
formed q circle and allowed the man with
superhunlan strength and the well-made
and courageous lad to battle it out. OAR
rePs strength was pitted against a COM
binatton of youth, skill and courage, Many
hard knock did both the lad and his
older antagonist receive before the fight
came to an end. At the time it was
abruptly stopped Darrell was all but tot
tering on his legs and ready to succumb
to exhaustion and the loss Of blood. His
yanquisher was much cut up about the
face and head, but was still strong n
undaunted. 5000
It was al u woman who put the
chan1 II on cha M, ci1f sfiof 1yiolo,,oa5 q rJ @,.o,,a
Darrell the chance to say to his friends
that the boy had not beat him entirely.
She was OF, her. way home when She heard
the noise and fury of the fight and the
frenzied ex%hortations Of the una ring
surrounding the fighters. TO her great
terror she recognized In the blood-stained
face of the young man her betrothed, Jim
Baldwin. Unmindful Of. place or danger
she rushed In between the men, and cling
ing to Jim Baldwin she forced him to
quit then and there. The crowd became
silent n awed at the presence OF the
girl, and allowed her to lead the young
victor away without a word.
Of course, the camp knew tina Darrell
had been Worsted, but no Individual miner
would8dare taunt him with the fact. Oar
rel went about among his friends with the
same buster and Boosting. The fight was
understood to be athing#not to be mem
TONED in polite camp society..SF For three
days after it happened and the men had
returned4to the mines Darrell was ina
state of 5bestial intoxlcation, always look
Ing for trouble and usually finding IT..
The fifth day he was$ready to go back to
his work and notified the boss Of his In
tentions.@E}SR$ s2 fGsSS5
But Darrell never went back To his old
place. While lettering about the office Of,
the mine he saw man rush into! tie
managers room, and then three or four
men, theirsfaces pale and their lips trem-
bling as they spoke, rush out again in
theSdirectionsso OF the mine entrance. ..Fire-5
damn, imprisoned miners, !, were the
words he heard, andsthey were words the.
import Of which he well knew. Tor once in
the old days when he had a care Of him
self he, toos wa imprisoned and res.
cued at the I'M of last suspense.
q hundred OF them; and they VIII
AL die U rats in "a trap + know, he
muttereds u there any.
way, and see what's dor. 4,
When Darrell arriyed at the min en-
trance he everything In turmoil
and confusion. But one thing he plainly
noticed was thats some Of the men who
HWefelueky enpugflst to be out of the nine
atsthe time were preparing for a descen.
as q sescuing party. SIS
Say, boss, said Darrell, cues yo,,5
don't mind if go down With the ranr
knew the mine pretty well ana may be-
some good, SlSs
s'ls ! want to. lack. all right, hut