Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1902-03-22
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HOW THE ;
EVENING STAR ;
CLOSED DOWN ;
= Copyright, 1901. by Alexander Bruce
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By ALEXANDER BRUCE

STAR l'Hlfltk hN an lhc boohhtepti, {,
was reading Il letter. lie smiled
brightly, for the writer was his promis-
ed wife.
Down in the underground chamber
of the mine sat David Grafton, the
manager. He, o. was reading let
ter. and his face grew black as thun-
der He pecrcd closer and closer to
the typewriter sheet, as though he
could scarce believe his eyes. The
room was lighted by candles in miners
sharp pointed candlcSticks. and stray
puffs of mir made them flicker badly.
Jack" he cried sharply. 'IIaggart
writes that the output must be doubled
or the mine closes down"
That was the truth, but not the
whole truth. 1t was the bluff with
which he had decided to win Jack over
to his side.
''What'S that you say" answered
Jack, a bent and bearded COrnshman.
lie was down on his knees connect
ing feed pipe with diamond drill
set against the face of the rock.
"The output must be doubled or the
mine closes down." repeated Grafton
in a higher key.
cant do it. 1t amt in the Evening
Star to twinkle that bright
but it's in the Busy Bee. Our priv
ate borings show it," whispered Graf
ton.
Jack wasn't surprised at the speech.
lie knew Grafton well, had worked
with him for years, so he swung round
on his knees and leered: Going to
steal: Eh:'
The manager flushed crimson.
"Wc'rc just taking a loan. If we
don't. the entire bank of cash we've
thrown into this cursed hole is gone,
and" as a parting shot, your loans
go with it."
The old man was silent. 4 nervous
twitching of the mouth betrayed his
excitement and his hands trembled as
he stretched out to unite the red hand
kerchcf in the can beside him. He
pulled ont a sandwich and began
munchirg ut it, Grafton rose and
stood looking at him sheepiShly. Nei-
thcr spoke for time.
The nine hundred foot level of the
Evening Star had been run Il hundred
feet westward from the main shaft
timbered up solid like a tunnel all the
way. Eeyond was the underground
room where the manager and the drill
hand were working. Then came five
feet of solid rock. yet uncXcavated
SiI Ia hn ,ll,.I nf
Beyond that every inch of rock belong
cd to the Widow Baird.
The late owner of the Busy Bee had
sunk Il shaft and followed the lOadStar
lode westward with Indifferent sue
cess. while all unknown to him in the
eastern portion of his mine bounded
by the Evening Star lay tons of the
wealth which makes men mad. Year
after year of heavy expenditure. poor
returns and superabundance of litiga-
ton had disheartened him, so the
Busy Bee closed down. Shortly after
ward Baird died. 1t was said that dis
appointment had crushed him, Graf
ton had been the deceaseds intimate
companion and one of the experts
whose advice Baird had relied upon,
knowing the widows low financial
state, he assured IIaggart, I'VE can
buy the mine for song"
The Evening Star was completely
played out. No one knew that better
than Grafton, lie was drawing a
princely salary for his work. and the
monthly reports to the owner had been
couched In grandiloquent language but
the latter's eyes We're open at last.
Grafton had approached the widow
with miserly offer and was staggered
at the reply, '"rhe mine is not for
sale He knew the woman had moth
Ing. Her daughters beggarly earn
inss as mllner could not keep them
both and pay rent and taxes besides.
Some one was doing it, and the man
aGer Swore roundly at the unknown
benefactor.
When the COrnishman finished his
scanty lunch, he began leisurely oiling
the drill bearings, Grafton stood su.
perntcnding,
h4Oure not with us, then, Jack?"
'l'm not saying I'm not" was the
sharp reply.
Grafton grinncd, He knew from that
the man would be easily bribed, SO he
let the matter rest.
"You'll he on till q, them"
Eyes. sir"
every good, If Ryan comes down
when I'm gone, don't let him In here
We don't want him longer. It's as
well not to let him see the position Of
the drill"
aye, aye" muttered Jack.
The manager seized a candle and
hurried along the level to the shaft
and entered the cage, which came
swinging up to the surface. lie had
an uncomfortable task to perform and
made straight for the office Ryan
saw him coming and crushed Il e love
letter in his pocket,
"Mornng." said Grafton glComily,
The hookkeeper cheerfully acknowl.
edged the half hearted salutation. He
had been an exemplary clerk, and the
manager felt ii necessary to screw up
his courage under cover of pretended
search. lie pulled out letter books,
lcdgers, anything he could lay his
hands on, and unlocked n small private
drawer, drew out II file of papers and
began fumblng among them. A small
blue print slipped out and fell unnotic-
cd on the floor. At last he closed the