The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-08-09
CHAPTER VIII.
COMPLICATIONS.

Stuart had known every foot of Cor
uishtovn as boy and was familiar ever
now with most Of the curious little lanes
and paths that cut IL across and tracked
up and down the side OF the great hill
like the marking OF some gigantic game
There was probably no other place just
like II I'm America. The prospecting holes
were OF various depths. Some OF them
had caved In at the sides and were shaped
like OH cellars or cisterns, with masses
Of rubbish at the bottom. Others were
wells. anywhere from 80 TO 100 feet deep,
and especially dangerous In winter. when
the snow. lodging on bushes growing
about the shafts mouth, artfully con-
eealed the locality OF danger
IL was Stuart's first thought when ne
calmed himself 20 think and act that
Rhcna had attempted 10 make short
cut by one OF the miners paths from the
upper part OF the settlement OF Cornish :
town TO Champion and In the dark and
confusion caused by the change which
snow makes I'm the appearance OF old
landmarks had stumbled into one OF the
shafts Under this conviction he ran
back TO the house where Rhena had been
and from which he had just come him
self, and. begging a lantern, he started
OUT on a pHtn WHICH NJ iISN III hiS w
for he had forgotten. He had followed
Il but a little way when the lantern re-
vealed a small black object right In the
center OF the path. He stopped eagerly
and picked IL up. II was lady'S winter
glove trimmed with fur at the wrist he
recognized II as Rhena's. He had seen
her wearing that kind OF a glove few
days before He placed II in his pocket
and went on as fast as he dared, eager
and yet dreading with horror he never
felt before the possible discoveries he
might make. The miner who had come
up with him had gone down 10 the set
tlement at Stuart's suggestion to rouse
others TO come out and join In the search
SO he was alone up there In the mystic
rious shadows Of the pine covered slope.
Every step he took over the small. bare
" defined trail was like a step into an
unknown land. and yet he was conscious
even as he dwelt with terror upon the
strange adventure 80 suddenly thrust up
ON him. of going over that very path one
warm summer day when a boy only 10
years old. and tho smell OF the balsams
as they gave out their peculiar pungent
odor IN the warmth OF the sun seemed
to be In his senses now. Several persons
had evidently been over the path that
very day. for the snow was trodden down.
and the marks Of feet were not yet wholly
covered by new snow.
Quite q lOnA ulStdrCt itoth bhN f''N~~
where the glove was found stuart came
20 an old stump which marked giant
nine of many years before. The pain
turned about the foot OF this stump, ana
on the other side OF II as he strode up
praying In hts heart for mercy ana saie-
ty to be shown this woman, he saw ner
living so still and white that he dared not
think what II might mean she had
fallen over a mass OF ore that had rolled
into the path. and one hand and arm lay
stretched out directly over one OF the
most dangerous pits on the hill so near
had she been to instant death.
with a cry Stuart caught her up. Still,
he dared not question whether what he
held was alive or dead. He said to him.
seIf ne would not ask He knew she was
not conscious. He moved now with more
Of instinct than by sight or reason. feel
ing his way down the hill. He seemed 10
feel confident that he would not fall into
any OF tho shafts with this burden, ana
with a strength and purpose that moved
him with even more than his usual de-
termination he went on down. keeping
before him the glimmering light Of the
nearest cottage. Finally he had reached
a cross path to the one he had frst en-
tered and I'm which Rhena had met with
her accident. The light from the cottage
had disappeared. He was now In hol-
low or depression of the slope which had
sometimes been used by the miners for
q rough roadway to one part OF the Da-
Wis mine. and as he entered II he thought
that ne could feel rather than see that
tracks had recently been made through
the hollow He went down very cautious
". Rhena was still unconscious
Suddenly q sound came TO Stuart from
above. He stopped and listened. II was
the sound OF sleighbels. He could not
trust his hearing and listened more In