St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-05-07
HOW THE EVENING STAR CLOSED
DOWN,

SN
Star Patrick Ryan, the bookkeeper,
was reading a letter He smiled
brightly, for the writer was his promis-
ed wife.
Down in the underground chamber
of the mine sat David Grafton, the
manager. He, too, was reading let-
ter, and his face grew black as thun-
der. He peered closer and closer to
the typewriter sheet, as though he
could scarce believe his eyes. Tie
room was lighted by candles in miners
sharp pointed candlesticks, and stray
puffs of air made them flicker badly.
"Jack," he cried sharply, "Haggart
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.
"Whats that you say?" answered
Jack, bent and bearded Cornishman.
He was down on his knees connect
ing a feed pipe with a diamond drill
set against the face Of the rock.
1.-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.
He 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.
"We're 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. A nervous
tWitching of the mouth betrayed his
excitement, and his hands trembled as
he stretched out to unite the red hand
kerchief in the can beside him. He
pulled out a sandwich and began
munching at it. Grafton rose and
stood looking at him sheepishly. Mel
Their spoke for time.
The nine hundred foot level of the
Evening Star had been run a hundred
feet westward from the main shaft,
timbered up solid like a tunnel all the
way. Beyond was the underground
room where the manager and the drill
hand were working. Then came five
feet of solid rock, yet uneXCayated,
inside the boundary line of the mine.
Beyond that every inch of rock belong
ed to the Widow Baird.
The late owner of the Busy Bee had
sunk a 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 Haggart, "We can
buy the mine Tor song"
The Evening Star was completely
played out. No one knew that better
than Grafton. He 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 were open at last
Grafton had approached the widow
with a misery offer and was staggered
at the reply, THE mine is not for
sale" He knew the woman had moth
ing. Her daughters beggarly earn
ingS as a milliner 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 Corrishman finished his
scanty lunch, he began lesurely oiling
the drill bearings. Grafton stood su-
perintending.
you're not with u.s. then, Jack"
"Pm not saying I'm not" was the
sharp reply.
Grafton grinned. He knew from that
the man would be easily bribed, so he
let the matter rest.
you'll be on till 6, 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. He had
an uncomfortable task to perform and
made straight for the office Ryan
saw him coming and crushed the love
letter in his pocket.
Morning" said Grafton gl0omily.
The bookkeeper cheerfully acknowl-
edged the half hearted salutation. He
had been an exemplary clerk, and the
manager felt it necessary to screw up
his courage under cover of a pretended