Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1902-03-22
keys on the desk. I'll get them when
I rpturu -


Mary and her mother now: He had
been lending them half his salary to
enable them to hold OH to their mine.
Positions were scarce in this section of
the country. and his spirits sank low.
What would Mary think of it: Mary
was the "bcGgarly millner.'
He began slowly to replace the books
which Uttered the floor. The blue
print lay between a tattcrcd ledger and
a letter book. He picked it up and
turned it over.
whats this?"
1t was a private chart showing the
borings through the boundary to the
5000 per ton. Ryan whistlcd soft
ly, slipped the paper in his pocket
closed the safe and tossed the keys on
the desk. Grafton had taken the south
road to Ripple. and Pat didn't want
to meet him. so he climbed the dump
on the north side of the shaft and hur-
red down the hill. \ whistle footed
up the canyon.
THAT must be the 40
lie rushed down the rocky pathway,
climbing powders, dOdging spruce
stumps, sliding on the dry pine needles,
until he reached the depot.
Going to Dunton. Mr.. Ryan,"
drawled the station agent.
Yes" gulpcd Pat brcathlcsSly
The man pushed down the signal
lever. and the roar of the oncomng
train leSScned as it swung round the
bend, slowed down and stopped. Pat
jumped in. the conductor raised the
green flag. the locomotive snortcd loud
ly, and the glittering tracks shot out
from beneath.
Up on the miners ridge n man was
running, waving frantically. Pat recog-
nizcd him, but the IL: 40 Numbered on
through the canyon.
At Dunton depot two hours later Pat
met Cuthbert. the chief telegraph
operator.
Hello. Ryan. Business brisk at the
mine"
Nothing doing at all; just been
fired"
Want a job, then? Burke quit this
morning. Come right over now. And
the affable operator grabbed Pats arm
and led him into the office.
Ryan understood the work He had
served his time on the Western Union
He thanked Cuthbcrt. threw off his
Jacket and sat down before the ma
chine. Tick tick. a message was
claiming Interpretation:
Haggart, Boston Block, Dunton:
Excavations in western section start immediate
ly. GRAFTON.
Pat knew the western section to be
worthless. The blue print and the telc-
gram confirmed his SuSpicionS-G Graf
ton was going to steal. On the stroke
of 6 he boarded a car at the office door
and got off ut 4 milliner'S store,
He had scarcely released the spring
doors when u girls voice cried Patsy
and pair OF soft arms were round his
neck, pulling his head forward and
down on the artificial yiOlets on the
counter,
The greetings over. Mary surprised
him with unexpected news,
"Mother's just had proposal. Patsy.
The gentleman comes for his answer
tonight"
"N'hO Is it;"
"Ar, Grafton"
"What" GaSped Ryan.
Now he understood why the man
waved so frantically. Heavens. II
he had caught the train, there would
have been no telegram: he'd have ar
rived here ahead of me, thought Pat
Next afternoon Grafton called on the
widow. but he did not stay long. Later
he boarded the Santa Fe for the Pacific
coast, and IIaggart never saw him
again.
In the underground chamber Of the
Evening Star the black diamonds had
pierced through fourteen feet of solid
rock, and the rich vein Of the Busy
Bee showed up richer every foot. The
machine was still droning noiSily when
Ryan and his attorney entered.
"Stop that drill!' shouted Ryan.
Jack spranS up.
"YOu cant come in here; Grafton's s
orderS.' he roared.
you're not likely to take further
orders from Grafton" said Ryan quiet
ly.
The Cornishman's face went white.
hat-dyou-mean: he stammer-
cd,
"l mean tho games up" answered
Ryan,
Jack stopped the drill. and the Even.
ing Star closed down.