The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-01-16
THE TWO
MINUTE
TT1SF BY
. WIZ William
Wallace Cook

~ ~ ~ tf.N@ssSsNSSeSsN@eS
Andy and Blakesly had settled it be-
| tween them that the Dutchman was :,
| thief. Andy had missed silver watch.
Higgins pocketbOok with So in it and
Baker nugget valued at $50 which
he had kept i'll his trunk.
Andy had Weakened out of sound
sleep a few nights before and had
seen Fritz skulking through the bunk
house. When Andy failed TO find his
watch next morning, there was but one
inference for him to draw.
There in the end of the drift he
and Blakesly figured the matter all out.
In the afternoon Fritz was not only to
be discharged. but also to see the in
side of the Phenix Jail.
Blakcsly sat refectively on the hail
die of his wheelbarrow. Andy threw
down his drill, unwound two minute
length of fuse from the coil. scraped
the end and slipped Oh cap. lie
pushed the cap down into the hole and
followed it with two sticks Of dyna-
mite, gently ramming them home and
filling up the hole with dust
Great Scott exclaimed Rlakesly
you're putting in charge for your
life, Andy"
I'm going to blow out this horse and
uncover the vein,'' returned the fore
man, IF it takes a leg" Just then
burst of childish laughter echoed to
them is that Allie:" he asked.
Allie was his daughter, Il mOtherless,
sunny faced child, who had been the
especial protege Of Mrs. Hurst, the
keeper of the boarding house. ever
since her father had brought her TO the
Pactolus mine. Occasionally Allie was
allowed to come down into the work
ings, which was always treat for her.
She was prime favorite, and every
one of the miners would have guarded
her as the apple of his eye.
at must he Allie" said Blakesly,
getting up and starting off.
At that precise minute the noon whis-
tie of the stamp mill sounded.
Take Allie up with you,' Andy
called after Blakesly.
"All right" returned Blakcsly, halt
ing at the shaft
The ladder was filed with climbing
miners, Fritz at the lower end of the
row
'"Where's Allie, Fritz" asked Rlakes-
ly.
'She vas gone oop alretty," answered
Fritz. looking down.
Sure about that
til
oudt. | seen him meinself.'
All the miners of the day shift ex-
cept Kingman and Andy were now on
the ladder. Blakesly was satisfied and
started nimbly up the greasy rungs.
The foreman removed his tools to Il
place Of safety. applied the fame Of
his candle to the end OF the fuse,
watched the fuse splutter for mo-
ment and then made his way to the
ladder and started for the surface him
self.
Where's Allie?" asked Andy, spring
ing out of the shaft and hurrying after
Blakesly.
"She came up with Kingman," re-
piled Blakesly.
Who told you:'
Fritz"
The miners were struggling out, sin
gly and i'll couples, on their way to
the boarding house. Kingman was in
the lead. walking alone. Fritz was
just ahead OF the foreman and Blakes-
ly.
Hello, Kingmanr' shouted Andy.
where's Allie?'
Kingman turned
Didn't she come up with yOu?" he
asked.
Every miner in the struggling line
came to an abrupt halt. The very
thought that Allie might still be below
with fuse lighted and leaping closer
and closer to terrific charge of dyna-
mite was sufficient to set every heart
to pounding. There were other charges
in the level, too. but they were light
compared with the one in the breast of
the tunnel.
Andy went white in second.
You Internal villainI' he reared,
springing upon Fritz and gripping him
by the throat.
Fritz tore himself loose and ran fran
tically back to the shaft
.'kingman vent past der slope NIT
Allie on his shoulter," he flung at them
as he raced
81 did" cried Kingman. joining the
rest rs they fiocked excitedly after
Fritz. but she said she'd rather come
up with her father. so l lowered her
down the ladder again. Didn't you see
her, Andy
"Oh, my God" gasped the foreman
and threw his hands to his face.
How many holes were loaded?" de
manded Blakesly.
Three" said Higgins,
"All two minute fuses?"
1t was useless question, for that
was the standard length for the noon
firing.
Andy staggered against the frame