The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-06
Copyright, 1903, by Robert Howard
Russell.)

rag and a Done and a hank Of hair,
with the result that the woman refused
him SO point blank, so coolly. so heart
iessly hat he felt his momentary heav-
en- turn into a hideous hell.
Now. this is why he was a fool:
Immediately thereafter he threw up
his job as foreman at the Silver Cloud,
down at Phoenix. and entered upon a
long. wild debauch. For two whole
weeks ne was, in the plain, but fitting
language of the camp, ~"hOpe.eSs y par
AIyzed.
And the sin of it all was. he had b en-
saying MS money and hadn't tou,h d
o drop for a year, just in hopes o. WIN
ming the woman with the gray-green
eyes. She? A cat-l.ke Creature, pd.Il.s
when so disposed, with a heart con-
tanning no more warmth h a lump
Of ice. She loved to pay with the b g
strong men OF the mines.
Then one morning Pierson came back
% his senses and became a mai AGAIN.
1t was as he lay like a Sex hog in
h horse shed at the rear OF the GooI
Cheer. The miners suddenly missed
him. but learned that ne had gone
aorth. headed for California.
A week later. clean shaven. his eyes
dear. hand firm and sep elastic, e
presented himself to the super of the
New Era. up at Grass Valley.
VIVA can you do?" asked Hendricks,
Ihe superintendent, surveying the big
athletic frame from toe to steady blue
aye.
Anything about a mine. from settin'
q timber to runnin' a machine. l amt
particular what it is, SO longs it's work.
That's what 1 want"
Were full handed, except down at
the South Strike" pointing to the en-
CINE house and dump pile farther down
the mountain side, where were sink
ing a shaft" replied Hendricks,
thoughtfully. rubbing his chin. 'One
OF the men quit yesterday, and If you're
willing to take his place, l can put you
On. There's three Italians IN the shift.
You'll make the fourth man-that is, if
you want to work with them. Some
men don't like to-er-well. you know
now it is" he finished. laughing y
Hendricks had risen from the ra-ks.
and the rise had not spoiled i'm. tie
was a man of iron nerve. good natured
and sympathetic.
1udG = dl IlShl just put INK oh. =
ssn get along with anybody"
"AH right. P%ierson, did you say?
Well. be on hand for the day shift"
The following morning Pierson went
20 work with three uncouth Italians.
emily one of whom, ole Pete, me more
tina a few words of English. They
were filled with tradition and with su-
perstition of the rankest sort
For 700 feet the shaft dropped straight
down into the mountain. The ledge
had not yet been reached. They ex-
pected to strike it within the next hun
dred feet.
1t lacked a few minutes TO five in the
afternoon. The last blasts for the day
had been prepared, and in two minutes
She spot on which they now stood
would be torn by eight terrific shots of
giant"
Each picked up his stumpy candle,
ypitted his fuse and clambored into the
cage suspended four feet above. Pete
seized the signal cord n yanked it for
the hoist. Ten seconds, and the men
glanced up uneasily. No vibration of
machinery in motion above came down
the shaft.
Another ten seconds. Still the cage
remained stationary. Then, with asjerk
it started. Five feet, another jerk, it
auivered and dropped like a rock to It's
starting point, above the sputter. n
hell hidden there in the gloom. The
men tumbled in a startled heap on the
iOor of the cage. he Italians johber-
ed IN scared tones and widely gesticu-
lated upward.
why dye s'pose is the NATTER"
Pierson aSked. Think that cables
nu~'sted?"
Old Pete muttered half audibly ana
strained his neck to look up the shaft.
The other two were fearfully agitated.
Their dark eyes followed old Pete's and
then turned with a haunted stare into
the bottom of the pit. --
Silence fell and the s'\ nd dragged.
Only the excited breathing of the men
vas heard
"Jesu! S'pose da wire she brokei"
suddenly exclaimed old Pete. in tones
OF terror, once more clutching the sig
hal cord. 'S'pose Jim no geta da sig
pull up"
His fellow c~ountrymen caught his
words only in part. and now they burst
INTO startled cries in their native tongue.
IF she's broke. it's all up with u.s."
Pierson answered. coolly. Let me try
that line" He reached across n gave
it several vigorous jerks. 1T amt
broke, but there's something decidedly
wrong UP there" and now for the first
time ne seemed worried.
There was nothing to do but wait
and hope. What had happened above
they could nOt know. They only knew
that something had happened, and that
the engine was not working.
Looking straight up, they could make
out Il tiny white spot-dayl;ght and
safety Below. a quick, fearful death
awaited them in the darkness when the
blasts ven of.
Suddenly mortal terror seized the
Italians. They flung themselves on
their knees. fervently praying the Bless
ed Virgin in wailing hopelessness. Pier
son moved uneasily, but maintained his
Somposure
IF you'll quit that bowling and act
like men, We nay save ourselves yet
he shouted in Did Pete's ear. Tell