The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-03-26

walked theoretically up the canyon
toward the Jim-Ned. She would see jim
Carey herself and order him to stop work
in that mine and leave her land.
As she approached the little mine she
noticed that something had just happened
there. The north end of the hole had
caved in, carrying great quantity of lose
sand and rock into the opening and COM
pletely choking the entrance to the tunnel
in which Carey worked. She ran to the
tent. calling the mans name in an eS-
cited voice. She received no response
Then she hurried back to the shaft. Her
worst fears were confirmed: Jim Carey
was down there, imprisoned in the mine.
If he was not dead, he must be in dying
| condition, she reasoned, since there was
only the one entrance for fresh air ana
that was now blocked up by the cave-in:
Catching up spade and pick that lay
near Carey's jacket by the south end OF
the mine, Rhoda slid slowly down the III
cline of rock and gravel made by the
cave-in, into the shaft. Then she began
digging away at the rocks and sand that
choked up the opening into the tunnel,
where she was sure jim Carey must be.
She did not stop to consider that he
had been trespassing on her land. She
thought only of fellOw-being imprisoned
in that tunnel, and no one but herself to
release him.
sion whatever on the pile of earth against
which she was waging war; As soon as
one spadeful was removed another seemed
to take it's place. Nothing daunted. how
ever, she worked away, tearing her clothes
and bistering her hands fearfully. I'm
needing the pain which her injured hands
| caused her, she picked away rock after
rock until she was able to see little
opening at the top of the tunnel. She
now renewed her efforts and made the hole
| large enough TO insert her arm. AS her
| hand was extended into the dark passage
| if came in contact with Il cold human face.
| With an energy born of the excitement
of the hour, Rhoda Allison toiled away
with aching hands, until she had enlarged
the opening sufficiently to admit her body.
| Then she began the more difficult task of
dragging the sense,ess form of Jim Carey
out into the Shaft.
| At last the task was accomplished, and
she sank back exhausted upon the gravel.
| the mans head across her knees. The
| fresh air revived Carey, ard he looked up
at the woman who had rescued him.
1T was sudden-that cave-in.' he said
feebly. Il was at the mouth of the tunnel
| when Il rock struck Eie on the head, and
didn't know anything after that
| lie tried to sit up. but the effort was too
much for him, and he sank back unc0n-
| sciouS.
Rhoda knew that it was useless to try
! to get the man out of the shaft unaided;
SO she sat supporting his head, hoping
some one would happen along the trail.
Small sheets of sand kept descending into
| the mine. This served to raise the wo-
mans alarm. Should another cavern
occur they would be buried alive in the
shaft.
Her repeated calls for help were finally
| answered by her nephew and Il cowboy.
With thaiY aid Cnrp.- tnEnu nf
the shaft and carried to the cabin, where
Rhoda nursed him for two weeks through
/ an attack of fever that followed his acct
dent.
| During Carcy's illness some Of his
friends proved to Rhoda that the claim
was legally his beyond every doubt. She
began packing her belongings at once in
a subdued way, strangely at variance with
her customary fearless manner, and sent
word for her brother to come and move
her and Tom hack to the ranch.
| Next day, when Dave Allison drove up
to the cabin to get Rhoda and her things,
his sister, with new light in her eyes and
queer confusion in her manners, met him
ut the door. Carey, looking pale but very
happy, had one hand on her shoulder.
Shes not going" he said to Allison,
who was staring very hard at the pair.
Not going with me!' asked Allison.
Flows sthaty'
We've compromised" answered Jim,
with n grin on his handsome face.
''Compromised?'
| Yes; the cave-in of the Jim-Ned did
tie business. There's not such another
woman in all the world as Rhoda, and
all l have is hers. What 1 want most is
her, and you can just drive us to the
County-seat to-day. Yves just come to an
agreement. We've decided to look at a
license and consult a preacher instead Of
q LAWYER