The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1903-01-16
THE TWO
MINUTE
EYYSE BY
: WIZ WILLIAM
Wallace Cook
Copyright. 1901, by w. w. Cook.

VVsVeVsVsSeV0s
Andy and Blakesly had settled 1t be-
tween them that the Dutchman was
thief. Andy had missed a silver watch,
higgins pocketbook with SIS in it and
Baker nugget valued at $40 which
he had kept in his trunk.
Andy had Weakened out of sound
sleep 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 fer 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 Phenx Jail.
Blakesly sat refiectively on the ham
die of his wheelbarrow. Andy threw
down his drill, unwound two minute
length of fuse from the coil, scraped
the end and slipped on a cap. He
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 Scottr' exclaimed Blakesly
"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 a
burst OF childish laughter echoed to
them. us that Aliie?" he asked.
Allie was his daughter. q 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 a prime favorite, and every
one of the miners would have guarded
her as the apple of his eye.
SIT must be Allie" said Blakesly,
getting up and starting off.
At that precise minute the nco:> whis-
tie of the stamp mill sounded.
"Take Allie up with YOU" Andy
called after Blakesly.
"All right" returned Blakesly, halt
ing at the shaft.
The ladder was flied with climbing
miners Fritz ut the lower end of the
row
''Where's Allie, Fritz?" asked Blakes-
ly.
"She vas gone oop alretty," answered
Fritz. looking down.
"Sure about that?"
"Yah, sure Kingman carried her
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 a
place of safety, applied the flame CT
his candle to the end of the fuse,
watched the fuse splutter for a 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 your"
"Fritz."
The miners were struggling out. sim
ely and in 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. Kingmanw shouted Andy.
"Where's AllieT'
Kingman turned.
Didn't she come up with your he
asked.
Every miner din the struggling line
came to an abrupt halt. The very
thought that Allie might still be below
with a fuse lighted and leaping closer
and closer to a 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 villainv he roared,
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 ut them
as he raced.
, IT did," cried Kingman. joining the
rest as they docked excitedly after
Fritz, "bnt she said she'd rather come
up with her father, SO / lowered her
down the ladder again. Didn't you see
her, AndyY
/ ooh, 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 fusesT"
\ It was a useless question, for that
was the standard length for the noon
firing
Andy staggered against the. frame
work OF the "whim." his face ashen
and his nerve completely gone. He
could do nothing.
"Perhaps she's coming upr suggested
Blakesly.
Another useless remark. for Allie
could not have climbed the ladder IL
'sbs had tried. Blakesly leaped on the
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