Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-12-05
|Old Blazers Hero
| BY DAVID CHRISTIE MURRAY.
ssHzH E
CHAPTER ".


experimenting the work of rescue could
hesitate to obey the summons. Blame
was doubly competent. His business du.
ties as mine surveyor had made him ia
Hiiliar with the workings. aud In similar
cases he had more than once given proof
Of courage and resource. lie threw him
self heart and soul into the work. and
even forgot for an hour or two at time
that his sweetheart had that day married
his rival and that her marriage was like
ly to endanger her happiness.
II was night time. and the roaring
wind had fallen. to he followed by a
thick drixzle. Great cages Of fire burn
ed here and there and smenred the thick
atmosphere with u murky light. The
scattered crowd looked listless enough
on the surface. The engine painted with
noise of fear and hurry. and echoes
from the waste OF darkness beyond the
circle Of the haring cresscts answered.
drearily. Faces shone like hot metal In
the near light of the fires. or took II
ghostly pnllor rs they stood against the
borders of the darkness Knots Of
shawlcd women waited motion!ess round
the novels by the pits mouth: the rest
Of the linger RI moved purposelessly hith.
er md thither. about the slippery and
une1en ground.
All was being done that co"ld be done.
and for the moment there was no more
need Of the man who felt most need Of
labor. He stood discOnsolate near the
mouth Of the mine. with his hands folded
behind him and his eyes upon the ground.
The drizzlc was growing thicker. and IT. .
crowd, knowing that there was no hope
Of rescue. or even Of early tidings. had
begun to fall away, when he felt a hand
upon his shoulder. and, turning, found
Hepxibah by his side.
1--WE brought you a change o clothes
and some victuals, Mister Edward" she
said, a. he turned upon her. You should
ha' sent message to the missis. Dinner
was kept waitin' for a hour and more.
We've only Just found out az you was
here, though anybody but a set Of thick
heads might ha' guessed IT,"
He took the things from her half me-
chemically. and having bestowed them In
one Of the novels, came back into the
rain and stood there looking sloomily
about him.
Hepxibah, who could guess something
Of her young masters troubles, though
she was scarcely competent TO calculate
their force. laid hands upon him and In.
sisted on his return TO the hovel, where
she opened her basket.
Whilst Blame forced himself to eat.
Hepxibah sat and watched him In ri.
lence: but when he pushed the food away
and arose from the stool OH which he had
been seated she broke into complaint and
reproach. He paid no heed TO her until
she laid both hands upon his arm. and
In her earnestness gave him just such an
imperative little shake Of command ~
she had been wont to use for the 0Mpha
els Of reprO0f when he was child. lie
laughed rather forlornly ut r3is. and
turned upon her:
swell, Hepxibnh. what In itY'
"Why. it's just this" responded Hepzi.
bah. you've got your mother and the
little uns TO think Of. There's nobody
else In the whole wide world for them
to look to but you. and It's no part OF
your business here to be doing anything
rash and throwing your life away. fOr
went down the Aid lump when nobody
else would go. Aud there wasn't q
creetur there as saw you go as ever ex
pected to zee you back again. Don't 20,
. 70 playing any of them tricks here. Ant
look here. Edward, you take heart; plucl
Up q bit Of a sperrit and bethink your
self. There's M good fish In the sea Al
ever come out Of II. Now, don't You "
iumpin' at me as II Id stuck a pair o
scissors into you. l shan't say no more
least said soonest mended; but a nod
as good a. a wink to blind horse. Ant
now I'm going away, but not before Nv,
got your promise to get into your dr.,
clothes. II you say you'll do It, I know
you'll do Il; but ! shau't 70 until yOu'v,
promised"
He gave the promise and she wen
away, leaving him In the hovel alone
He opened the door. and, accosting on,
Of the loungers. said:
"lf anybody asks for me you eau sa.
I'm here. I'm going to get change"
The man nodded In response; an
when Ned had exchanged his saturste
garments for the dry ones Hepsibah ha
brought him he sat down aud surreu
dsrsd himself to his own cOmfOrtless r.
Elections. After the space OF some hal
hour or thersabouts knock came TO til
door, and the man who had accosted hin
outside entered.
Here's Mr.. Hackstt asking for YOU
SIR" he said.
"Mr. Hackett! cried Blame, rising 4
surprise aud fear. He could think q
nothing but some sudden misfortun
which could have brought his rival ther
at a Oh a time. and he went out to NEE
him with the feelings man may hav
who walks to the gallows.
"Iillo. Ned!' cried Hackett's voic
10 Blame emerged from the h0vel, anG
turning round In the direction OF tn
voice, the surveyor saw his rival swal
gering, with his feet planted wide apaI
and a bottle In his hand.
"They told me you were In chars
here" said Will, "and / snatched q mil
nte or two to run up and see how thina
were going on. I've brought a drop q
comfort for the fellows who're at wor
here. Pass 1t round, boys"
Hackett. glistening from heel to slrou
der In long India rubber waterproof
coat, and with a felt hat stuck rakishl
ut the back Of his head, had his fac
turned away from the glare of the Gre
set. SO that his old companion could b,
dimly discern his features.
Blane's uniformed fears of half a mil
ute earlier were gone, but terror q
great and more tangible was In its stea,
He advanced without q word, and sci
ing Hackett by the sleeve. turned bill
round gently but firmly and brought h
face into the light. He knew then VIII,
no had only guessed before. The brid
groom had been drinking.
"YOu have no business here at such
time a. this" he said roughly. &C