Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-06-16
CHAPTER TX.
A Test of COURAGE.

mouth, and his thoughts divided be
tween Kate Meddon and Jessie Play
ford He had seen them both for the
last time, he thought; the lovely girl
who had stolen his heart away, and
the poor woman, Jessie, in pursuit OF
the scoundrel who had ruined the
life he remembered so bright and
happy. "
Poor Jess, But the thought of Kate
soon drove her from his mind
sincerely as he pitied her; and all the
way along the cliff he recalled the
lovely face, with its gentle eyes and
sweet, tender smile.
Suddenly the silence was broken by
loud report, a dull smothered roar
as II by distant thunder.
But it was not thunder; Desmond
had spent too many years in a miners
camp not to know what il meant
With touch of interest he rose to
his feet, and walked in the direction
of the sound, and suddenly-so sud
denly that he startled-he came upon
the edge Of stone quarry.
Far down-so far down that they
men: some picking at the rugged sur
face of the rock, others pushing the
trucks along the metal lines that led
to a small harbor or port, where lay
a rough-looking smack.
Desmond looked for a path leading
downwards. and, finding one, slowly
and carefully descended.
Desmond watched the quarrymen
with keen and pleasant interest for
some few minutes, then, remembering
that this was scarcely the way to
reach the seaport, he was about to
climb up to the top again, when sud
denly two figures came from under the
rock where he was sitting. and so into
his view.
They were an old man, or a man of
late middle-age, and young girl
Desmond stood, or half knelt. for the
path was steep, and watched them
In his own mind he decided that INC
man was the master of the quarry ana
the girl his daughter.
After moment or two he was about
to resue his climb, when there came
another report and a puff of smoke
from the side of the quarry.
The old man had drawn the girl
under the shelter of projecting rock
but the instant after she emerged
with little laugh, as If she was too
accustomed to the blasting to feel any
danger. 1t was a musical laugh, and
IL fell pleasantly upon the wanderers
ears.
Like a young bear" he murmured
'all her troubles TO come. Perhaps
she may have none Let's hope So"
Even as he expressed this charitable
wish, as a kind of farewell to the girl
who had not yet even see him his
quick. hawk-eye like saw something
moving just above her head.
He looked at her, at the old man. all
around-a swift look of scrutiny
Then his heart seemed to stand still
for that which he had seen no one else
had soon, 1t was an immense clat
of rock which, unnoticed, had be
come loosened by the blasting in tn,
other part of the quarry and IL woulC
In another moment come rolling dowr
upon that bright-faced, blue-eyed girl.
For moment, while one coulC
count five, he stood, his heart seem
ing TO cease beating; then, without
word, he sprang sheer from the mar
row ledge, and, alighting before tn,
girl, caught her in his arms and hur
ried himself aud her from the spot
The next instant-almost in tn,
next half second. so closely as to seen
simutaneous--the mass fell with /,
clash upon the spot where she hat
stood. She was saved!
Desmond's leap had been so sudden
the terrible fall of the immense piec,
of rock on the very spot from which
he had carried the girl so appalling
that for moment or two no mar
could move.
Desmond, when he recovered con
seriousness, for fragment of the mas
had struck him on the head, fouuC
himself lying on his back, with hi!
eyes fixed upon the blue patch of tn,
sky which. in the shape of rount
blue ring, showed above the quarry ;.
mouth.
Father" it said, in a tone of grea
relief and Joy. He is coming to--see
he is coming to-
Desmond, turning his eyes from tbs
spot of blue made by the opening o.
the quarry. saw girlish face, full o.
sweet concern, bending over him.
That's right, So he is, How ar,
you. sir? Stand back, lads, and give
him some air; don't crowd nm So"
Desmond felt something soft anC
warm under his neck and his heaC
raised, and found that the pleasant
lever was the girls arm.
Then he remembered what had hap
pened, and with the smile which
haunted Kate so persistently, he said:
"You are not hurt? That's al
right
The girl blushed crimson at the
sound of his voice and his words. but
did not relinquish her supporting at
titude.
'Yes. sir; all right, thanks to you