Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1904-04-02
the extreme end Of the drift. 1t was

the extreme end Of the drift. 1t was
approaching.
PARRISH cried the man. "My God!'
For second his brain rcelcd. but
| there was no time to lose. The fuse was
burning two feet to the minutc--at least
half Its length must have already been
| consumed. At the end Of the tunnel
| there was safety and fresh air through
| the raise. Could he make the superin'
| tcntlent understand? lie forgot the sur
plus powder he was cnrrying--forgot cv-
| crything but the life that was In danger.
He knew what the ransom would be.
but what did Il matter?
Parrish" he shouted with all his
| strength. Ego back! Go back
The light In the distance paused.
| "Hel-lo!" faint voice answered.
Aioscly. pressing toward It, caught his
foot In the track md lurched forward.
cxtincnisliny his cardle as he fell. Lie
wa3 tip and on again, grvping.-stunl.
bling-shouting. The drift seemed filed
with faces; they were all the same, and
the eyes were gray like Farrsli's.
In the stope above CLEANED tiny
angry spark. He was almost under It
now, but his strength was nearly spent.
He gathered his forces for one last Of
fort, and II long. wailing cry Of warn
ing echoed through the drift Then
there was n binding fash of light--a
sound like the rushing Of II mighty wind.
md without the hills rc.echOed to the
boom.
"AGary." said DR.. Fuller. Ms lie put
down his coffee cup and looked across
the table ut his daughter. "thnt don't
sound exactly like blast; there's too
much Of It," He rose and went to the
| door.
A thick cloud Of smoke was issuing
from a fold IN the hills. The doctor
eyed it anxious1y. Just then Il boy came
round the corner from the barn.
"Jerry," he called to him. You'd bet
ter harness Mascot. There's something
the matter ut the Town Talk"
The girl was already ut work In the
little office. and splints and bandages
were crowding the instruments In the
long black case Her face was as
white rs the rolls Of cotton: her lips
were compressed. hut when the cart was
brought she was the first to spring into
1t.
"Why, Mary" demonstrated the doc
tor. II c0mldn't think of taking YOU"
She looked ut him piteously. ut may
he John Parrish" she said, and her
father understood.
Groups Of men were talking eXcitedly
In the street; few were already hurry
ing along the crOsstrail to the mine, but
toning up their coats as they run. Far
down the canyon could be heard the
rapidly approaching hoof heats Of q
horse. Then the mounted figure Of Il
man appeared rounding tho outer bend
OF the road and vanished again, to re-
appear mt the next turn. 1t was mes
senger from the Town Talk. He reach
cd them Mt last, and Mary clasped hel
hands tightly together and leaned eng
erly forward.
"WellY" asked the doctor.
The man pulled his cap nwkwarlly
"Fnrrish and some Of the men are miss
ing" he said. and was gone. again.
The doctor laid his whip across Mas
cots TANKS, then stole Il. sideways glanc,
MT the silent, upright little figure besid,
him, He reached over and drew the rob-
about her In II caressing way and pnttet
the clasped hands. but neither Of then
spoke.
The smoke had lifted and hung. lili'
the pillar Of cloud, above the ravine
The early sunlight tinged It's outer edge
In opalescent glory. At the NINE all wa
excitement. A child met them ut til,
bridge that crossed tho river to tn
buildings.
There's only one man hurt" he shout
cd triumphantly. "There's only onV-
. there's only Onew But neither OF th0s
In the cart dared ask him which.
The rows of cabins that fringed th
bank above the boarding house wer
empty, for the men had gathered Outsid
!, Of the office. They silently made wa,
for the doctor and his daughter to pas
among them. Figures were moving with
In the darkened room; u bed had becl
hastily constructed, and a glad cry ros
to Mary's lips, for 1t was not John VIII
lay upon 1t, but the shattered form
old MOsely.
The arm that had held the pOwde
sticks had been picked up several fee
away, but the remaining hand cOnvu
/ sively clutched q sOiled buckskin VALE
! within his flannel shirt; 1t had been s
when they found him.
He opened his eyes rs the doctor ben
T, over him and his lips moved.
Its two dollnrs--shOrt," he gaspei
! "and now--I can't make it square,"
; a spasm of pain wrung him for me
= ment and he lay painting. When he II
opened his eyes recognition had gon
from them. He struggled to rise.
|, "Stand back-all OF yOu!" he erie
\ Rercely. 1T wasn't Jim Parrish tina
. stole the money; 1t was me: Oh, Coz
I 1t was me-"
Q lie fell writing on the pillows agar
~ meant to make It right-with til
. boy" he whispered. "and now"
). The superintendent was kneeling b,
{ eide him. "You've more than made