Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-03-30

the night shift, and Mosely looked after
him for moment, wondering, then for
got all about him in his task. He care
fully crimped down the edges Of the cap
with his pocket knife, placed it in posi-
ton and tamped the earth about it. AS
the stope was the last one in the drift
he cut some five feet of fuse to allow
himself plenty Of time.
Just then the signal was given to fire.
IMosely answered. He touched match
to the freshly cut tape and clanlbered
over the loose rocks toward the candle
burning in the track below, grasped 1t
and fastened toward the mouth of the
tunnel
At the first curve he paused to give
hurried glance behind him. A faint NOV
ing speck of light was just visible at
the extreme end Of the drift. 1t was
approaching
"Farrish!,' cried the man. "My God!'
For second his brain reeled, but
there was no time to lose The fuse was
burning two feet to the minute-at least
half it's 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-
tendent understand? He forgot the sur
plus powder he was carrying-forgot ey-
erything but the life that was in danger.
He knew what the ransom would De-
but what did it matter?
sFarrish!' he shouted with all his
strength, ego back! Go back!'
The light in the distance paused.
| 'Eel-lov' a faint voice answered.
Mosely, pressing toward it, caught his
foot in the track and lurched forward,
extinguishing his candle as he fell. He
was up and on again, groping--stum-
bling-shouting. The drift seemed filled
with faces; they were. all the same, and
the eyes were gray like Farrish's.
| In the stope above cleaned tiny
angry spark. He was almost under II
now, but his strength was nearly spent
He gathered his forces for one last eff
fort. and a long, wailing cry of warn
ing echoed through the drift. Then
there was binding flash Of lights
sound like the rushing Of mighty wind
/ and without the hills re-echoed to thu
boom.
| MARY" said Dr. Fuller, as he pu
down his coffee cup and looked across
the table at his daughter, chat don
sound exactly like blast; there's too
much Of it." He rose and went to thu
door.
A thick cloud Of smoke was issuing
from a fold in the hills. The docto
eyed it anxiously. Just then boy cam
round the corner from the barn.
Jerry" he called to him. You'd bet
ter harness Mascot. There's something
the matter at the Town Talk"
The girl was already at work in tn
little office, and splints and bandage
were crowding the instruments in tn
long black case. Her face was a
white as. the rolls of cotton; her lip
were compressed, but when the cart wa
brought she was the first to spring int
it.
"Why, Mary" demonstrated the doc
tor. II couldn't think of taking your
She looked at him piteously 1T ma
be John Parrish" she said, and he
father understood.
Groups Of men were talking excited
in the street; few were already hurry
ing along the crosstrail to the mine, but
toning up their coats as they ran. Fa
down the canyon could be heard tn
rapidly approaching hoof beats of
horse. Then the mounted figure of
man appeared rounding the outer ben
of the road and vanished again, to re
appear at the next turn. 1t was mes
!, senger from the Town Talk. He reach
cd them at st, and Mary clasped he
hands tightly together and leaned eas
erly forward
"Well?" asked the doctor.
. The man pulled his cap awkward.
ssFarrish and some of the men are mis-!
t | ing" he said, and was gone again.
The doctor laid his whip across Mas
cots TANKS. then stole a sideways glanc
at the silent upright little figure besid
him. He reached over and drew the rob
| about her IN a caressing way and pate
the claspcd hands, but neither of thel
{ spoke.
, The smoke had lifted and hung, lik
, the pillar of cloud, above the ravin
The early sunlight tinged it's outer edge
7 in opalescent glory. At the mine all wa
} excitement. A child met them at til
bridge that crossed the river to til
, buildings.
There's only one man hurt!' he shou
ed triumphantly. There's only one