Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-18

the professor, II wencouldf drive him away
from the college. suppose school boys
are often as thoughtaess, stsut that is no ex-
cuse. x Sb
The morning was bright. We set out at
a swinging pace, heads upS chests out. We
were soon far beyond the remainder of the
class The road wound around over hills
and down valleys. The professor stood the
strain remarkably well. A brisk walk of
five miles brought us to a long stretch OF
level road. A treeSstood in the middle OF
the road a mile away, Ihs nearly as we
could Judge the dietanceas Will Tompkins
proposed a race toi that tree. Away we
went. The professor ran easily. 1t was
not so easy to leave him behind. Three
painting schoolboys were soon following In
stead of leading theTace.
push ahead. WIFI gasped Harry, as he
fell behind. VIII did attempt to make a
squirt, but the professor arrived at the goal
fully thirty seconds ahead of any one else.
AS we came up he was coolly looking
around as though he. were accustomed to
just such runs every day.
MY. but you can sprint! said VIII as
soon az he could recover his breath.
YES carried off the medal for sprinting
at our college last year." was the reply.
AS Harry said afterward, You could
have knocked US all down with feather.
But who can describe the rest of that
walk? We became footsore and began to
limp The race had used up all of us ex-
cept the professor. To make matters worse
he insisted on our resting at farm house
class overlook US with the farmers wagon,
and changing places with them we rode In
to town. A nights rest put us In good
condition for the next day, which proved
to be the eventful day of our trip.
To enter the mine we were now to ex-
plore we went down shaft seventy-nVe
feet deep. Here we found twelve-foot
vein of coal To ventilate so deep mine
required the utmost care Huge engines
were at work to pump out the gas which
constantly collected. and to pump In fresh
air to the miners far underground. After a
careful survey of the mine lecture py
the professor and many explanations py tne
guide we came to a place where the vein
had been tested many years before TO de-
termine it's thickness and quality before
the company had been organized to WORK II.
1--WE are now a half mile from the en-
trance and at least 500 feet below the sur
face" said the guide.
Here Is a ladder running right up into
a hole" cried Harry.
YES" said the guide. before mining
was begun several tests We're MADE.
bore was made here from the surface to
test the vein of coal That ladder was
made in sections and extends to the sur
face 1t was securely fastened to the rocks
so that men went up ana down II 10 M,ane
snre of some things we wanted to know.
Rut suppose no one has been up or down
1t for five or six years.
ssNould II be safe to climb now?" asked
Tom Lawrence. the fat man OF ihe Grass ~,
wood may still be sound. And a man OF
your girth would scarcely pass through
that hole. which is but little larger tnan
some stove pipes r.,
length of the line around his waist was ms
touchv pofnt. Wishing to quiet the laugh
ter of the class, he declared his readiness
to reach the surface by the narrow way
and said: IT move we climb up the Iad-
DER ,+
The motion would have been carried, but
the guide insisted that he would not permit
us to make the attempt.
at am responsible for your safety, young
men. and it is too dangerous feat. ne
said. -
MANY were the complaints as we turned
away from the ladder and started Tor the
main entrance for twas nearly noon anu
we must return. = I. +ha
The more we thought of lit, the more the
climbing of that ladder seemed 1eat py
which our class could distinguish ltself' IL
we were given the permission
When about half way back to the main
shaft the guide halted moment anu saiu :;
.sThe fans have stopped, we must hurry.
We started to run, but soon met haii
dozen men running In the opposite oiieS-
ton. ia,
s.What's the troubIe?" asked the guide :.
eve don't know, the fans have stopped"
replied one of the men, who paused tor
moment. - =
.rWhere are the others@" :,
.E,scaped before the final breakdown.
And the man ran on In the darkness.
s.I-hey are going to climb that old laooer'
we must do the same. cried the suloe.
RUM 80 az. $50 pe4o - $50
CTo be concluded next Saturday..