Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-03-31
PART TWO.
~
CHAPTER XIV.

- ed and his face lined with suf
ferfng 1t was good to feel his familiar
self reaching out to her from his house
Of pain.
How did you get here?' he asked.
81 drove with DIR. Braide."
I'm pretty sick. I'm glad you came
SIS" and he put his hand feebly into
hers. where's Robf"
Hes sleeping. You must be quiet
now or you'll wake him."
Hes been good to me-"
Ssh, dearest" she pleaded. Don't
talk now. Go to Sleep"
Il don't want to sleep. I've slept
enough. 1t makes my head ache
worse"
In the end the boy ceased to groan
and twist and at last slept, but Ann re-
fused to go TO bed. Her anxiety and
the many questions pressing to be an
swered engaged her so deeply that she
felt no need Of sleep. Toward mid
night Braide. in despair Of inducing
her to sleep, stretched himself In q
low chair and fell into a doze
1t was exactly 2 o'clock when q
single gunshot rang out sharply, like
the voice Of a sentinel questioning the
silent night. As the girl listened tense
~. three others. deeper throated, an
swered in quick succession. Then
silence again interviewed for a moment,
only to be torn by fusillade, rat
tat-tat OF assault which brought Braide
to his feet
Ann hurried to Raymond, calling
sharply. Rob, they are shooting.
Don't you hear them? Quick. Quickr'
Parmnnd |, d.
looked at her blankly, the mist of sleep
thick in his brain. Other shots and
cries followed. and though faint and
far they cleared his vision. Catching
q belt Of cartridges from the wall and |
turning to BraLde he sternIy asked. |
Can You shoot?"
Before Braide could answer another |
shrfll chorus OF yells, fierce as the out
cry OF wolves, arose. a vivid light |
filled the room. and a second later a |
dull conclusion shook the earth be-
meath their feet. Ann shrank and
covered, but Raymond, menacingly
quiet, remarked: well, our turn has
come. They've blown up our shaft
house"
"Oh, no." cried Ann. ''They wouldn't
do that They daren't do that
That's what they've DONE" he bit
terly assured her. Then a thought en-
tered his mind which staggered him.
1.-The men-the men were in the miner
ne shouted and rushed into the dark
ness.
Ann heard his blows upon the door
OF the other cabin as he called: Boys,
roll out! The power house is blown up! ,
The men are in the minei Quick, out
with youI Buckle your guns"
Then the girl recognized KeIfy's
great voice. He was calling as he ran,
"Rob. are We therer'
Yes: I'm rousing the boys"
Its the shaft house" a
cit looks that way" ,.iJI
( sAnd the men, lad; the menr' FALL
81 don't know, Matt. I've just got !,
OF my feet"
So much Ann heard before the sound
OF their feet died away down the path
The sleepers in the bunk house began ;
to rumble and clatter about on the
bare floors. One by one they emerged, :
slanyming the door behind them.
Once outside the door the women
could see the flames growing each mo- i.
ment IN power, licking with avid
tongues at the confused mass of splin-
|
light the forms of Kelly and Raymond D
played in silhouette as they strove furi-
ousIy against the destroyer Their s.
workmen soon Joined them, aid each u
moment some Fastening rescuer hur-
tied past the open door and as he ran
cursed In bitter frenzy.
"Annr' called Louis from the bed. r
Faint as il was. the girl heard his cry /
and hurried to his side. |
Eyes, I'm here, laddie. What do you |
want? How do you feel?" /
my head aches so. / can't breathe I
good. He moaned. "Oh, dear, I'm so |
hot" The voice of his anguish stung |
Ann to the soul. With sign to Nora. !
silence, she closed the
loor in the hope that no sound from [
he burning mine would penetrate to
he bedside.
Nora hurried back to her cabin. while
3raide dropped some helpful drug upon +
he boys tongue. When his patient had
grown quiet the young physician said: Z
If you are not afraid. will go down. |
some one may be hurt and my help re-
luired-"
go. I am not afraid she COM |
handed "Only remember your first |,
Iuty is here" n
81 do not forget that" he answered. II
But even as he was collecting his outer
lothing and his medicines Raymond
lung the door open and entered. His
lands were blackened and bleeding.
lis head was bare. and on his face was n
look that thrilled the girl. Doctor, II
hree wounded men are coming up the II
ill. They must be made comfortable. ID
Inn, you would better go back to KEEL u
US. These victims must be sheltered II
ere. and they are not pleasant to see."
Ann felt herself diminishing IN pow
r and importance as he spoke. His
oice came from the mans world n,
arsh. infiexible-but she uttered pro ed
In