Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-05-23
cHAprER xXIy.

fering 1t was good to feel his familiar
self reaching out to her from his house
Of pain.
"How did you get here?' he asked.
II drove with DIR. Braide."
"I'm pretty sick. I'm glad you came,
SIS" and he put his hand feebly into
hers. where's Rob?"
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"
II 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
low chair and fell into doze.
1t was exactly 2 o'clock when n
single gunshot rang out sharply, like
the voice of sentinel questioning the
silent night. As the girl listened tense
~, three Others, deeper throated, al
swered In quick succession. Then
silence again interviewed for II moment,
only to be torn by n 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! Quick!
Raymond rose to his feet dizzily and
looked ut 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
belt of cartridges from the vail and
turning to Braide he sternly asked.
Can you shoot?"
Before Braide could answer another
shrill chorus of yells, fierce as the out
cry of wolves, arose, 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.
stIlf I'M ~,
he shouted and rushed into the dark
ness.
Ann heard his blows upon the door
Of the other cabin us he called: Boys,
roll out! The power house is blown up!
The men are IN the mine! Quick, out
with you! Buckle your guns"
Then the girl recognized Kelly's
great voice. He was calling us he ran,
Rob, are ye there?"
yes; I'm rousing the boys"
Its the shaft house."
at looks that way"
"And the men, lad; the ment"
Il don't ,suom, Matt. I've just got
ON 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 clattcr about Oh tho
bare floors. One by one they emerged,
slamming the door behind them.
Once outside the door the women
could see the flames growing each mo-
ment in power, licking with avid
tongues Mt the confused mass of splin-
tered beams, and on the curtain of red
light the forms of Kelly and Raymond
played in silhouette as they strove furi-
ously against the destroyer. Their
workmen soon Joined them and each
moment some fastening rescuer hur-
tied past the open door and as he ran
cursed In bitter frenzy.
"Ann!" called Louis from the bed.
Faint as it was, the girl heard his cry
and hurried to his side.
YES, I'm here, laddic What do you
want? How do you fecl?'
"My head aches SO. l can't breathe
good. He moaned. "Oh, dear, I'm so
hot" The voice of his anguish stung
Ann to the soul. With n sign to Nora.
commanding silence, she closed the
door in the hope that 10 sound from
the burning mine would penetrate to
the bedside.
Nora hurried back to her cabin, willie
Braide dropped some helpful dru, upon
the boys tongue. When his patient had
grown quiet the young physician said:
IF you are not afraid, will 50 down.
Some one may be hurt and my help re-
quired."
go. i am not afraid" she COM
manded. "Only remember your first
duty is here"
II do not forget that" he answered.
But even as lie was collecting his outer
clothing and his medicines Raymond
flung the door open and entered. His
hands were blacliened and bleeding,
his head was bare, and OH his face was
look that thrilled the girl. doctor,
three wounded men are coming up the
hili:- They must be made comfortable.
Ann. You would better go back to Kcl-
ly's. These victims must be sheltered
here, and they are not pleasant to see."
Ann felt herself diminishing in pow
err and importance rs he spoke His
voice came from the mans world
harsh, innexible-but she uttered pro-
test-"Louis!'
His face softened and his hand went
to his brow. II forgot; you are, right;
we must not endanger him. will Nave
the men taken to the other cabin"
Are the men in the mine all dead?"
eve can't tell. The engineer and
some of the men ON the dump were
warned md escaped. The rest arc be-
low and out of our reach. We are
working desperately to subdue the
flames, but we are almost helpless for
lack of water"
ut Is horribler'
His voice was very quiet as he said,
Munro shall answer for this!
did he do itY'
"He did not prevent it" He lifted
his eyes to the sky. ut will soon be
light, and then we can see to work."
He turned to leave without further
explanation. but Ann called to him,
Send lis word when you can, won't
youY
"As soon as we know the men are