Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-30
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! Deane was very pale, yet he looked at the 9th
er hand with bit Of mirth crowding the sorrow
in his eyes
"And you,' he said, quietly-"when did you
turn so poor a shotw
The men stood awlwardly confronting each
other, ashamed, as men are when convicted Of
courage Of generous act. Deane was the
first to recover himself.
ct is curious that we should have met" he
said. "I am sorry-for your sake"
Eyes, it is curious partnership" replied Ben
nett II suppose might well go on?' he
added, inquiringly.
Deane answered with short. hard laugh that
Jared the stiffness of the night
Eyes, don't see that there is anything better
for either of u.s. / don't suppose that we are
worse off than good many others fancy
most men don't find very smooth sailing through
life. Only it has chanced that VIC could not
hide this from each other"
"Oh, it's not for ourselves, Deane," exclaimed
Bennett, impatiently. "Its for her. Can't you
! see?"
eyes can. But I don't see any way out, now.
If you had only shot me"
Don't" said the other. "You had the better
right"
'But that would not have mended matters.
! It's you she wants-not me-" And his words set
all Benefits pulses tingling.
| Matters settled down into their former course,
and the past of both was again sealed book.
One day. when at work as usual in the farther
end of the tunnel, they heard ominous rat
tling between themselves and the entrance At
first there was a shower of light pieces OF rock,
and then a cloud of dust
'The roof has broken through" cried Bennett.
'It is the loose earth tumbling in" He started
for the entrance, grasping his companions arm
to make sure that he followed. torrent of
earth rained down in the centre of the tunnel,
obscuring them in the black cloud. As the men
plunged through it they caught and held as
by a ouck-sano. 1t was above their knees, and
deepening with marvellous rapidity. Bennett was
the taller and stronger, and made himself free
with desperate effort. He tried to keep his
hold upon Deane but the latter showed him off.
''Never mind me: get yousef out first
! Bennett secured solid footing and reached
| out his arms to his companion.
i "Give me your hands," he cried quick it is
a sand-pour. 1t will be over your head soon"
| He threw himself eagerly toward the other.
'tCome can save us both. | am strong
The dust from the first fall had settled, and
the men could see each other again. Bennett
had firm footing ledge of stone at the
side of the tunnel, and bending down to-
ward the other with an agony of apprehension in
his face A swift, steady stream of sand poured
through the broken roof and piled deeper and
deeper about Deane, and spread out over the
Il floor of the tunnel, making flood whose en-
brace was death. The effort to draw out the
man who was already caught in its tolls was
fling himself down beside his friend, to perish
with him, if both might not be saved. But
something in the others face held him back.
Al 'No, it's no use,'' said Deane. His voice was
calm and steady although he stood face to face
with death 'It will be over very soon, and it's
what l would have wished for her sake-and
yours. This will set you both free. You will
go back to her now and tell her. Say that /
wished it-all. And ask her to forgive. 1t could
not have been much different, even if had been
a better man. She loved you first"
The sand came up steadily. Now it touched
his shoulders Now it closed about his neck,
and choked him. He could not move, but he
glanced down at it, and then back to Bennett.
dit will be over-soon shall not suffer
much' He smiled, like tired child who falls
| asleep mot suffer so much-as / have-since
found was not worthy of her. Then he looked
steadily at the other. "You will make her hap
py, Danny"
| It was the first time he had used the familiar
name since the night of their quarrel. The agony
of the man on the ledge broke from him in
great cry.
"Oh my God! My friend-Deane- brother!
Would to God might die for youl'
4 He sank shuddering upon the rock, and hid
his eyes, while the still sand crept up and COW
cred Deane's face and shut him from the world.
And through the day and into the long night
it crept down through that hole in the roof, and
filled the tunnel and shut the mine forever from
the reach of men, and made sepulchre for poor
Deane that should last while the world stood.