Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-02-22
his calico cap and put it over his mouth
that might do as well as a sponge.

MS calico cap and put it over his mouth
that might do as well as a sponge.
Almost overcome, physically, yet IFS
slow, stolid brain remained clear. Quite
resolutely he turned and staggered back
toward the place where lay his drink
ing can.
He snatcned at the drinking can
with both hands. 1t held at best
three pints.
He. turned his back upon the fire and
staggered away. Inside the jack. the
o remaining drop of weak tea gurgled
unsteady with the violent shaking it
got.
He tore off his little calico cap, pulled
the cork out of his jack. poured some of
the weak tea upon the cap. and clapped
it over his mouth. Instantly he felt the
taste of the air come back. His strength
came with it. and he felt very hopeful.
Their in real earnest he ran up the road.
There was a lot in poor old Williams
idea after all" he said.
Then feeling the benefit of Williams
idea, he naturally thought of William
himself. And for the first time a sense
of fear took hold of David.
AS David neared the big road from
which his own little road and Williams
b%ranched, he expected to see Williams
light-either ahead or a little way be-
hind. In either case, if he saw a light,
he would feel easy about William.
IF see a light, it will be Williams"
said he. "Because'everybody in the dis
trict but us two went out at least an
hour ago."
But at the top of the road--which
David knew by the junction Of tram
lines under his foot-David could see no
light either ahead or behind.
David, with his foot on the rail. turned
to the left-toward the top of Williams
roa He reached this in a few seconds.
He looked down. He saw no light. He
fele tAe gas fumes stronger, and pene.
trating even the saturated cap over his
mouth. The choke-damp, as a matter of
fact' grew more powerful every minute
and soon would be strong enough to de.
stroy every live thing it touched.
Dash that old William and his inven.
tlons and his carefulness!" David said.
III he didn't go potching with my lamp
shifting it from where I put it-this
explosion wouldn't happened"
But In spite of this condemnation OF
the inventor and all his works, David
turned down Williams road.
Cronipo oont;ore1r, oo- -
rather expected to come across William
staggering or fallen-some.
near, David went slowly down.
His left foot--the right slid along the
rail-kicked against something yield.
Hes down." thought David. "sufro.
He bent down. Just a glimmer of red
shone upon a bare human body at his
feet. David touched it with his hands.
Its him." said he.
He gave him a shake-rough and
fierce. A groan came back. /
He jerked him upright. William
offered.
That's it," shouted David. Come
IN. come on!"
lie dragged him roughly along. Will.
lam with every yard went more will. i
ngly, until by the time they reached .
top OF the stall road he, in an alb.
dazed state, ran with David like
N automaton.
In the main road the fumes of gas and /
'moke choked them. But they struggled |
through. They reached the double
parting, the distributing center of the
district. Here the air, coming direc, |
rom the shaft. blew fresh and strong.
The pure air Strengthened the men.
Come on roared David into Will
ear.
William chung to his arm now, and
ley ran as human beings can run with
ertain death behind them. The dustv (
|ectric lamps in the archway at the nil 4
ottom still remained alight. A few
golfers came rushing from
Their parts of the pit as David and viii.
am reached safety. +
They all ponnced into the pit carriage. n
gnaled to the engine-man above. and :"
two minutes. at the pit-head in the -
lnshine, all congratulated one another.
Williams eyes blinked dazedly in the ye
Consciousness returned. fr
Il was Just suffocated, he gasped. e.,
where's your old helmet?" David an
ked. accusingly. II thought that bel. to
was goin' to do wonders q;
oh, jawch!" said William, rueful,
It truthful. when | saw the fire. Dc
can forgot to put the old thing on"
las