The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-10-17

The r1en-fhe men were in the mine."
he 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 mine! Quick, out
with you! Buckle your guns!''
Then the girl recognized Kelly's
great voice. He was calling as he ran,
Rob, are ye there?"
Eyes; I'm rousing the boys"
Its the shaft house,
"It looks that way
"And the men. lad; the menr'
81 don't know, 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 clatter about on the
/ 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 at 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 stroye 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.
"Annr' called Louis from the bed.
Faint as it 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. I can't breathe
| good. He moaned. "Oh, dear, I'm so
/, hot" The voice Of his anguish stung
Ann to the soul, With sign to Nora.
commanding silence, shsaaelosed the
door in the hope that neMRnd from
j the bedside. 9
Nora turried back to her cabin, while
| Braide dropped some helpful drug upon
the boys tongue. When his patient had
grown quiet the young physician said:
/ "If YOU are not afraid, will go 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"
''I do not forget that" he answered.
But even as he was collecting his outer
clothing and his medicines Raymond
flung the door open and entered. His
hands were blackened and bleeding,
his head was bare, and on his face was
a look that thrilled the girl. Doctor,
three wounded men are coming up the
hill. They must be made comfortable.
Ann, YOU would better go back to Kel-
ly's. These victims must be sheltered
, here, and they are not pleasant to see."
Ann felt herself diminishing in pow
er and importance as he spoke. His
voice came from the mans world
, harsh, infexible-but she uttered pro
test-"Louisp
His face softened and his hand went
to his brow. Il forgot; you are right;
we must not endanger him. will have
the men taken to the other cabin.
care the men in the mine all dead?
1--WE can't tell. The engineer and
some of the men on the dump were
warned and escaped. The rest are be-
low and out Of our reach. We are
| working desperately to subdue the
flames, but we are almost helpless for
lack of water"
"It is horriblep'
His voice was very quiet as he said,
s4Munro shall answer for this!'
did he do it?''
"He did not prevent it.' He lifted
his eyes to the sky. ''It will soon be
light, and then we can see to work.
He turned to leave without further
explanation, but Ann called to him.
"Send us word when you can, won't
you"
"As soon as we know the men are
alive / will come and tell you," he
promised.
AS she watched and waited the day
came leisurely, laggardly, over the
hills and swarms Of excited men and
slattern women poured from their
shacks and tents and holes in the rocks
to acquire in detail the news Of this
midnight assault on the leaders Of the
independents To do them justice, even
the most virulent unionists were for
the moment moved to sympathetic de-
nunciation. The destruction Of proper
ty was one thing, the murder Of work
men quite another. AS for the crews
Of the nonpartisans, they were ready at
the word Of q leader to search out and
lynch those who laid the train and
fred the fuse, but to all Of these Ray
mond gave the same word Of COM
mand, "Save the men below"
On the heels Of this tumult, as If to
pile Pelion on Ossa, messengers came