Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1906-07-25

filled the room, and a second later
dull concussion 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, non cried Ann. "They wouldn't
do that. They daren't do that"
"rhats what they've DONE" he bit
terly assured her. Then thought en-
tered his mind which staggered him.
THE men-thc 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: Pm rousing the boys"
cts the shaft house"
at looks that way"
"And the men. lad: the men"
"I 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 spln-
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.
"Annr called Louis from the bed.
Faint as it was, the girl heard his cry
and hurried to his side.
"Yes, I'm here, laddie. What do you
want? How do you feel?"
"AIy head aches so. l can't breathe
good. lie moaned. "Oh, dear, I'm so
hot" The voice of his anguish stun9
Ann to the soul. With a sign to Nora.
commanding silence, she closed the
door in the hope that no sound from
the burning mine would penetrate to
the bedside.
Nora hurried back to her cabin, while
Brade 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. | am not afraid" she COM
manded "Only remember your first
duty is here
81 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. infiexibe-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. l will have
the men taken to the other cabin"
"Are 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"
1T is horrible"
His voice was very quiet as he said,
Munro shall answer for this"
"Did he do itt''
''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 us word when you can, won't
your
"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
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