The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-20
TIE EVENING STOR r

TBy Honore Wnlsie. ]


Sfigsby worried great deal about these
snow patches At night, when the camp
was .still. he lay awake hour after hour,
considering the matter.
The New York stockholders, who had
sent the young mining engineer out to
explore and test the mine, had given him
no information as to how, when, or
where to protect his working men. On
Tuesday of the previous week great
wedge OF snow and ice had lo0sened
from the peak. had hurled down the
mountain side, gathering speed and size
as it went, and had killed Jim Grady,
the foreman, without even stopping TO
drop him after the deed was done.
THE Oldest Inha bitant" told Grigsby
that such would probably be the pro-
gramme until spring had set IN thor
oughly
So for several nights Grigsby- worried.
Then. on a certain cold, drizzly morn
ing he called the men from the mine
and set them, one and all, at Work on
his Idea. The idea consisted Of a great
"" with its apex turned UP the valley,
and when completed the engine house
over the mine was to set snugly in the
angle of great fence OF logs anu
boulders. It took three days to com
pIete the idea, and when II was done
lack Grigsby squared his handsome
shoulders. set his teeth firmly on the
amber stem of the pipe and said, 'Ihere,
by gum, I'd like to see a snow siloe
harm thati"
Jacks side, grinned. -.
thing he said.
sF3uhi" answered the old miner, I
could O. told you something tnaS
wouldn't a been any work at al, anu
would have been just as eT1eetiVe as
tbatl' .,-4,,,
exclaimed Jack 'sWell, what is It
THE old man puleld a detected look
ing envelope out of his pocket aiIeL d
long search found a stubby pencil, anu
made few marks on the f trso ia
back, then walked over TO a Cee an ~
tackled the paper up on the truhk- C1
the envelope was written; =
sAvalanches are requested not 10
trespass here. ,+
The old man grinned. but shook his
head Just as good as your Weoge,
he answered. You amt seen a reat
slide vet. You want to move yOtS
mine that's what you want to do.
Grigsby looked little troubled. ne
president of the company ana ms
daughter are due here this afternoon
but the weather has been 50 ppS
lately I guess we are saIe.
Then to himself, as he walked away
ssT'd give the world and all 70 see
Madee. but Then he loked at a e
V-shaped rampant Gee that "ouiu
D
The visitors were not expected until
late in the afternoon, but it was only
o'clock when the short, TAT Itlill -
aire and his dainty, slender dau5 me- l-Sst
| them at the group of shacks on the
mountain side. Then they descendeo
| INTO the gulch, where the shaft opehed.
ssNOw. remember, Madges no non
sense" the president was punlns.
/ ssThese Young engineers are all rglht IN
/ their piaces But their places are NOT
4 as so1s-in-law of mine. Seems 10 me
vol1've been showing rather a llVely IN
/ terest in young Gragspy- s.t
Madge shifted in highly lnolsI aiie
manner. but made no reply to her fatn-
/ er's adnonitions. They were an ola
/ fale whose moral did not in the least
! interest her. Her father took the
/ chaperonage of his pretty daughter
Iaelx Czrigsby ran toward them with
bared head and outstretched hand, oul
the president had little time 70 waste
on greetings
What in thunder is that mountaln
of rubbish built around the plant for
ne lack aci1-'- explained the mission Of his
cherished Idea, but the preslden'
| shook his head. 49,,
looking mess Better tear II out. Don
need that to keep off a little sho" anu
ies Madge interposed, tactfully: ooh
come on" she cried. want 10 see
everything
ward the engine house. Jack explain
Gag A S7i5a are all the men2" asked
N@ aqn the mine. even the engineer. We
are Tb naE Oldest Inhabitan grasped Jack
! arm
a y! "For heavens sake" he gasped,
ring the bell, It's comm.
The three followed his gaze Ear VI
the mountain, at the beginning OF the
! galley a roar: and with the roar, IL
seemed as if the whole side OF me
mountain was sliding down into the
valley A great gray mass, tnat Ba.n-
/ cred to itself all that pared us PAIN
huge trees. cabin-big stones. and al
| wayg with a roar, increasing in volume
to the din of a thousand trains.
THE men are safest in the mines
Jack cried. =. -.
He grasped Madge's arm nut n, ~
Oldest Inhabitant thrust him one SIDE;
| Manage the old man. he said, l II
TTben with his arm about Madge he
ran with all his strength up the noun
tain side. Grigsby seized the presi-
dents arm.
"Comei" he cried.
The president started out bravely,
hut his weight told and with the tnlFa
stem he stumbled and fell. With each
heart throb. the speed Of the snow silde
was 1essening their chances. JACK
t,,s~sad at the heavy old man. Now ne
eo1Id see the boulders that bridged the
front of the avalanche, and now It hao
taken the very tree to which was
pinned the futtering trespass warning
WITH, a superhuman effort JACK nuhe
tbe president out Of harms way. TneT
he sprang himself. scarcely noticing
heavy blow from a whizzing tree top
In another moment the avalanche
was a thing Of the past ana sIsa'
-s+1,s down the center OF the valley
was polished smooth as macadam
road with a single glance to see
mat MadFe was safe, he called to the
Two men and ran to the shaft opening
over which the slide had passed.