Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1907-01-16
The Rivals.
RY chAs. aLoAM REID.

4"
taken from the fire the girls two
lovers stood ready to assist her, one
S0n either side. Zeke PendIey Was a
big, broad-shouldered handsome fell
lows but there was just little SOME
thing wanting in his character. Lige
Burton was awkward, honest and
ugly Ann was deeply agitated over
the situation. She glanced quickly
from one to the other of the rivals,
then hesitatingly turned toward Zeke.
Lge's eyes fell, and he felt a sudden
sickness at heart. But he arose and
his frame grew wonderfully erect for
moment, as Zeke removed the kettle
from the fire.
After the contents of the kettle had
been distributed, then men began to
choose partners for the pulling. Ann
was trembling. She feared a repeti-
ton of the thing which had happened
at the fireplace, and she dreaded it.
She was not ready to make SO pointed
q decision; for she had learned to rely
upon Lige Burton's friendship though
she admired Zeke Pendleys good
looks. But fate was a guest of the
candy breakin', and before Ann could
realize how it had happened again she
was standing between Zeke and Lige
and both were asking her favor at
the same time. Ann was ready to
burst into tears: but. biting her lip
hard to suppress it's quivering, she
gave her hand to Zeke.
WAS it you that spoke first?" she
asked.
But it was Lige who answered her
question, as he thrust his hands into
his pockets and sadly turned away.
Yes, Ann" he said, Il reckon Zeke
was ahead O. me-"
The moon had climbed far over the
mountain when Lige left Amos Swof-
fards. He was the first of the guests
to depart, and he crept along up the
trail in no hurry to get home.
Lige Burton and Zeke Pendley were
foremen at the Clay Hill mines, and
they had to use considerable argument
to induce some members of their re-
spective squads to follow them into
the old Hellshole tunnel which had
been reopened on the morning after
the candy beaking at Amos Swoffard's.
This tunnel had been abandoned two
years before on account of it's flooding
from an underground stream which
had been tapped But the company
had installed a powerful pump which
had the capacity of relieving the tun-
mel of over 5000 gallons Of water per
minute. AS long as this pump was
working the stream could be turned
up through the deep shaft and out
upon the side of the mountain, leav-
ing the men to work in safety.
Only few days after the opening
q sudden thrush of water submerged
the feet of the miners, and a great
shout came down the shaft: All hands
out of the Hellshole!"
The big new pump, for some unac.
countable reason, had stopped work
ing, and the mine was fast becoming
flooded. The ore bucket came rafting
down the shaft and the men, three at
a time, began to ascend. The two
foremen brought up the rear Of the
procession.
Up went the bucket second time
and when it descended again the
water had reached the mems waists.
At the third descent Zeke Pendley
made a movement to crowd through
the other miners toward the tub but
Lige seized his arm.
I'VE go up lastSZeke," he said; Il
don't reckon We ever hyeard of a cap
tain a quittin his sinkin' ship till
every man was of, did ye?"
Zeke fell back and the tub arose
and descended once more. Again and
again the ore bucket rose with its hui
man freight, and descended empty;
and in the meantime those still wait
ing had been swept off Of their feet
at the bottom of the shaft and were
struggling hard to keep their heads
above water. And the cramp was
slowly stealing upon their limbs.
'oThe man at stays here much
longer will have to be fished out"
growled Zeke, as once more he made
an effort to reach the bucket ahead
of some of his fellows.
"Well, we're goin' to risk it," said
Lige, again restraining his fellow fore
man, while sustaining himself in the
water.
Like drowning rats in rain barrel
I'VE men at the bottom Of the shaft
struggled almost hopelessly and wait
ed for another descent Of the tub. The
moments dragged and presently one
head sank beneath the water with
gurgle in the throat. Lige Burton fol-
lowed. But he rose again, supporting
his fellow, thus sharing the little
strength remaining to Inn.
II persuaded We in here, little 'un,"
he murmured. tan I'm goin' to give
We the lift If / can.
The tub descended. Lige managed
to catch the rim, and, pulling It down,
commanded one Of the last struggling
miners to get into 1t. This the man
did with difficulty, frozen and stir as
he was. And at Lige's further COM
rnand. the miner extended his hand
and grasped that Of the man Lige was
supporting. The half-drowned youth
vuyne dra eyed into the tub and the third