Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1907-01-29

bunnl-ndlftQ tlti WHO tuutIta oin nSt'
nor did the widowed mother. But the
big brother had the news as true az
his own terrible purpose. and he had
come on the wings OF the wind. Old
friends had met him ut the depot and
shook hands as men do when there's
been bereavement In the family. The
old mother and the sweet-faccd daueh
ter we're surprised to see him.
Richard sothern. manager OF the
Great Northern collieries nj Saverton.
had doubled she capacity OF the three
largo plants that had been under his
control the past FIVE years. He had
by his energy and fine executive abiI-
ity practically become the bone and
sinew Of the place. No man stood
higher for business integrity and cor
rect conduct until
The scoffer says there's one tempta-
ton no living man can stand. and that
Il IL not money. Sothern. handsome.
masterful. In the prime OF life. had an
easy conquest when be laid siege 70
pretty Katie Thorton. the exlle's sis
ter. He had met her at a social gath
erIng and was keenly aware when the
blue eyes shot timid glances In his
direction. Totally unschooled in the
great enigma OF passion. she gave all
with the magnificent generosity OF q
trusting heart and then fell from
heaven 70 earth like a wounded bird.
kissing the hand that struck her
down.
Three Improbable days followed
Thorton's arrival. Having come from
land fantastic Il was quite natural
that he should finally decide that the
condemned was hiding out In one Of
his own mines. The superintendent
assured him that sothern had gone on
brief trip to Chicago. but II was
proper he should try to save his IA.
perior. Thorton insisted on going
down and a roadman was furnished
him to explore the world below the
sunlight.
In Nos. 9 and 10 he had only Z
long. tiresome walk, with bent head.
for his reward No. IL was the final
colliery to be- examined In this there
were . number Of abandoned entries
far to the southwark Most Of the
props had been removed and great
masses of the roof had fallen in The
air was deadly. Nothing could dis
suade the determined exccutioneF
from making the journey.
The roadman stood at the entrance
Of the black tunnel. while Thorton.
with revolver In one hand and dimly
burning pit lamp in the other. stag
gered through the gloom. Finally the
light went out and the fosiman saw
the resolute searcher trying 70 relight
II with . match. He succeeded and
pressed on.
There was q sound OF crashing stone
far down the entry and the tiny blaze
went out forever. The roadman called
loudly and then started down toward
the fall He soon became aware that
he was travelling ankle deep in water.
The fall of rock had uncovered a sub
terranean lake. He retraced his steps
rapidly TO the bottom" where he sig
nailed the engineer and was soon on
top.
A rescuing party was quickly or.
ganized and began tearing away the
-.nl thas fo--.,I ora IA. ~ Tb,r-
toms tomb. The air was bad. and
work slow. as the water was steadily
rising. BY noon hardly any progress
had been made and the men came out
concluding Thorton was dead.
Sothern arrived on an afternoon
train and was briefly informed OF the
situation. He Immediately gave or
ders to connect all the pumps and put
them to work. Then he put on a pit
suit and took a supply OF matches
and oil. The superintendent offered
to accompany him. and several expert
fainers went along as reserves.
AZ they were being lowered an enor-
nous cloud OF smoke lowered over
the engine room. showing the pumps
were heroicaIly doing their part In
the work Of rescue. A surgeon had
been summoned 70 await develop
ments. Sothern and the superinten-
dent worked alternately with their
picks against the mass Of rock. The
air courses had been switched 90 a.
to improve the supply. but a. there
was NO through passage the current
was sluggish Again and again the
lights would 60 out and golden time
was lost. Inch by inch the water
crept up to the breast OF the men
toiling for another's life. The superin-
tendent finally saccumbsd and
dropped his pick. sothcrn heard the
groan a. his light went out and car
ried him back TO the mouth Of the
entry. The men there put him on q
coal car and wheeled him 70 the
cage"
Another man would have relieved
sothern. but he refused the cfRer.
There had to bc sound bodies to com
plete the work after he had made his
way through the barricade. Standing
waist deep In the black water he
worked with two hands ON the pick.
slowly snlarging the aperture. One Of
the men came up and held . lisht
while ~ cgaWled through
ia nHuunha>2 ovs< houlhax~ "a 49,