The Washington herald., 1907-11-27

was that which Dick. on the suggestion
OF his master and idol. had chosen for
Vida 10 descend the mine and show her
all that was 10 6e seen there. The new
electric fans were 20 be installed These
had long been promised They had been
the original proposal Of Vic Norris. who
had furnished the plans and ~peclfica-
tions- But I'm spite OF all the old bad
systems ruled. And the second exit
was sun blocked by the steampipes which
drove the engine at the shaft bottom.
Even the new electric apparatus derived
It's power from that engine, so that the
apparent good was only the old evil at
another remove.
lpon hearing Of Dicks plans. the pit
men had put their heads together. and
being quite conscious OF The honor done
tnem they had arranged q suit or over
ais for Vida. which permitted her 10
descend in safety and comfort There
We're smiling faces about hex as she went
INTO the engine house. James Kahn came
forth from conference with Johnemann.
the engineer. who tss be gave out) had
accompanied him from Vienna. Mr.
Kahn was enchanted 10 see Miss Vida
who blushed somewhat az her rough
hoyish array. 50 obi giug was AIr. Kahn
that he insisted on descending the Dock
with Dick Fiunan and his adopted
daughtrr lU spite of Vida's warning
touch of tue elbow. Dick accepted the
attention as a new proof OF the generous
ana torg.ving nature of his Incompatible
chief
At the foot OF the long oblique dip.
called the Dock. they got out.
NOW air Finuan.' said James Kahn
4 shall leave YOU 10 show Miss BRYAN
your dominiOHs down here. ] daresav Won
VIII find plenty OF willing helpers. Every
man VIII put his best foot forward This
day In honor OF the visit OF Miss Vida /.
You viii have, therefore. no further need
OF me"
And poor Dick listened with full heart
10 his masters words. We're they not. II
one were needed. "A new proof OF The
delcrcy OF h-s heaTJ- The mere sisht Of
him might make Vida feel awkward
thinking OF the offer he had made. and
she had refused. Therefore he preferred
20 retire. Was there ever such a man.
Now, in the Incubus mines. as in most
others Of similar depth, communications
We're kept mp with the surface by means
Of electric bells. With touch Mr. Kahn
was snatched away, leaving Dick and
Vida in the glimmerIng dusk beneath.
standing close together. gazing up the
dark shaft Of the Dock
Dick turned TO Vida. immensely proud
Of his position. and full OF explanations OF
this and that Already he had acquired
that pride in the perfection OF his work
manship which is the craftsman's pleas
ure. And he felt that a lifelong dav
would not be too long a time in which
20 expose 10 Vida the wonders OF the ter
ritory over which he ruled-if not as king,
at least as viCeroy
And il was Mr.. Kahn admired this
or Mr.. Kahn wishes that"-tiil Vida had
70 restrain her speech by the tSlought Of
all that Dick had done for her Yet what
would Dick have thought If he had known
that his idol. with fell purpose in his
heart. had stopped the cage twenty
fathOms NJ the shaft from where they
stood? On that. even at thst mo-
ment. he was striking a match 20 set on
fire the covering brdttice-clOth which he
had previously drenched with paraffin.
The fame flashed about James Kahn IN
a circle, was promptly caught by the up
draft. and swept upward with a roar into
brattice work that divided the cageways
from the ventilating shaft.
So swiftly did II spread that for mo-
ment James Kahn thought himself lost
caught IN his own proper trap. But he
'belled" himself furiously. Johnemann,
the engineer, responded instantly, and.
with no more than the singeing OF his
hair and smell OF fire on his clothes. he
was lifted TO the surface bringing with
him the most terrible news that can ever
be carried through pit village.
The pits on fire-No on fire."
''Where-where-% they cried. run
ming from far and rear at the mere sight
Of his terror
In the shaft-near the bottom, Johne-
mann was quick or I should never have
got through"
How many are down there?'
Nearly the whole morning shift-bar
one or twO,'
And Miss Yioa-2"
she's there-old Dick Finnans little
girl, YOU mean. Yes. l saw her co.
And so. swift as the dartins lightning.
the news spread. The women sitting at
the shale heaps let drop their sieveS. and
Tor the first time the strange, keen note
OF mourning pit-women was heard in
kirktOwn.
To BE CONTINUED TOMORROW. ,