The Washington herald., 1907-03-22
THROUGH SHAFT SEVEN
BY LULU JOHNSON.

! ~ II " , y ".
Beecham rather awkwardly thanked the
girl.
IN do as much for you some day. 20
he promised. not realizing how soon he
would be called upon 10 redeem his
pledge
The following week he brought the child
over to see Ruth.
shes been crying for you he ex-
plained, and / didn't have the heart TO
say No TO her. I know m not welcome
here. but Daisy wanted 10 see you, SO I
had 10 come"
I'm glad that you did" said Ruth cor
daily, as she took the child IN her arms
Beecham looked on approvingly. There
were few women in Silver Spring. as
Vet. and the little girl sadly missed fem
mime care
Ruth and the child were stiT rompIng
when a man came running toward the Of
fee.
Mr.. Calman is hurt" he cried. They
are bringing him to the house
Ruth dropped the child and sped to-
ward the little cottage where she kept
house for her brother and his friend
Beecham followed more slowly, carrying
the whimpering child. Calman had been
brought IN by the time he arrived, and
lay on the bed. white-faced. but IN
complaining. The mine physician looked
grave
The leg is badly crushed" he said
I'VE can contrive bandages and splints
but I must have some things from the
Springs, and / am afraid that ;hey will
ccme too late. 1t Will be at least ten
hours BY that time It will probably be
necessary to amputate the leg"
Ruth's despairing cry brought Beecham
to her side.
you love him. don't youe" he de-
manded
we are 10 be married when he gets
hic raise she explained.
Beecham looked from her 20 his little
girl. Even in that moment Ruth regard
ed him curiously, for many things were
TO be read in his changing expression.
Then he stretched forth his hand.
Give me that list. Doc. ne demandcd.
stretc hing out his hand for the memoran-
dun the other had prepared. He darted
from the house and ran rapidly toward
the head Of the valley.
An hour later, with torn clothes and
dirt-begrimed hands. he was back again.
With the proper dressings Calman was
soon made easy, and they turned q look
for Beecham. He and the little girl wcle
gone.
1t was a week before he eans again.
and Calma9 was able To see him.
I'm going away. he announced. 7
told you that I'd pay back what Miss
Glare did for my little girl. and I did
Now I'll tell yru how / did t. You were
right about that ore But / was in the
Golden Grown, just as the judge said !
was"
s.-I-ba ,5.i-. rTofe t,,1y - - -.
abandoned shaft Z. We blasted through
Ole Cay. I don't think you realize how
deep shaft runs in. We fxel up a cur
tain covered with quartz in case any one
came in, and We used TO take your ore
through our tunnel. That's how ! could
prove an alibi. / cut of the big trip to
the pass and up the other side.
I've made a deed for the LUCKY Hole
to your girl; it's TO be her wedding pres
ent from my little girl. She had a way
tie kid liked and 1 want her TO have
the mine. You can fix the tunnel uD so
as to bring your ore wagons through and
cut of the long haul. ThatH be worth
something, If the mine Itself amt VIII
you shake hands, Caiman? / know I'm
an ore thief and all that, but I'm going
70 make fresh break for the kids sake
VIII you shaker"
Calman gripped the hand.
Why not stay here and work it out?"
he asked.
Beeeham shook his head
I want to get away where they can't
tell the kid about me" he explained. i've
got to make a brand-new start 1t will
help some If 1 know that you two are
happy and married. II will be the first
start for the new try"
He turned to Ruth, but did not offer his
hand
THE kid wanted you to have that" he
said, offering a tintype. she's got you
to thank for this. When I saw her in
your arms I realized that there we're
good women in the world, and the kid
has right to know EN-
He turned abruptly and left the house.
Ruth watched him turn into shaft for
the last time, then she came to Calman's
side. but there were tears in her eyes
for Beecham, who had made il possible
that she should always be beside her
lover
Copyrighted, 1907, by Homer spnEael