The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1907-08-30

SUDDENLY JACK stumbled AND FELL on
HIS HANbS AND KNEES.
s,'-:::: wei 1sw. tnuu is uliCnlV i.oDn
Of you, but thu.e isn't bit Of danger
I-great heavens"
They were enyeloped in an unbreath-
able cloud of dust. There was dull
muffled rumb:e, little scream from
Marian, then silence.
"Marianw chilled Dick as he strug-
gled to rise. Marian rose to her knees,
struggling and gasping for breath
The ground cHyed into a gallery. |
have heard Of Il often"
"Are you hur4" asked Dick.
IL think not"
Dick was ncv on his feet and pulled
the girl up beS!le him. Then he took
out his match safe ard scratched three
or four matches in rapid succession.
They were il, Il pit formed by the
sinking Of the meadow into mimi.
level that had run too close to the sur
face. The pit was but half dozen
feet wide. but it was many times that
to the field above. Dick dropped the
match he held. II won't light any
more for awhile. We may need them
later
Lets CALL" said Marian.
Dick gave few lusty shouts, but
silence seemed deeper than ever as he
paused. 4 s.uall hand crapt into his.
and his fingers closed warmly about it..
Il think | ap frightened" half whis
pered Marian.
He chafed tfs. slender fingers. It's
rSeless to try T., climb this soft clay"
A mass II Gesris Slid to their feet.
"We've got to yet OUT o; this. he
exclamation. Marian, there is Il level
opening" He paused. Through both
their minds fla.tAed a picture Of the
dangers that would attend any at.
tempt to esoap, t. rough the mine Ye;
nuy knew that each moment In the
pit might mean death. Then a quick
plunge and they We're in the darkness
Of the mine. They felt their way in ST.
lence for several minutes. then:
! Are you frightened. Marian:" asked
Dick
YES" said Marian, "but that does
not matter"
/ A new tone in the soft voice przxie1
i Dick. 1t was as if a woman and not a
child had spoken. New thoughts We're
crossing Dick Houston's mind II this
little girl We're five years older, If she
were educated, If she were not min
er's daughter, If The slender fingers
lay very warmly and confidingly in his.
face as Marian flung it back over her
shoulder. Dick smiled tenderly as he
pictured the familiar little gesture
Keep up your courage" he said.
"There is no actual danger, you know.
except of bad cold for you" Not
daring to speak of his fear Of fire
damp. he added, Lets rest a mo-
ment.''
The darkness almost suffocates
one," half whispered Marian.
Some strange madness was possess
ing Richard Houston. Family tradi-
tons, ideals. ambitions, were gone be-
fore a whirlwind that swept his brain
Still holding the soft hand, Marian"
he said, do you suppose that IN a
couple Of years from now you could do
more than just like me?'
How much more?" asked a demure
little voice beside him.
Dick paused. Gould you love me?'
But l don't know you at all, and"
still more damurely, somehow l never
planned to love a miner"
! Dick flushed in the darkness. per
haps by that time l shall be something
more than a miner. for-for you have
grown to be a great deal to me, little
girl"
Did you ever know" went on the
gfrlish voice, that if grOwnup girl
were to wear her hair in q braid down
her back and shortish skirts even
very grownup girl would look like q
child!'
Dick felt somewhat dazed. "But
why should she do that:''
''Oh, so the men wouldn't bother
her."
More and more bewildered was Dick.
yet one clear purpose remained to him.
Marian" he whispered, do you love
ne?'
Then the cold, the darkness and the
fear Of the fire damp were forgotten
as Dick felt acquiescence in the yield
ing fingers. But only for moment.
please. please" trembled the girlish
voice, lets first get out of this awful
place."
Head and heart in a turmoil, Dick
started OIL Almost Immediately his
outstretcheA hands found the gallery
barred. They had followed Il blind lev
eli! Back again, stumbling and weary,
with the fire damp rendering them
dazed and short of breath; then, along
the left hand level, Oh and on, until
almost discouraged. Suddenly Dick
stumbled and fell on his hands and