Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-06-01
8he Hrgus Daily Short Story
AT the End of the Lower by Azile Aidy1
Copyrighed. 1908. by Associated Literary Press

"NIy heaven!" said old Sinclair as he
rose impatiently from the table and
reached for his hat eff only l was
strong enough to work it I'd risk the
cavern, put up drill there at the end
Of the lower level and bore through
that COMPOUNDED rock myself, and the
timber gang cd go to-
The door slammed, and his daughter
heard him stride on down the trail
leading to the mine.
Helen did not wonder at the outburst
Of temper Her father had sunk his
last dollar in this mine, and now with
riches-as he confidently belleved@al-
most within his grasp the timber gang
refused to work without their last
months pay.
1t was impossible to drift without
them. The mine was unsafe and liable
to cave without the support of the big
timbers. Sinclair was confident that
once through this wall Of slate which
they had struck in the lower level he
would find again the rich ledge which
had suddenly stopped 200 feet above.
Then wages would be paid with inter
est.
To Mason. the owner of the adjoin-
ing mine, he had said, ANY darn fool
knows that high grade four foot
ledge isn't going to stop off short. as
though cut in two with saw, unless
old natures had spasm and in twist
ing things about given this slate a
chance to wedge itself in
And now as he swung on down the
steep trail he met Mason coming up.
Things have come to crisis there,
l hear" said the latter. nodding his
head in the direction of the mine, land
I'd like to talk to you about it before
-yoQ go down.
THE miners will not work without
the protection of the timbers. l be-
lieve you are nearer through that slate
than you realize. was down in the
drift today, and the character of the
rock is changing. It's quite possible
that one more days work would bring
you to the quartz. but the men have
quit and you are helpless. What l
| want to propose is that you let me go
down there and work for two or three
days. No. no." as Sinclair raised his
hand to protest; ''it's all right. There
Is less danger Of cave-in with only one
drill at work. Let me try it for cou-
pie of days anyway"
Its exactly what I would do my
self IL 1 was equal to It." said Sinclair,
''but it's a big thing for me to accept
from you. Mason. II anything went
| wrong r.
| Nonsense! 1t won't go wrong. It's
only giving me chance to prove I am
right. And no one need know what l
am doing, I'd little rather you would
not speak of 1t, particularly toto Hell
en-. Just notion. And now I'd like
to begin this work tonight"
| Sinclair simply grasped his hand.
Then together they strobe down to the
mine.
Everything was quiet. The pound
ing of the stamps had ceased. The
only sign OF activity was in the engine
room, where the engineer was. as usual
pumping the water out of the shaft
Sinclair motioned to him. The huge
'bucket" poised at the mouth Of the
shaft. They stepped well on to the
center. holding to the rope, and began
their descent. Down, down, past the
different levels. which were swallowed
up in inky blackness. the bucket glided
noiselessiy on, the only sound being
the drip-dripping OF the water as II
percolated through the timbers lining
the shaft.
At last they came to standstil
1000 feet below. Sinclair reached
over and pressed button at the side
of the shaft. and the. eutire tunnel was