The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-07-12

Sounds like Grandma ZuluS, saiC
Young Antan to his brother. He laugh
ed and shrugged his shoulders; the
lamp on his cap described a flaming
arc as he wagged his head at the dark
ness.
Her voice. certainly" Mikolas the
broad-shouldered scOw1ed as he smote
the lump of coal to wedge 1t on the ht-
tie car.
Making a match, as usual Whom is
she after this timer
Three lights shone in the gangway al
the mouth of the chamber. A mans
voice answered the old woman's cackle,
speaking in the Lithuanian tongue and
rather loudly.
our boss, Mikol" The younger Ia
borer Uttered. And the girl?"
Mikolas growled. but looked sidewise
at the three figures coming up the
middle OF the chamber Grandma Zui-
us. a withered little witch in black cal
leo wrapper. bore a candle and chung
20 the girls arm. The lamp upon the
girls cap showed their faces plainly.
1t is the girl from Matcavage's the
greenhorn-the one / told you was pref
~, Mikol. Now see what Jonas says;
he will not pay you for cutting his coal:
he knows If you said much the mine
boss would chase you away for doing
II without a paper"
Curse the paper I have worked for
him seven months now. and so have
you. Just wait till we have a little
more English, boy. and we will buy US
papers and go miner ourselves. We
know as much as Jonas Malukas all
ready. He is no good"
The two laborers ceased their work
as the guests approached: stood upright
and nodded greeting. 1t was ladies'
day in Carbury shaft, and the one oc-
casion of the year when the usages
of society follow a man under ground.
Grandma Zuius gave a cracked Gee
ras rytas" in answer TO their mute sal
utation. The girl smiled. She was a
small. plump lass. round of cheek and
shoulder, with bright gray eyes and
scarlet mouth.
The miner turned to the two women.
These fellows are such lazy liarsi
Instead of loading coal they turn TO
and set off four blasts. They hope to
charge me extra, of course, but they
can't fool me-
The gray-eyed girl was more good
natured. II wonder myself" said she,
that they are not afraid to work in
the mines at all. after living all their
lives out In sight of the day. l should
be afraid. If 1 had TO stay down long.
And to lift the coal. lump after lump
such hard work. from morning until
night
You need not be afraid when you are
with me-" Malukas told her. His fat
face folded into a smile 'I have skill.
knowing the mines for years. Keep
close to me and there is no danger.
Hey. Mikol-Mikolas! Come here; 1
need you"
What for?''
Come here! Instantly! These ladies
have no time to waste. l shall need
you up the road. Push your shoes
faster. clodhopper! No, no. run. you
idiot Rum
Mikol Szirdelis came down the cham
Der at a deliberate walk, putting on
his coat. Jonas frowned, but confined
his abuse TO words.
There caterpillar You can finish
your work when 1 get through with
you. Now walk with the little old one.
re polite TO her. There, YOU have nv
orders. Go ahead of me-"
The far end OF Number 3 gangway
seemed deserted: the workmen and
their guests crowded by preference TO
the shaft, the pumps. and the busy
central portions of the mine. Mikol
opened an air door in the gangway and
the four passed through He would
have led on further. but the master
called a halt.
Stay here and o7cn that" Malukas
ordered.
What II there up there?" re-
monstrated Mikol. pointed I'D the
loop" at the left. narrow black pas
sage some 300 yards long, used by the
drivers when inbound and outbound
trips must pass on Number s.
There is no gas. Hold the door
open; / Will go on up and open the
either or the main road. ! want to show
the women how the air comes in all In
rush. There VIII be fine wind, TAX
ing the loop and the main road to-
sether."
Go up the loop first. though. and
make sure. The boys have not drawn
much coal today; perhaps no one has
been through since last night"
Malukas turned with an ugly sneer.
"Oh. yes. coward, know your idea."
Wait, then, and let me goi'
Nonsense. l know this mine You
are too smart. Do as you are told and
quit talking"
Number was new gangway. lying
due east and west, with the main shaft
at its western extremity Being an
eighth of a mile long. short street as
the underground city measures dis
tances. Number received its supply
of fresh air by an airway across from
old Number 6. instead of being connect
ed directly with the intake. The cur
rent. when the doors were open. set I'M
nindered toward the fans at the main
shaft. With the doors cloTed, II forced
Its way by cros-cut after cross-cut
through the working chambers. follow
ing course parallel to the main gang
way. but sweeping the blasting face
free of smoke and gas. So
Malukas STROBE down the loop a few
yards and braced open the canvas door
which closed the near end OF It: Mikol
watched his lamp bob up and down as
he wedged a sprag-pin home. A slight
draught was perceptible in the close
stiffness of the gangway.
The miner returned and placed the
two women nearly opposite the mouth
Of the loop.
II want to show you something" he
explained. "Wait little. Now. cow
ard. keep that door open, will you?"
He turned down the main road of No.
s: the three waiting heard his heavy
mine boots stumble OF the ties.
Szirdelis. although village born and
bred. was not lacking in natural intel
li,sence. His experience in the coal
L. 1.s,1 IL