The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-05

| Moreover. with man of the true
Serb temper nothing counted but sue
cess. What did it matter if in order
to attain his end he should engulf a
| hundred workers? The securely in
vested Romer millions did not depend
upon these. And so. having argued
out the case completely be condemned
| Vida to death without more feeling. at
least apparent. than he Jould have
Kicked dog out of his way.
But James Kahn scarcely reasoned
with himself one plan having failed
why, the other must be tried. He
did not dispute, weigh right and
wrong But he acted. With the same
sanguinary readiness as did the slay-
ers of Alexander md Draga in the old
| palace of Belgrade, he acted.
A day particularly dreamy, soft, ST.
lent was that which Dick. on the sug-
| gestion of his master and idol, had
chosen for Vida to descend the mine
and show her all that was to be seen
there. The new electric fans were to
be installed. These had long been
promised. They had been the original
proposal of Vic Morris, who had fur
nished the plans and specifications. But
in spite of all. the old bad systems
ruled. And the second exit was still
blocked by the steampipes which dove
the new electric apparatus derived its
power from that engine. so that the
apparent good was only the old evil at
another remove.
Upon hearing of Dicks plans. the pit
men had put their heads togeth er. and
being quite conscious of the honor done
them. they had arranged a suit of
oyeralls for Vida, which permitted her
TO descend in safety and comfort. There
M Inc
went into the engine room. James
Kahn came forth from conference
with Johnemann. the engineer, who Gas
he gave OUT had accompanied him from
Vienna. Mr.. Kahn was enchanted to
see Miss Vida, who blushed somewhat
at her rough. boyish array. So oblig-
ing was Mr.. Kahn that he insisted on
descending the Dock with Dick Finnan
and his adopted daughter. In spite of
Vida's warning touch of the elbow
Dick accepted the attention as a new
proof of the generous and forgiving
nature of his Incompatible chief
At the foot of the long oD1ique dip,
called the Dock, they got out.
Now, Mr.. Finnan," saig James KaIa,
I shall leave you TO show Miss Bryan
your dominions down here. I daresay
you will find plenty of willing helpers
Every man will put his best foot for
ward this day in honor of the visit
of Miss Vida, You will have, there
fore. no further need of me-"
And poor Dick listened with a full
heart to his masters words. We're
they not, if one were needed, a new
proof of the delicacy of his heart. The
mere sight of him might make Vida
feel awkward thinking of the offer h e
had made, and she had refused. There
fore, he preferred to retire. Was there
ever such a man?
Now, in the Incubus mines as in most
others of similar depth, communica :
lions were kept up with the surface by
means of electric bells. With a touch
Mr.. Kahn was snatched away, leavine q
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 ex-
plantations of this and that Already
he had acquired that pride in the per-
lection of his workmanship which is
the craftsmans pleasure. And he felt
that livelong day would not be too
long a time in which to expose to
Vida the wonders of the territory over
which he ruled-if not as king. at
least as .viceroy.
And it was "Mr. Kahn admired this"
or Mr.. Kahn wishes that''-tilI Vida
had to restrain her speech by the
thought 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 up
the shaft from where they stood? On
that, even at that moment, he was
striking a match to set on fire tn e
covering brattice-cloth which he had
eli
flame flashed about James Kahn in a
circle, was promptly caught by the up
draft, and swept upward with a roar
into the long thousand feet of pit
props and brattice-work that divided
the cageways from the ventilating
shaft.
So swiftly did it spread that for a
moment James Kahn thought himself
lost-caught in his own proper trap
But he "belled" furiously. Johnemann,
the engineer responded instantly, and
with no more than the smuggling 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 a Dit viii
lage.
"The pits on fire-No. 2 on firew
Wherein ere-?" they cried. run
ming from far and near at the mere
sight of his terror.
In the shaft-near the bottom |,
Johnemann was quick or should
never have got through"
How many are down there?"
Nearly the whole morning shift
bar one or twol"
And Miss Vida"
Shes there-old Dick Finnan,s IT.
Tie girl. you mean! Yes, I saw her eo -.
and so, swift as the darting light
ming, the news spread The women
slfting at the shale heaps let drop their.
sleves, and for the first time tbe
strange, keen note of mourning nit
women was heard in Kirktown.
me regular safe work of DAWN
and day-out had gone on so long that
II seemed as II 1t would go on forever.
mere mad been individual cases. of
course-falls of rock on rash or care
less heads, imprisonments of longer mr.
shorter duration, owing to a temno-
rary arrangement of the pumping an
paratus, and the swift rising of the
bottom waters.
But in Kirktown, never since the
name of Incubus or CORN or Romer
were known, had there been any great
accident. And there need have been
none now, save that a certain Oh
Sero was clearing his way, after his
racial manner, to financial throne.
There were still a few laggards on
the road-expectant of fines for THAR
late hours A father scolded a counIe
of boys who went along with. down
cast heads on either side The elder
walked fast to make up time, taking.
long strides. The boys ran a few steps
to keep up. Here and there was an
| unmarried man little red about the
eyes trudging stolidly along with his