The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-12


 his shoulders; the lamp on his cap de- scribed a flaming arc as he wagged his head at the darkness.
 Her voice, certainly" Mikolas the broad-shouldered scowled as he smote the lump of coal to wedge it on the little car.
 Making a match as usual. Whom is she after this time?"
 Three lights shone in the gangway at the mouth of the chamber mans voice answered the old woman's cackle, speak ing in the Lithuanian tongue and rather loudly.
 Our boss, Mikol," The younger laborer Uttered. And the girl?'
 Mikolas growled, but looked sidewise at the three figures coming up the middle of the chamber. Grandma Zulus, with cred little witch in black calico wrap per, bore a candle and clung to the girls arm. The lamp upon the girls cap showed their faces plainly. Tt is the girl from Matcavage's the greenhorn-the one I told you was pretty, 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 way for doing it with out a paper.'
 Cure the paperl I have worked for him seven months now, and so have you. JuSb walt llll we nave d lllllo IlOIt GIlS- fish, boy, and we will buy us papers and go miner ourselves We know as much as Malukas already. He is no good" The two laborers ceased their work as the guests approached, stood upright and nodded greeting. It was ladies' day in Carbury shaft, and the one occasion of the year when the usages of society fol- low man under ground. Grandma Zuius gave a cracked "Geras rfrasf tsv. kO L0t.. .Aa ttO ton. 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 liars! h. stead 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 q wonder myself" she said, that they are not afraid to work in the mines at all, after living all their lives out In sight of the sky. I should be afraid, if I had to stay down long. And to lift the coal lump after lump-such hard work, from morning till night!'
 You need not be afraid when you are with me-" Malukas told her. His fat face folded into smile. T have skill, know ing the mines for years. Keep close to me and there is no danger. Hey, Mikol- Mikolasl Come here; I need you"
 What for?'
 Come herel Instantly! These ladies have no time to waste. I shall need you up the road. Push your shoes faster, clodhopper No, no, run, you idiot! Runr'
 Mikol Szirdelis came down the chamber at deliberate walk, putting on his coat. Jonas drowned but confined his abuse to words.
 There, caterpillar! You can finish your work when I get through with you. Now walk with the little old one. Be polite to her. There, you have my orders. Go ahead of me-"
 The far end of No. 3 gangway seemed deserted; the workmen and their guests crowded by preference to the shaft, tho pumps, and the busy central portions Of the mine. Milxol opened an air door in the gangway and the four passed through. He would have led on further, but the master called halt.
 Stay here and open that" Malukas ordered.
 What if there is gas up there?" re- monstrated Milxol. He pointed up the loop at the left, narrow black pas- sage some 300 yards long, used by the drivers when inbound and outbound this must pass on No. 8.
 "There is no gas. Hold the door open; I will go on up and open the other on the main road. I want to show the women how the air comes in all in a rush. There will be fine wind, taking the loop and the main road together" "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 Malukus turned with an ugly sheer "oh. yes, coward! know your ideal" Wait, then, and let me go." Nonsense. know this mine You are too smart. Do as you are told and quit | talking"
 | No. was a new gangway, lying due east and west, with the main shaft at It's western extremity. Being an eighth of a mile long, a short street as the under ground city measures distances, No re- l ceived its supply of fresh air by an air | way across from old No. 6, instead of be | ing connected directly with the intake l The current, when the doors were open | set unhindered toward the fans at tho | main shaft. With the doors closed | | forced its way by cross-cut after cross | cut through the working chambers, fol lowing a course parallel to the mair l gangway but sweeping the blasting fact | free of smoke and gas. | Malukus strode down the loop few | yards and braced open the canvas dool | which closed the near end Of It; Miko | watched his lamp bob up and down as h' 1 wedged a sprag-pin home. A sligh l draught was perceptible in the close still l ness of the gangway.
 l The miner returned and placed the twt | women nearly opposite the mouth of th' | loop.
 'T want to show you something" he ex | plained wait a little. Now, coward | keep that door open, will your He turned | down the main road of No. 8; the thre' l waiting heard his heavy mine boots catcf and stumble on the ties.
 szirdelis, although village born and bret as not lacking in natural intelligence His experience in the coal workings hat | given him a clear, if elementary, idea O | the ventilating system. Carbury shaft, h | knew, was little troubled with the ligh | explosive gas in fair weather; althougl | pockets" of varying volume might dls charge themselves anywhere withou warning. Such a diversion of the nor
 nal air currents, therefore, as this Ma lukas planned, might be accomplished Z times without accident.
 With the instinct that serves some me
 for prophecy Mikol felt the nearness O | danger. Still, orders were orders. H opened the door crack, yielding nor and more as the wind gained; but afte
 the first six inches he checked the motto
 long enough to snatch his cap with hi left hand and blow out the light.
 Sudden as a storm wind damp and COG
 with the moisture of the mine, the al
 swept down. The woman's lights fluttere
 and smoked unevenly in the sudde
 draught. Malukas came running down tn