The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1908-06-13
THE INTRUDER
BY M. II. Justice.

From deep Underground came a
hollow reverberation, which told that
another blast in the mine had been
set of. The engineer in the little
shafthouse above raised his head
and listened. 1t was not the usual
hour for blasting, it being now little
after four, and not quite an hour till
the day shift should come off duty.
Almost at the moment there was
signal given, frantic but weak, and
the man sprang forward to the hoist
ing engine. Gripping the lever firmly
he looked out through the door to see
the hosting cage go down the shaft.
His daughter Mile burst into the
shafthouse
What is it, father?"
Don't know" he replied, with
shake of his head.
Mother and I were sewing when
we heard it. l have felt wrong all
day Dave is down there to-day,
father?"
Yes, l let him down last one, near
noon"
The unwound cable showed that
But there was no signal given to hoist
it again.
Something is wrong, Mile.
But the girl had rushed out the
door and was bending over the shaft
hole There's been an explosion,
father" she called. "See here!" and
she pointed to the thin spirals of blue
smoke rising out the shaft in snake
like tendrils. 1T was no blast, 1 tell
you
Just then came a faint signal on
the cable The engineer brought the
cage to the top as quickly as he
could.
When it came to the top one man
was the sole occupant himself hang
ing Imply over one side, with black
ened face, torn clothing and shat
tered arm.
The girl bent over him. Sam
Blake!" she cried Immediately they
had him out of the cage and on the
ground. He had been a handsome fel-
low, big, dark and strong, and had
come into Colorado six months before
from nowhere.
SAM" she called What has hap
pened?" Shaken out of his semi
consciousness, he spoke: ct was an
explosion at the third level; they're
all dead"
Dead" Mile bent over him to
catch every sentence. rs Dave
Smith down there?"
At mention of the name the in
jured man shuddered, and half
sheer came over his features.
"H'ain't any fire damp down there
whispered Sam; you can go downs
and get your lover"
Father, oh, let me co. she
pleaded, springing into the bucket
But old Sullivan shook his head. Il
am not afraid, and I've been down
hundred times" She threw him her
little bingham apron. "Wet it in the
trough there. 1 can keep it over my
head. I promise 1 will not go into
the tunnel. Think of Dave, father"
At last the brave girl won, but not
until the shrill whistle in the shaft
there had been an accident at the
Pigeon Blood mine. At the bottom Of
the shaft she had found them lying
in the sitting smoke and dynamite
fumes, but the dampened apron had
kept the most of it from her lungs.
The fourth man she brought up was
Dave. After that, men who had come
a the signal of the whistle, went on
with the work The miners were not
dead, and once more in the fresh air
Dave revived and was able to stagger
to his feet. Some dog set trap for
usi" he exclaimed. "a blast was set
off right in our midst"
There was one who needed all their
attention, however. 1t was Sam
Blake. He was dying.
81 done, it, Millie," he whispered
Il wanted to catch him-Dave
know he loved you, and there was
no other way to clear him out"
Sam, oh, Sam! When you knew
loved him.
Yes" he smiled wanly, but where
1 came from we put rivals out of the
way. But 1 fell down-on-this-
I'm going"
Never mind, SAM" said a mans
husky voice, and Dawes strong hand
grasped that of the dying man; still,
you might have thought Of tha 9th
ers''
Sam shook his head with the same
mysterious smile. Sometimes you
have to kill the whole army to catch
the genera1-I-only wantea-the
gir-I-" His head fell back, and
Sam Blake was no more.
Silently the little party stepped
back with lifted hats, respectful of
the grim presence. Then with his
arm around Miles shoulder Dave
and she walked slowly down the val