Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-10-09


CON minutes longer, and you'll see the
LIGHTS at the end of the gully. Thank
vopr stars the rain keeps off, for this
,stb is a bit risky when there are land
slips"
Risky enough for me as it is" re-
rl;ed the first speaker with a two-foot
ledge to crawl along, cliffs overhanging
Won and a sheer drop of some hundred
Yards to the bottom of the gorge! Pitch
dark too! / wonder Erskine can dc it
at all'''
whats that?" exclaimed some one
from behind "Fm right enough! When
man has been half blind for ten years
he learns to travel like cat. My touch
i better than your sight, Ford"
The three men were following a diff
6cplt track that wound along q preeipi-
tons wall of rock bordering a gorge in
tbe heart of the New Zealand goldfields.
Far below, hidden from sight, even at
midday. by the wealth of kauEi pine and
tree fern that filed the glen, river
ynshed over its rocky bed Farther on,
xlamped upon the face of the cliffs where
they sloped from the top of the noun
tain was the plant of a large mine. to-
wards which the travellers we're pressing
as well as cutting head wind would
allow.
Round the next bend the track turned
abruptly to the right, and here the wind
caught them aslant, rendering their po-
sition more awkward than before Lynn,
the sub-manager, paused.
ITS no use!s he shouted to the men
behind. I'VE must shelter for an hour.
There's a squat coming. Follow me up
the ladderi' And he began to make his
way up a rough natural stair that led
through a rent i'm the cliff to tiny
plateau
Arrived on the level. the men saw n
single light shining from a hut whose
outline could be dimly discerned through
the rain that was now driving across
their faces in sheets.
In reply to Lynns knocking the door
was thrown open, and "a figure appeared
on the threshold Few words were need
ed; with a cordial Come in'' the miner
drew back for them to pass, fastened the
door behind them, and threw fresh logs
upon his dying FIRE
As he stopped the flare of the resinous
wood Lit up his features, revealing a
thin. oareworn face, scanty reddish hair,
lightIblue eyes, and an irresolute chin
and mouth lit was not a bad face but
one that betrayed the character of an
easy going, if amiable. man. Dr. Er-
skine, who wore blue glasses to protect
his delicate eyes, started at sight of the
man, and checking a hasty exclamation,
drew back into the shadows. Then as
If Fegretting the quick gesture, which no
one had observed, he moved out TO a
place with the Others uound the hearth.
The seats were of sawn timber polished
to show the exquisite grain of the wood !;
slab table of similar make and a few
shelves, on which were ranged a pan or
two dishes, cups and saucers, and tea
cadly, completed the furniture of the
room, from which an open doorway led
into the sleeping apartment.
While their host placed billy on the
fire and made preparations for a meal,
Erskine observed him intently He wore
the dress of an ordinary miner, but
speech and manner told of better days.
OF speech however, the man seemed re-
markably ohary.
"All is right at the mine, suppose,
Bradbury" inquired Lynn.
AIS right was the laconic answer.
81 want to show these gentlemen some
thing of our new cyanide process said
Lynn. .'Hou had better come along to-
morrow morning. Bradbury. and take
them over; you can explain it all quite
as well as ], and Bruce wants me in the
laboratory most of the day. You are off
work now. of cOurse?n
Lett the mine this morning and go on
the night shift at ten tonight replied
Il AZ
Lynn. 1t isn't the first time that IA
good thing has come IN my way only to
be snatched from me. When you show
me my appointment i'll black and white
III quit the mine, but not till then
HIS tone was almost sullen, but LYNN
knew him too well to be annoyed
bradbury here has been at Kiranga
for years, and knows the ins and outs
OF the whole thing, including this latest
development of cyaniding. But for some
reason best known to himself he has
chosen to live like an owl, keeping to the
night shifts, refusing rise, and gen
orally growing into d modern Diogenes,
tiil he is suspected by the men of hay
ing committed some deed of darkness.
He is a firm believer in ill-luek-thinks
himself the sport of the gods. don't you,
Bradbury Well, there's lady in the
case now, and our hermit has awakened
70 the value OF higher position AID
salary. The manager is glad to have a
man of his experience on the spot TO
become overseer of the new works, and
l nave in my pocket his signed and GER
hhfd appointment. Come, Bradbury,
onck up, and take your good fortune
with a more thankful face. man! A
charming wife like Bessie Forester, an
easy income, good health, and friends
ahout you-what more can you want ?"
bradbury went on cutting up the huge
loaf with mechanical precision as he an
swered in doleful tones
I'm obliged to you and the manager,
Su1 ITS Just because you're showing me
q prospect such as I've never dared look
LOT that | fear my old bad luck more
'han ever It's bound to follow. and
ye', he exclaimed, with sudden change
% Tone, dropping the knife and standing
rect IN the freight, IF it's quite fixed.
quite sure, Mr.. Lynn--if / thought you