Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-04

ing for breath, he began crawling back
back, as though from that smothering
poison there could be any retreat.
Stories OF the catastrophe met Wayne
on his way up the valley, though 1t was
said that no lives had been lost: but
when he reached Denbeigh the oficiais
had checked their pay rolls and Joe and
the Pole were the only miners not &C
counted for. No one doubted that both
had persisted. Repeated efforts had al
ready been made to penetrate into the
mine and volunteers were not lacking.
Joe had been popular with all classes.
and the fact that he had turned his back
on safety to succor a fallen comrade
added poignancy to the general sorrow.
A huge crowd stood helplessly about
the silent breaker. and when he had
Craig at the superintendent Office where
the mine officials were comforting with
the state inspectors, and made himself
known. 1t was not time for explana-
tons; Wayne bent with them over the
blue-prints of the workings.
We'll try getting in through the upper
slope as soon as it's safe. said the en-
gineer. Its all to the bad down there
I've gone myself as far as possible. and
some of my men were knocked out by
the gas and had to be carried ont.
But the men may be alive-and one
of them is my friend
The engineer looked at Craighiil Curl
ously. This was not the Wayne Craighiil
he remembered from his days at the
"Tech." and not the man he had heard
of from time to time as dissolute ana
worthless. But Wayne had taken his
own courses at the institute and on tech
nical matters used the Technology OF
the mines: but the engineer shook his
head at Wayne's suggestions. They were
interesting. but impracticable. The small
loss of life was miraculous. considering
the extent OF the collapse: there was
much cause for gratitude. and the en-
gineer's chief concern. it was clear. was
to save the property of his employers.
There are two men down there; they
may not be dead" Wayne insisted.
IF they weren't crushed to death. they
have been smothered by gas. or. maybe.
drowned" declared the engineer.
Work only from the upper slope-tum
fan in the valley. if necessary. and you
can do il. Those men must be about
there" and he indicated a point on the
blueprint. From the stories OF the men
way you can hit pretty close to he place
where the fall stopped him."
But it might be weeks"
$50 ii might. / will do it in less time
if you will help me-.
But the cost of doing IL your way"
Il will pay for it myself
MY Superiors--
II will attend to them. i will pay the
bills Get every man you can use. and
every fan and pump in the district
big price to pay for the bodies OF
two dead men, they said in the valley
when the work had been begun; and the
miners who had seen the big teamster
patiently going about his work a few
DAYS before did not understand at once
how he had become a leading figure. In
the place-commanding. directing. him.
self laboring ceaselessly, to gain ingress
to the huge, black, poisonous cavern.
1t was not until the fifth day that they
broke into the barricade of the lower
slope, whose walls still menaced,. and
where wholesome air could only be coax
ed by prodigious effort: and Wayne was
first of all into the tomb where Joe had
died He found him lying with one arm
thrown across the body OF the broken
backed Pole he had tried to save. Il
SEEMED that in the hour of his death he
had thus sought companionship-Joe
who had loved light and life. and the
WAYS of cities and the haunts of men,
Men came from far to do honor to the
had come into kinship with all heroic
dead and they buried him-it was
Wayne's idea-beside the friendless Pole
in the fafrest spot the town commanded.
Mrs. Blair came with Jean, and Walsh
and Wingfield were there too-and rad.
dock read the Office for the dead. But
this was not enough, and at the end the
minister stood beside Joe's grave and
spoke to the great throng Of the beauty
of the life that had gone out. Of the no.
bility of its sacrifice and the glory Of Il.
known tears. And when he had finished.
as the sun dipped low behind the hills.
he raised his hands above the crowd and
blessed them, and ii seemed that q great
peace fell upon the world.
(To be continued tomorrowo