Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-06
The Spotted Dog Mine
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GILL. TOHSDy Helu the IOuG SUCKS Oh uy1ld1InCe,
handing three of them, one by one, to Meek1ns,
who tamped them home with due caution in
the drill hole, attaching fuse. Then he said
Light the fuse, Fonsby, while gather up
these tools. Then we'll get out. P'raps when
we come back this hole'll be full of silver"
Fonsby put the fourth stick of dynamite
down. struck match, and lighted the fuse.
Red, having picked up his tools, called,
Come on Sometimes these fuses run
He already on the move. Fonsbv fol-
lowed on the run, forgetting all about the finger
of destruction he had discarded.
Achilles noticed this oversight or perhaps he
thought it a variation of the collar game. At
any rate he harked back to his drill in retriev-
ing, grabbed up in his jaws the little brown
fiend, added the dangling fuse that was so like
his leading strap, dislodging it with one sharp
pull, and cantered joyously after the fleeing
men.
As Red galloped he cast look over his Shout
der to make sure that Spot was following: One
glance assured him that Spot was, and that he
was charged with dynamite.
MY Cod Man. run! Run for it !" he gasped
and Fonsby. instinctively turning his head
saw the Nemesis on their track.
He quickened his pace. So.did Red. Their
heavy boots threw gravel and all records for
speed were being smashed.
But the dog in a hurry to deliver the
goods. He too was showing speed. The fuse
was handicap on the Canine-which was
providential. Once it swirled round his legs
like q WnlplaSn ana the SputteTlnS END S1nSeO
him in the belly. He rolled himself out of the
ENHANCEMENT, and the men gained twenty
yards. They had just breasted a little hill
which lay as quiet and peaceful in the after
noon sun as though no travelling volcano was on
the move. Now Red and Fonsby were on the
level, racing for the shack, while Spot good
Spot, was down in the little hollow gathering up
the stick of dynamite that had been switched
from his jaws by catch of the trailing fuse in
the splintered end of log he had shortcut
rather sharply.
In all the history of explosives probably no
giant of expansion had ever been SO tolerant of
misuse the cartridge Spot handled SO cava-
lierly. 1t IS one of the eCcentriclt1es of dyna-
mite that it erupts when it gets good and ready,
patient at times under maltreatment, and
again hasty as red headed vixen.
And now, as Spot swung free the fuse, the
brown power lay in his compressed jaws as in
nocuous as wedge of cheese. He scurred
blithely up the hill, rounding into the home
stretch at its crest just as Red painted:
We'll make the shack Shut the door and
take chance-we got toi"
A S they journeyed the sprinters saw, with
establishment, men in the shack. In fact
Pkins stood in the door. Evidently Pilkins
had announced the vehement coming of Meek
ms & Co.: for other faces thrust themselves
into the opening, grinnng faces that contem
plated the joyous spectacle of Meekins and the
English aristocrat evidently engaged in foot
race.
Cries of " Come on, Red You win in walk
Go it, English!'' rent the air. Fifty dollars on
Red" some one yelled.
The bulldogs heavy head showed between
the legs of Pilkins, his yellow teeth barred in a
snarl for his little pig eyes had caught sight OF
his enemy trailing the Marathoners.
Red saw Fonsby cast glance backward, and
painted, " How's Spot maxim it, Is he comm
"Rather!" the Englishman answered 1aco,
nically, conserving his energy for increased
speed.
Meekins rose to the squirt, and they raced
neck and neck. Ten yards from the shack, five
yards, the gravel path bowling with the beat OF
their heavy boots Now they had gained the
doorway, and jocular hand fell on Reds
shoulder, almost yanking him on his face, as its
owner cried exultantly, You win, Red-by a
nose!"
With a hoarse cry Meekins threw the speaker
off and grabbed the door to shut it. 1t never
budged, because Peloo Trout's enormous bulk
rested in a chair tilted back against its pine
boards.
A SNARLING yelp from Esau caused Red
to swing on his heel. Spot had arrived.
He stood in the chip yard, the bristles on Lis
back erect in anger, and in his jaws the slim
brown stick of dynamite, within a foot of it the
sizzling end of the fuse.
With head low hung and legs wide set Esau
stood on the outer step ready for the fighting
charge
Others had seen the terrible picture and
when Reds wild cry of Run for it, boys!"
rang out, followed by a rush through the other
door thew complied with alacrity some of