The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-07-27

the old workings on the eastern slope
and the door IN the bulkhead. whic
was doubtless one of the air locks i
the ventilating system of the mine
had fastened itself automatically arte
Flemister had released Ii.
Judson was a hundred yards dow
the tunnel, racing like traine'
Splinter for the western exit. befor
he thought TO ask himself why tn
third man was playing the madmai
before the locked door But that wa
matter negligible 10 him. His ANAL
was TO get out OF the mine with TIT
loss of the fewest possible seconds OF
time-to win out. 10 climb the ridge
and TO descend the eastern slope Il
the old workings before the two plot
tiers should disappear beyond the hope
OF redlscovery.
lie did his best, flying down thu
I long tunnel reaches with little regard
for the precarious footing. Then h'
darted out into the moonlight But as
yet the fierce race was only fairly be
gun. Without stopping to look for
path. the ex-engineer flung himself al
the steep hillside. running. falling
clambering on hands and knees, burst
ing by main strength through the tan
gled thickets Of young pines and hurl
ing himself blindly over loose lying
powders and the trunks Of fallen
trees. When, after what seemed like
an eternity Of lung bursting struggles,
he came out upon the bare summit Of
the ridge his tongue was like q dry
stick in his mouth, refusing to shape
the curses that his soul was heaping
upon the alcohol which had made him
wind broken. gasping weakling in
the prime of his manhood.
For, after all the .agonizing striv-
ings, he was too late. 1t was rough
quarter mile down TO the shadowy
group of buildings whence the hum
ming of the dynamo and the quick ex-
hausts Of the high speeded steam en-
CINE rose on the still night air. Jud-
son knew that the last lap was not in
his trembling muscles or in the thump-
The ex-engineer crawled cautiously
to the edge of the barrier cliff. rubbed
the sweat out OF his smarting eyes and
peered down into the half lighted shad-
ows of the stockaded Enclosure. IL
was not very long before he made
them out-two indistinct figures Iaov-
Ing about among the disused and di-
lapidated ore sheds clustering at the
track end of the old spur.
What they were doing did not long
remain mystery. Judson heard
distance diminished sound. like the
of rusty wheels upon iron
'alls. and presently shadowy thing
ylided out of one Of the ore sheds and
ook its place upon the track Of the old
'pur. Followed a series of clankings
till more familiar to the watcher-the
ound of metal upon metal as OF crow
'ars and other tools cast carelessly.
ne upon the other. in the loading of
he shadowy vehicle. Making a tele-
cope of his hands to shut out the |
lare from the lighted windows of the |
'ower house, Judson could dlmly dis. |
ern the two figures mounting to their |
laces on the deck of the thing which |
e now knew 10 be n handcar. A mo- |
lent later, to the musical cllck-click
( wheels passing over rail joints, the
tile car shot through the gateway in
he stockade and sped away down the
pur.
While the clicking of the handcar
wheels was still family audible a man
the door hammering mailman, Jud-
on thought it must be-materialized
from somewhere In the under.
hadows TO run down the track after
ne disappearing conspirators. The en-
ineer saw the racing foot pursuer left
ehind so quickly that his own hope of
vertaking the car died almost before
had taken shape.
THAT puts 1t up to me again." he
roaned, rising stiflly. IF | can get
own yonder TO Goodloe's wire in time
D catch the super's special before it
asses Timanyoni'-he went on, only
drop his jaw and gasp when he
eid the face OF his watch up to the
Moonlight. Then brokenly: IT couldn't
egin to do 1t unless had wings. He
lid ii o'clock, and it's 1910 right :
OWL
Ihere was the beginning Of n fren-
led outburst Of despairing curses up
uDbiing to Judson's lips when he real
led his utter helplessness and the con.
equences menacing the superintend-
nts special. True, he did not know
mat the consequences were to be, but I
mad overheard enough to be sure
1at Lidgerwood's life was threatened.
hen at the climax Of despairing help.
he remembered that there was
telephone in the mine owners Office. S
telephone that connected with Good
'e's station at Little Butte. Here was '
last slender chance of getting n I
'arning TO Goodloe. and through him. I
means of the railroad wire, TO the
special. Instantly 4
ndson forgot his WEAKNESS and raced 4
way down the western slope of the c
fountain, prepared to fight his way {
the telephone II the entire night Il
hit OF the Wire Silver should try 70
op him. n
IL cost ten Of the precious fifty min. h