Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-01-11


tain. It's my first coyote and hope
1t works. 1t means Il lot to me-"
Philip Dalton, eleven months out OF
an engineering college looked at his
watch, and then across at the grim
rsliness of the black mountain OF rock
which lay in the path OF the new
Trdns-contincntal.
"Wc1l know in a little less than four
hours" he said. and from the noun
tain fred in the last glow of sunset.
his eyes turned to the girl. "sShe goes
IN at nine o'clock sharp tonight. 1t
will be a beautiful piece of fireworks. "
The vice-prcsident daughter was
standing with hcr back to him. her
slim figure prohled against the Grim
son lGh lowering still over the west
tern wilderness, tho light breeze toss
ina shining wisps of her golden hair
about hor face and shoulders. The
others had gone
For The first time since she and Dali
ton had met each other month be.
fore. hey we're alone. The fact thrilled
| Philip. and he looked at her unob-
served. his face flushing with the emo
lions which she stirred within him,
his eyes filed with the love which he
would never have dared to let her see.
They had been together often during
this month. but there had always been
some one else with them-her father.
some of his guests. or her fiancc. the
little Englishman who was giving her
a title.
They had never been alone like this.
and Philip squared his strong young
shoulders and drew in deen breaths of
the keen evening air, and forgot that
he was only one of the half dozen
Young engineers in camp, at q hundred
and fifty a month.
For a little longer Miss Rodney stood
with her back TO him. looking OFF into
the thousand miles of peoplelcss waste
through which the builders Of the rev
TransVontinental were driving their
thin lines Of steel When she turned
10 him there was Il wistful look in her
eyes.
Its wonderful - WONDERFUL" she
said oh. what cant You do-you
great big strong mon who WORK.
Her voice. her eyes. the flush in her
cheeks were other than he had ever
known them before.
I'm sorry that I'm going away to-
morrow" she continued, and there was
a tone of bitterness in her words I've
never seen this big. glorious world be-
fore. It's the first time I've ever
known real MEN"
He felt a throbbing JOY in his breast
that held him speeches..
And you really believe that you can
blow UP that mountain"
"To-nicht, at nine o'clock. Miss Rod
ney"
And you-YOU are doing it,"
4 was not "A question. Wonder, de-
light. admiration shone in her eyes.
I'm only the engineer he replied.
"I've superintended the building OF the
coyote. See that other knob OF the
mountain off there? Bilinger has mad
charge of that. His coyote goes up at
eight-forty-iive. mine at nine
" Il wish | could see It,, she ex-
" claimed suddenly.
"You can" The words shot from
=. him with suddenness that deepcned
the ian of wind and sun in his face,
There is still time. I will take you
down now, If you will let me. Miss
Rodney"
II wanted to 90 the other day. but
Mir Chclton said that it was no place
Tor woman.
Her Inns tighiened a little. Chelton
was the man she was to marry
will You go?" he asked. 'Will you
look at Ny coyote"
Yes
she !anGneu at lIlt
,loasure in his face. Her blue eyes
dazzled him with the sudden ms
chjeyous excitement that leaped into
them.
Wen begin right here" he ex
claimed. You see these wires, Miss
Rodney? One runs quarter OF mile
over there to my coyote, the other to
Bjllinger's. At the other end OF this
vire--mine-there are two hundred
cases of dynamite and hundred and
tftv sacks of powder. Tonight we viii
hring an electric battery up to this
rock attach the wire, and when you
press the button the mountain blows
nm. DO you understands
II see, | see" she cried softly, lean
ing close TO him az he picked up tht
ends of the wires. i wonder- pm
looked at him with a sudden darlnf
desire in her eyes. II wonder II they'c
LOT ME- press the button to your coy
ote?"
His hands tremblcd as he replaced
the wires.
lid be the happiest man in thu
camp ii you would he said
81 will, # they'll let me
81 mean my father. and Mr. Chel
ton
Again he saw her lips tighten
He led the way down the ridge inf'
Me little valley that lay between then
and the mountain The way was rougl
and filed with masses of broken tral
and boulders. In one place he hell
back his hand to her, and she CAV
aim her own. laughing into ms eyes
What WOULD they say?' she ne
handed. !.
Ha knew whom she meant b.
THEY, and he laughed back at heT
with a thrill Of pleasure which sh
could not fail to see.
4 somber gloom had begun to shrou'
tho black wall OF the mountain Whel
they came to the mouth of the coyote
The opening was about four fee
square. Philip went in first, and tn
girl followed him. The blackness o
night lay ahead OF them. The girl
hand cl,ing suddenly to HIS arm, an
he felt her shudder.
Ugh! it's dark and cold!"