The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-02-11


tain. It's my first coyote, and hope
1t works. It means a lot to me-"
Philip Dalton, eleven months out OF
an engineering college, looked at his
watch, and then across at the grim.
ugliness Of the black mountain of rock
which lay in the path Of the new
Trans-continental.
Wen know In little less than four
hours" he said, and from the noun
tain, fired IN the last glow of sunset,
his eyes turned to the girl. She goes
up at nine o'clock sharp tonight 1t
will be a beautiful piece of fireworks"
The Yice-president's daughter was
standing with her back to him, her
slim figure profiled against the Grim
son light lowering still over the vest
tern wilderness, the light breeze toss
Ing shining wisps of her golden hair
about her face and shoulders. The
others had gone.
For the first time since she and Dial.
ton had met each other month be-
lore, they were alone. The fact thrilled
Philip, and he looked at her unob-
served, his face flushing with the emo
tons which she stirred within him,
his eyes flled 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 hance, the
little Englishman who was giving her
3 title.
: They had never been alone, like this,
and Philip squared his strong young
shoulders and drew in deep breaths OF
the keen evening air, and forgot that
he was only one of the half dozen
young engineers In camp, at hundred
and fifty a month.
For little longer Miss Rodney stood
with her back to him, looking OF into
the thousand miles Of peopleless waste
through which the builders Of the new
Trans-eontinental we're driving their
thin lines of steel When she turned
TO him there was wistful look in her
eyes.
cts wonderful = wonderful" she
said "Oh, what can't You do-y0u
great big strong men 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
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 MEM"
He felt throbbing joy in his breast
that held him speechless..
And you really believe that you can
Low up that mountain"
j. Tonight, at nine o'clock, Miss Rod
And you-YoU are doing I'll"
1T was not a question. Wonder, de-
light, admiration shone in her eyes.
eIsm only the engineer" he replied.
eve superintended the building of the
coyote. See that other knob Of the
mountain of there? Billinger has had
charge OF that. His coyote goes up at
eight-forty-fve, mine at nine.
or wish / could see 1t, she ex-
claimed suddenly.
lyon cant" The words shot from
himN with suddenness that deepene0
the tan Of wind and sun IN his face.
saThere is still time. will take you
down now, IL you will let me- MISS
Rodney"
Il wanted to go the other day. but
Mr.. Chelton said that it was no place
for a woman"
Her lips frightened little. Chelton
was the man she was to marry.
"WilI you go?' he asked. win you
look at MY coyoteg"
YES"
she laughed at the unconcealed
Measure In his face. Her blue eyes
dazzled him with the sudden mis-
chievous excitement that leaped into
them.
"We'n 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
Billinger's. At the other end OF this
wire-mine-there are two hundred
cases of dynamite and a hundred and
fiffy sacks of powder. Tonight we viii
bring an electric battery up to this
rock. attach the wire, and when you
press the button the mountain blows
uD. Do ron understand
az see. l see, she cried softly, lean
ing close to him as he picked up the
ends of the wires. 81 wonder. She
looked at him with q sudden daring
desire in her eyes. 81 wonder II they
let ME press the button to your coy
ote?p
the wires.
I'D be the happiest man in the
camp If you would, he said.
81 will, If they'll let me.
'sThey-"
Il mean my father. and Mr.. chel
ton"
Again he saw her lips tighten.
He led the way down the ridge into
the little valley that lay between them
and the mountain. The way was rough
and filed with masses Of broken traT
and bolllders. In one place he held
hack his hand to her. and she gave
MIN her own. laughing into his eyes.
what WOULD they say" she de
handed.
He knew whom she meant By
THEY. and he laughed back at her
with a thrill Of pleasure which she
could not fail to see.
a somber gloom had begun to shrout
the black wall of the mountain whel
thew 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 Q
night lay ahead Of them. The girfi
hand chung suddenly - his arm, ant