Evening star., 1912-06-30

I'm, Sfle was great! one saw IIle lllstllstSeI
wavering, and she Clipped in-and burnt
his ships so to speak. He stood openly COM
mitted to lose no chance.
"'AIiss Gordon, Sirs, apologize; but I've
been putting myself in that poor devils
place down there-and am on wires, redhot
wires, until | get a move on and do some
thing. Perhaps | am court1ng failure IL
risk that. The mines full of water, and the
earth is mere pulp, squashy as rotten to-
nato. If fisSure opens, crack IN the root
say, out rushes the air, and the mschief's
done! Surely to God may try to save him,
before it's too late?'
"There was dramatic pause. Miss Cor
don looked at her watch. Times getting
on was what that action seemed to say.
The manager took it So anyway.
"'You are welcome to try-and, whatever
the result, you are brave fellow. | over
look what you said just now; for | can see
you were wound up and laboring under an
error We thought it our duty to place the
risks before you. Now, however He
reached for a telegraph form. Mr.. Plumb,
willvou conduct Miss Gordon to her friends9
"'No, please! she smiled and shook her
head in protest. Stay here-do-and plot
and plan! Why, am with friends! Every
man here is my friend-and am his!'
"Lord! how the hearts of the boys throbbed
at that! Was there one who would not face
death gladly if she said the wordo It's
wonder to me the diving job wasn't rushed
by the lot of us. Would have been, | expect,
if we knew how to get into a strait jacket.
"No, they didn't cheer, much as they
wanted to. They felt she was lonely little
lady, but wouldn't like fuss. They longed
to pass her overhead, from one pair OF horny
hands to another; but they wouldn't do that,
either
..Wav there for Tom Gordon's daughter!'
somebody called out. Well, they took up
that cry: they just had to shout or bust.
atom Gordon's daughter! Way there
for Tom Gordon's daughter, Tom Gordon's
daughter!'
an two shakes there was an avenue where
you might have driven six horses abreast.
Down the middle, her head held proudly
high, with smiling lips and twinkle of tears
in her shining eyes, stepped little Lucia Cor
don-between four thousand friends.
WELL, greatness is measured by success,
w suppose He did it-Jack Fulford
did it! You don't need to be told that. |
shouldn't be here spinning this yarn, if the
Fates had gone back on him. He'd have
been Just as much hero if he d lost his life
in the soup; but it wouldn't be as pleasant
a story to tell.
lie Q1Qn get through Ille IISl Ililic lic
tried, nor the second. The CRIME and the
silt were awful. Every step, every inch, had
to be wrested by main force from the mud
that gripped his legs and held them in wise.
Twice he had to pull the cord and signal that
he was done; but ever, after rest above
ground, he went at it again with greater vim,
urged on by the thought of that helpless
human wretch in the north drive, with
oozing earth above, below, and around, and
wall of pea soup at the gate.
He got through the third time-it was
two DAYS since he made the first attempt. |
believe when Antonio saw him appearing -"
"Saw him9"
"Saw him. He had found packet of
candles, and his matches were dry. He
didn't burn light all the time, only when
the horror got too big for him. Had eaten
most of the candles, in fact, and struck light
ONLY to see how to die, he said. Then
Jack showed up out of the slush in streaming
helmet and filthy jacket-and Antonio
thought he was sent for. He reckoned this
was a shift boss from the neither regions
come to carry him off. He guessed he had
no chance against this monster with his
drag chains dangling to hook him on! Won
der it didn't finish him.
"Jack had talk with him, and gave him,
as he said in the beginning food and hope.
Then he left him; but returned next day