The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-01-26


ping Up over The edge. then the
shoulders. and finally the men on their
feel running like decrs for shelter
not far, only few Yards, for the ex-
caration itself Afforded protection.
once clear of it Haggerty himself was
not fifteen yards away.
He counted the men as they came
out. II was the eighteenth who. just
as his head and shoulders appeared.
waved an arm and shouted: All out
Let fer co. He saw the foreman
bend over the battery and make the
connection that would spark the time
fuse at the other end, and then groan
Of horror went UP around him. Num-
Der Eighteen. With cry and desper
ate effort to pull himself over the top.
had slipped back and disappeared from
sight,
Haggerty's pipe dropped to the
ground from between his teeth, his
heart seemed TO stop its beats. cold
sweat broke out upon his face. He
was on his feet now, and the foreman's
words were ringing in his ears: Then
there's a minute. lots of time, Then
.here's misate. tots Of time
He began 10 run, and the seconds. as
ne ran. heightened into years and
cycles NY God" he muttsred in a
catchy way.
But fast rs he ran, someone was
faster than he Five yards from the
edge of the excavation. a figure. small.
short. speeding like the wind. passed
him. II was HaIe-tne super,
Behind. the foreman's voice beloved
hoarsely. Come back. Come back,
Re can't get TO the fuse. Dye hear?~
"Mabbe." mumbled Hsggerty be
tween his teeth, mabbe We can get
the man. Mary. Mother. help u.s.
Hale. fat on the ground. was MAX
ing 10 swing himself over as Haggerty.
for the second time, caught him by the
collar of his coat You amt strong
enough he grunted. yanking the
super hack -You help ne from the
sop--and over the edge he went him
self.
The man lay there groaning. 1t was
easy to see what had happened. A mis-
placed step in the climb. then a ioos-
ened rock. his balance gone, and the
stone had crashed down upon his legs
and ankles.
There was a look Of helpless terror
in the eyes OF the wounded man as
Haggerty reached and bent over him.
Get out. the white lips quiyered.
You amt got time give the signal
The blast-ll be goin' nov
There's a minute. lots of Tine said
Haggerty in 8 sing-song, crazy way
He was trying TO 1T the words to an
air he had heard somewhere Queer
he couldn't remember IL, the words
were straight enough, Then he
laughed fooIishly-a he worked ike
maiman,
He had raised the man in his arms
and now. hearing with all his strength,
vas gradually pushing him up, up.
The strain became terrific. Haggerty's
muscles cracked. One of his arms was
almost useless 10 him owing TO the
narrowness of the ledge that. to main
tain even precarious footing as, little
by little. he ross to an upright posi-
ton. forced him tight against the wall
Of rock and earth Haggerty painted
with cruel. gasping sobs. Then
there's a minute. lots OF time." The
repetition of the words came surging
upon him with a shock OF terror, lend
ing him a frenzied strength. A des-
perate twist, and he had made the
half-turn that brought his back TO the
cutting His other arm was free now.
4 heaye. and he had swung Number
Eighteen above his shoulders within
reach OF the super's outstretched
hands A second more. and. with Hale
pulling above and Haggerty lifting be-
low, the man. with a cry OF agony as
his wounded leg banged Imply against
the ground, was forced up over the
bank
Quick. Hasgerty. For Gods sake.
be quick yourself" cried Hale. Hurry,
man. har7gsg
There's minute" -Haggerty sprang
for the top Of the bank, clutched tt
lots Of" The last word was blotted
out as he dragged himself over the
edge. and heard Hale's sharp COM
mand: Lie fat" From behind and
below him came tie roar of the detona-
ton he felt the ground shake and
quirer beneath him. the echoes vera
rolling and reTerberating like park
of artillery Hale.s Low, feryent:
Thank God"
Ii was Hale who got it first as the
mob of men rushed forward. cheering
laughing. Cabling Historically. And
1t was At Haie's uplifted hand that the
clamor died suddenly away. and In its
stead came the super's voice In quiet
tones: Where's Haggerty-
"Aw. gwan." sputtered Haegerty
sheepishly, trying to fight HIS way ou,
OF the crowd that pressed upon him
TO haul and maui him. TO thump his
back, TO shake his hand. Jaw. gwan,
] wantsr get me pipe that left owe,
by the shanty."