Webster City freeman., 1912-04-09

Jackson. as he led the smaller one Oh
the party to plank at one side.
The miners gathered around. great
ly interested in the visitors. Harry
you may 60 with u.s. said Jackson
as they were ready to start.
BE careful, Joe," said the elder
gentleman. You know you get SC
interested in things that you forget
where you are going"
"Here,' said Jackson, "let me light
your candle; this extra one goes into
your coat pocket"
Soon they came along a high open
space where the miners were working
far up at the side drilling into the ore.
Five or six miners were clinging to the
rock and working steam drill that
plunged into the wall with spiteful
fury. Below was tram car into
which the men were loading the loos-
ened ore. The elder gentleman was
asking all sorts OF scientific questions
which Jackson was answering with
the wisdom of a skilled engineer. Joe
was eagerly watching the workmen.
following every motion with bright.
upturned face.
"The boy wishes he was up there.
too, don't he?' asked an old miner.
Joe did not at first understand
then, casting quick glance at the
rest of the party, replied: Yes, it
would be great fun"
Fire! Fire!" came the cry from a
short distance away.
''They are going to blast,' said
Jackson. 1T is better to get close
against the wall away from the dan
ger OF falling rocks Come this way"
And he led to a shelter spot.
Joe followed in silence, and Harry,
feeling that Joe dreaded the explosion
and at the same time despising a boy
that was afraid of little noise, step
ped nearer with the instinct to protect.
Jackson explained that the blast was
but small one and that there was no
danger. Then the explosion came. Joe
instinctively turned to Harry's great
strength and seized his arm with both
hands. He reached out a protecting
hand and it fell upon a soft and tiny
one. and then he knew that the jewell
ed rings beneath his roughened fin
gers were not upon boys hand. His
heart stood still. Instead of the dim
candlelight he saw glittering stars
and knew that for a moment he had
floated into the world of Jackson's
soft-covered book and crystal vase of
roses. Then the darkness shut down
around him and the rocks of the
mines seemed to lock him in forever.
"All right! All right!' came the
assuring call out of the darkness.
Were you frightened, Joe?" asked
her uncle.
Il think was startled, but l was
bound not to scream"
"You behaved very well,'' said Jack
son. But your candle is out. Here,
Harry, let me light it by yours. .
Harry obediently took the candle
stick from his hat.
ooh, what pretty one" said Joe.
ut is different from ours
Eyes, it has cross back OF the can
die and is more carefully wrought
than these common ones Harry got
it from some Canadian Catholic mine.
They are all rather graceful, think.
Perhaps you would like one to remind
you of your days adventure?"
Thank you, I should" and Harry
watched the flash of the diamond and
opal ring on the hand that went up
to the candle in her hat.
When they had turned toward the
east shaft Harry was jealous of every
step of the way. When the cage rose
it seemed as though Jackson's world
had fioated away from him forever.
She went without word. What was
there to say? And his only comfort
was that she nodded a kindly good
bye" to him as the cage glided upward.
When he left the mine hat night
he sought out Jackson at the Office
and laid a small parcel on his desk.
81 thought. Mr.. Jackson, that if the
young lady cared for candlestick to
keep, she might like mine, for she
thought it prettier than the regular
ones. / can get another like it"
Jackson took the package and Harry
passed out into the darkness.
CHAPTER II.
Josephine Lenton stood casting a
final critical eye over the dinner table
which was set for eight people Now
she moved a spoon into perfect line
with the other silver at the plate,
Strengthened napkin, gave a earess-
ing touch to the nasturtiums in the
old English bluebowl and laid the
matches ready for the candles.
How nice it is. mother, to come
back to your pretty table after the
German pension. Simple as our home
is, / love its order. its pretty china
and silver, its books and pictures and
flowers and, best OF all, the people
that come here"
"Then the year with your wealthy
nNucipx hoe y,0t r,ada vn,,