The San Francisco call., 1913-10-22
Now Go On With the Story

NUW w Vii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
less than half completed. 1t was still
his master and not his servant.
Now he had nothing to lose The
gray hairs at his temples were almost
white. but ne would live long enough
to conquer He would live for that
only. He would put grief and re-
morse to one side. He would guard
his life for that one purpose-that
those who had died might not have
died in vain The tunnel should live
as a monument to all of them.
He rose and stretched his cramped
legs with shiver The thought
came to him with a suddenness that
almost made him cry out that he
might atone. somewhat, that very
night There might still be some
men alive in that hell He might
find balm for his own grief in heal
ing the grief of others
He walked swiftly back to the
house. Ethel Lloyd was still waiting
on the veranda. In a few low words
he told what he intended doing, and
she softly applauded. She would look
out for everything at the house and
do all that she could. He sprang into
his car and told the chauffeur TO
drive to the Administration building.
Ceremony had never been the habit
of the Administration building, but
when Allan entered the consultation
room, where the general conferences
Of the engineers were held, every
man in the room rose. Allan believed
that he was calm, for he was In the
numbed condition that follows sud
den blow. He was certain that he
looked calm. and for moment he
was surprised when Hartman half
walked half reeied step or two
toward him and exclaimed in choked
voice:
"AllanI''
Now, now. Hartman ne sala
quietly. Take your seats. gentle
men"
Allan silenced him with gesture.
Mechanically they obayed and sat
staring at him. His face was rieiu,
as lie frozen, his lips blue and wnite
al the edges A young man who sat
next him noticed that the skin be-
meath his eyes was twitching ner.
vousIy. A two days growth OF peara
accentuated his livid pallor. The eyes
shone, but 1t was with tho cold gllt-
ter of glass.
THE STORY
They rested on Hartman, who con-
trolled himself with a visible effort
and began giving the details OF the
disaster, In short, broken phrases. Al
Ian listened without comment and
without expression.
saThere is no doubt that Baermann
was shot?" he asked when Hartman
paused.
Yes"
"And Rives has not been heard
from?"
mo. The last that we have been
able TO learn is that he was seen
leaving Main station on construc-
ton train, going to the head OF the
boring"
Allan nodded. GO on" he said,
grimly.
$50 far as actual damage goes we
know the tunnel is all right almost
up to Station 4. but we can't be sure
beyond the 220 mile mark because
there was a lot of temporary timber
still stuck around there in places.
The fire may have spread that FAR.
Robinson has reported that he got
as far as the 230th mile mark because
smoke was awful and he couldn' :
tell about the fire. He has picked
up a hundred and fifty men that
were dS SQOd dS kOAE.
.That leaves how many dead!'
Hartman moistened his white lips
and passed the back OF hts hand
across his forehead. !.
According to the control-checks,
he answered in a husky. hating voice,
"there must be about 2.90G.
There was dead silence. Every
man in the room had known for
hours that the official figures must
inevitably reach that number. but 1t
was a terrible thing to hear them
spoken Allan reached hand that
trembled slightly for q cup Of coffee
that had been placed on table at
his elbow and took a sip. Every man
in the room avoided his neighbor's
eyes.
again. His chief stared at him un-
moved.
Go on he said, coldly.
"O'Maiiey is at substation D2-220
miles''--he went ont. According to
Robinson. O'Malley is certain that an
air pump is working farther down. al
though the telephone connection Il
broken"
| est came into Al1an's eyes and faint
touch of color to his cheeks Rives.
he thought with a sudden hope. II
| there was one man In that hell who
had the nerve and resourcefulness II
keep an air pump working 1t would
| be Rives.
Hartman went on with his report
He was no longer. apparently, over
come with horror, but there was q
| new uneasiness in his manner which
Allan noted and was quick to under
stand Whatever might be said ir
extenuation. Hartman knew, and
knew that his chief would know. thai
he had not distinguished himself =,
commander above ground In thu
! terrible crisis. When he came to thu