Evening journal., 1913-03-22


their very feet-and then STAYED. Ten
minutes passed. during which Joyce
held his light out over the black. eullen
water again and again. Then he re.
placed II in his cap.
Its stopped, he said. We've got
a hghtin' chance
Ben took his pick aud began knock
ing against the wall back Of them.
Then. lifting up his voice. he sang at
its full strength the Easter hymn that
had so stirred the anger Of Smons
few hours before Simons said moth.
ing now. and Jarvis eagerly caught up
the refrain in a rough bass
III they're searchin'.' he said. md
I likely they are, they might hear that
from the old shaft. Anyhow. a hymn
does no harm the way we are
But no one heard The hours drag.
ged on; the black water slept at their
feet neither rising nor falling an inch
Whether It was night or morning they
did not know. At intervals Ben sang
the hymns he knew best. tapping in
unison on the wall with his pick. aud
Slmons crouched silently beside him.
/ while Jarvis Joined In. All at once the
latter clutched Ben. Listen. listenr
he cried. and far. far away a sound as
OF tap on the wall was heard and re-
i peated distinctly as they listened.
They've heard u.s." said Jarvis ca
gerly.
but they're far away. Maybe the
old shaft is farther away than I
thought"
"Our lamps are goin' out" said ST.
mons grimly, =" nd we've not been here
half a day They can't reach US under
a week from that FAR away" Then he
said no more. relapsing into the same
heavy silence as If lie had no hope and
cared nothing for the outcome.
Continued faronf tapping could now
be heard Evidently the pickmen OF
the rescuing party were at work The
lamps in the caps of the three went
out for lack OF oil. and all was dark
Jarvis curled up closer and sank or TO
sleep. snoring loudly. Ben. uplifted
; by the thought that friends we're toll
ing TO reach them. began to sing soft.
!, ~ the hymn he loved best. Rock Of
!, Ages" In the dark he felt hand laid
= trembling on his arm.
/ Don't sing that said a shaken voice
4 -Simons voice Il can't stand Il.
!. Joyce-I can't stand t."
Ben stopped. astonished.. The hand
remained on his arm. and the voice
. went on. II may as we'll tell you. !
T.. hes
] that I'm shut up here TO die-to meet
my God. The rest Of you deserve to
. live: l don't. Joyce. was once q
I Christian man. | had a good wife
I've sat with her nd sung that hymn
lit was her favOrite-many a time
md meant every word Of It. But I fell
into temptation. nd | broke Gods law
md broke her heart too. She died
while l was off among bad company
They sang that hymn at her funeral
but ] hardened my heart against it,
against the memory Of her. against
God. I've been worse than an unbe-
lever ever since But now I'm face
TO face with the end-'ud with God
I'm not goin' into eternity. Joyce. with
a lie on my lips What told you to
day wasn't so. ] do believe in a God
a Just God. nd | want TO say So"
"He is Just" said Ben. lie is faith
ful and just to forgive US our sins
Simons"
Ben said no more. for Jarvis stirred
and woke. The faraway picks work
ed on: the slow hours dragged in the
foul smelling dark. They had no food
no light. no chance to move from theil
cramped position. Before another day
passed Jarvis became half delirious
from fatigue aud bad air. To sootht
his wanderinrs and to keep up his
own courage Ben sang the old hymns
over and over again. When in til,
darkness he was singing the last verse
OF Just as ] Am" faltering voice
Joined his and then broke down.
81 amt it to sing it," said Simons
gasping. but 1t seems as II had TO
I can't live 10 show folks I'm Chris
. tian again. md I'm no good-just I
dyin' sinner Such as | am. Lord, b'
merciful to me. a sinner But ef
only had chance TO do somethin' 10
him. Joyce, I'd feel better"
His chance came later. when Ben
too. grew light headed With infinite
!, patience Simons tended the two othe
men. holding Jarvis in his arms like 1
= child 70 keep him from plunging int
the water aud drowning himself in hi
= delirium and wrapping his own Goa
around Ben when be went FROM Re
H. YER into chill OF exhaustion. Th'
, tapping OF the picks drew nearer an'
u ever nearer. How long had it been
e two days, two weeks. a month? ii
J. mons mind. too. began TO grow con
fused. He steadied It by repeating
e over to himself the hymns. the Bib
v verses he remembered. and he wa
?. thus whispering over the Twenty-thr'
Psalm when the rescuers reached tn
j spot and strong arms lifted the thrc
e starving. exhausted sufferers into ligh
A and safety.
L It was broad daylight. and the bell
were ringing in the little church acros
+ the valley. The young minister wa
Is not there. however He was at tn
It mouth Of the old shaft. as grimy
K worker as any. helping TO bear the res
d cned men into the sunshine. Be-
d Joyce. reviving. looked up at him
n IT'S Easter day. joyce said the min
s. lister. "and wen have you singing Il
u the choir tonight"
IT Ben plucked feebly at Simon'
10 sleeve "Youll sing. too" he said. an