Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-24
BY ROY NORTON

but Uncle Brown, you will know I'm angry. So
in time WEI"
"Of course you be- insisted Hardpan ave wouldn't
have fired them last shots without you BEN here,
would we? Well, | should say mott
They stood the brink of the shaft and listened.
The heavy sound OF running feet echoing hoowly told
them that someone was coming It was Frenchy Who
ave all set! Whenever you ready!'
"Then go ahead and touch EN- off bawled Hardpan
down the shaft, and the heavy footsteps dumped back
and lost in the underearth. There long watt
and this time two appeared at the foot of the ladder
and climbed slowly upward. They scarcely at the
top when the earth shook and its hollow note and
a rush of air upward told that the blasts had been
ploded The air beched out of the shafts mouth with
unwonted vigor. 1t seemed to be followed by per-
ssent draft. The fumes disspated if by wind pres
sure and they stood smiling at one another.
You first, Miss Waters said Jim, reckoning to the
ladder, and she daintily hurried to it and began
her descent.
The engineer followed. Jim went after them, and
gave each candle; but observed joyously that the
draft strong that the flames had to be shielded
The air cool and sweet Their voices echoed jub
lany they formed the underground procession and
advanced toward the points of contact. Then they
stood STILL and their faces, smiling, toward
other in the great opening where the tunnels had been
connected. Eve the first to step through, lifting
her skirts she picked her way the fallen rock
Holloway followed and as Jim came through held out
his hand.
@You told you not engineer, he said
warmly. "Why, King, you have run them together
within SIX 1nCheS You've fOretOld the shot that would
do it! What more do you want? No university could
teach you better than that. congratulate you, old
mani"
Eve dropped her candle to the floor of the tunnel and
seized one of Jims hands in both her II knew
you would do t!' she declared and then stopped
to the light, which guttering at her feet
i'm felt singulary speeches. and embarrassed as he
heard Hardpan exutng and the voices of other men
joining praise of his work. He covered it by saving,
@Wel, let's walk through and the other side"
Eve ran ahead to be- as she insisted the first to
w thew
the edge of the dump that had been begun so many
months before. Below them the gulch appeared more
portenous, if had resisted to the last Some spell
of silence sobered them. and they turned and walked
slowly back through the long bore that had been
daringly made Again, at the mouth of the shaft by
the lake. and standing the brink of the pit by the
cofferdam, they shook hands in congratulations Hard
pan and Jim accompanied the visitors to the beginning
of the mountain trail; while the other members of the
force went back into the drift to make the last cleanup
to pick away the last shattered rocks and prepare for
the onruSh of water.
@Now you want to be and be here by one o'clock
tomorrer afternoon, Miss Eve" commanded Hardpan
they parting. 3And say he walked closer and
whispered in her ear but in voice loud enough to be
heard hundred feet away take this five and bring
bottle of some sort of wine. We're goin to let you
crack it over the gate when we turn the water in It's
for luck! See?'
She nodded with great air of secrecy smiled at Tim
and turned away He stood and watched her out of
sight, then followed his partner thoughtfully back
the trail 1t hard for him to relinquish the great
hope that had grown in his heart through SO many
months of work and ambition. Yet he faced it courage
ousy-pitifully courageous he in this hour of tri
umph and despair.
A drop of rain fell. Nature seemed to be dampening
their victory Another drop fell after an interval and
slowly steadily, the evening advanced with persistent
downpour The wind and drove it in sheets by the
time they entered the messhouse for their supper.
Later Jim and Hardpan, in their cabin felt the in
creasing violence of the storm, the water dashed
against the windowpanes. The lightning fared per-
petuay in the skies, Lighting up the breast of the little
lake. the of the peaks and shouettng the tops OF
the trees they swayed wildly against the skyline
They sat inside the ROOM looking out now and then,
but filled with great content. Tomorrow would see
the opening of the gates 1t was the beginning of