The Dolores star., 1913-05-02

through the dark clouds that hung
over him Even though that were
their last meeting, what matter. 20
long a. Mary loved himY
He forced his way through the
screaming. frantic women. pushing
them back ~ gently ns was possible,
and made his way through the guards
10 the pit head. The elevator was
Just emerging out OF the caverrous
gloom. OF the ten vol 'nteers. but
seven had returned; they Brought 1--WE
men with them-fve living men. Hut
there was no Sturgis there.
His demands elected no informa.
ton. Nobody had seen Sturgis.
Four OF the victims and three OF
the volunteers still remained below.
In that gloomy. subterranean world.
disorganized by the fact that the ex.
piosion had occurred at closing Tina
when all were making for the mouth
of the shaft, II was each for himself.
None knew where his comrade lay.
As the elevator waited at the en-.
trance Pascoe and half . dozen more
toiuutGOTU CihUSu Iut uuttOu
was pressed and the cage shot toward
the earth.
II halted where the slope ceased.
and the men disappeared In the gloom.
shouting to. one another Pascoe did
not h.ar them. They knew the scene
Of the accident-but he was bent upon
. Jingle quest. He ran lightly over
the masses OF fallen slate and shale
which choked the entrance to Sturgls
new heading. and then, crouching,
made his way cautiously under the
overhanging, untimbered rocks. Far
behind him tiny electric lights twink
led. q cluster OF fairy lamps. but theii
light did not penetrate into these sub
terranean recesses. Sometimes Pas
coe. advancing now ut q snails pace
With arms outstretched. collided with
houlders. sharp OF edge and jagged
nj tooth. which bruised and cut him:
then again he was climbing upon
masses OF disrupted ciin. blasted b,
stursis and not yet removed from the
irregular gallery.
Then. just A. Pascoe found the mar
rowing tunnel too small 10 permit fur
thes progress. he heard . feeble an.
swer to his cry. He turned and CROPPED
his way toward the source OF II.
stumbled over . body. and found him
self kneeling ut sturgis' side.
Thank Cod" he shouted with the
Joy that comes TO all men who are
given the saving OF human life. AZ
that moment he forgot Mary. forgot
the years Of slow cruelty. the rsciess
) nsssao % TO- aas lying at his feet.
whose death would give hack thu 10Y
Of living to both Of them. Are yos
hurt, Sturgis?" he shouted.
my legs are broken. 7 think" the
miner answered. Somebody shouted
IRE damp at the end OF the gallery.
and ] ran out TO see. passed near
somebody's fuse. The dog had left II
burning. and taken TO his heels. !
got the charge and the rock. Who are
yous"
Pascoe did not reply TO this ques.
ton. I'm going To hoist you on my
back" he said. Get your arms
'ound my neck and bend your head
% the level OF mine. TO avc:d bump
Ing. Ready! Now"
Sturgis groaned m Pascoe raised
him. and his legs traiied uselessly.
Pascoe forbore to touch them: thus
the labor was almost intolerable lilo
fought his way almost by inches out
OF that Inferno until the twinkiips
lights In the distance began TO sepa.
rate and the central gallery ap
psarsd.
He was almost upon II when sud
denly his tongue seemed 20 nll his
throat; he could not breathe. lie
heard the man on his back cry once
and begin choking. Pascoe knew
well what had happened. They had
run into stratum Of IRE damp. which
had Uttered out Of It's gallery into tho
central passage.
Purple In the face. unable 10 draw
. breath. he staggered on with an II.
fort almost superhuman. He felt his
lungs bursting: then all Mt once he
was drawing In great kasps Of air
again. and tho distant shaft appeared.
. slimmerinE thing. ghostly In the
obscurity.
He did not dare set sturgis down.
for the deadly fre damp might be
upon them ut any moment again. be-
sides. the pain In his injured legs
would become intolerabie with further
handling. lie heard the mans quick.
sharp intakes OF breath and stumbled
onward. lie had covered thirty PAGES
when the nrc damp was upon him
again.
lie felt his senses leaving him.
The lights In tho distance changed Into
swinging ianterns He knew that hs
could 20 no further. Very gently he
tell 10 his knees. letting Sturgis' body
slide Oh bis back upon the ground.
Ills last thoughts would b. Of Mary:
he thanked God that he had been PER.
mitted 10 see her once again.
A.