The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-09-25
By ROY l.. Me CARDELL
" Roy L. ncCaraeH

| up and anchor weighed. the yacht was
| ready to start off on its first voyage
under the command OF its new owner,
| John Powell.
| Far away I'm the Sierras, in that wild
region where lie the Lady Veronica
mines, owned, like the great white
yacht in Santa Barbara bay. by John
Powell, another fair but younger wo.
man seeks also this fortunate young
man. Reused from the slumber of ex.
haustion, Esther and Quabba FASTENED
along the mountain road toward the
now deserted mine BY some unfortu.
nate chance the evil pair who pursued
and who had lost them in the flight In
the night now sighted them again
| Quabba was first to sense the renewed
pursuit. There Is Blair Stanley and
Luke BOvell!" he cried. Esther gath
cred up her skirts and ran like young
frightened fawn beside her faithful
protector
"The mine l. not far away. We
heard the whistle at daybreak quite
plainly" Esther painted. Arthur is
there. Arthur will save us"
But she little knew there was none to
save her at the place Of refuge. Arthur
was far away. and a designing and I'M
scrupulous. beautiful woman was con-
summarizing n desperate plan TO ensnare
him.
Nearer and nearer came the speeding
Luke and Blair. Quabba seized Esther
by the hand and turned sharply down
the rocky hillside where the sheds at
the mine mouth could be seen at the
bottom of the wild gorge far below.
over rock and shrub. down the dizzy
hillside, Quabba and Esther fed. But
the more sturdy and agile Luke and
Blair gained on them.
Suddenly Quabba held back himself
and Esther with an effort. They had
reached the upper anchorage OF the
cable carrier across the gorge. Here
the empty ore cradle hung upon the
pulleys just as the ore shippers at the
outcrop left 1t when summoned. with
the other workmen, to proceed through
the tunnel in the mountains to the new
workings on the other side. four miles
straight through the very heart of the
hills.
quick" gasped Quabba, clambering
nimbly into the ore carrier and helping
the almost equally active Esther up be-
side him.
Just as the hand of Luke Lowell
clutched ut the carrier Quabba lifted
the catch. and the ore carrier started
across the cable and darted with in
crcasing momentum over the deep, wild
gorge and the rocky, turbulent stream
that roared beneath them. The cable
sways. the wheels to the ore cradle
} hum as they spin. over the sickenlng
) height, borne by the thin line of the
cable, go the frightened girl and the
} devoted Quabba. while the desperate
Blair and his gypsy accomplice curse
each other and the flying fugitives on
their swift and perilous flight down the
; mountain.
At the lower anchorage ut the other
side of the canyon the aerial tram
stops with sudden shock that almost
precipitates its occupants TO the ground
beneath. Recovering, Quabba and Els.
Their climb out ana hasten around from
| the llIllt anu DuCh W tue OlUef
side of the gorge TO the mine mouth.
: This time they cross by n trestle built
TO carry the mine cars from the tunnel
to the tipple. Luke and Blair mean
while have plunged down from the up.
per anchorage of the aerial tramwny
to the river and forded their way
across as best they can and reach the
other side only to see their quarry Is
doubling back over the high trestle to
the tunnel mouth.
Reaching the mine opening ut the
trestle end, one glance shows to Quab
ba and Esther that the workings here
are deserted. There is no help. Not
even Waterman or mine guard has
been left behind In the exodus to the
other workings through the mine tun.
mel under the mountain. Now, while
they halt and hesitate, Luke and Blair
have seen the helplessness of the fugi.
tives.
"There Is no one at the mine. A
strike or an accident In the tunnel has
called away every man." pants Blair
1--WE will have them yet, and this time
we win not take the girls word that
|
her person" And Luke Lowell echoed,
1--WE will have them yet!'
They are half across the trestle when
Quabba, inspired by despair, notices
the little electric engine by the mine
mouth. He has not TO speak 10 Esther
as he seats himself In the drivers seat,
for Esther climbs up and sits beside
him. A turn of the controller proves
the power is on. and the little, low,
heavy motor gliles off like thing of
life, grinding and showering sparks
from the overhead feed wires into the
narrow, dark depth Of the tunnel In
they go, into the darkened heart of the
hills.
After them, foundering and cursing
over the ties and through the mud aud
water Of the mine, painting and swear