The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1916-07-15
ELEVENTH EPISODE
The Saving Of Dan 0'Mara

Young Peggy OMara was troubled
in mind. She had become suspicious
OF her own father. On more than one
occasion OF late that debt-harried
toiier from the Appiewaithe works
had been visited by a stranger who Inn
pressed the sophisticated young Peggy
as anything but attractive. And an
honest man. Peggy argued with her
self, finds no need for stealing up TO
a house At night and closeting himself
with IT'S owner. behind the locked door
OF cellar workroom. go the spindle
legged daughter or Dan O'Msrs. watch-
Ing for her chance. decided to investi-
gate.
But the girls chances for investt
CATION were limited. for Pesgy was q
hard-driven young housekeeper, with a
bedridden mother to look after as best
she could. Late one night, however,
whom Dan O'Mara had led bis myste-
rious visitor into his cellar workroom
and locked the door behind him, the
girl slipped OF her brokentoed shoes
and stole silently down TO that under
ground chamber OF mystery.
There with her ear TO the keyhole,
che overheard enough to confirm her
darkest suspicious. She waited until
the mysterious visitor had stolen out
through the house, with parcel under
his arm, and then once more made her
way down TO her fathers workroom.
The door, this time, was unlocked. So
she entered noiselessly and crept over
TO where Dan O'Mara sat staring at
the wall with unseeing eyes.
Pop, what're you thinkin' about?'
suddenly asked a tremulous voice
close to his shoulder.
He swung about like a shot
What should | be thinkin' about?'
he demanded
You're thinkin' about that man who
was down here ten minutes ago." was
the girls answer.
What man?" equivocated the cul-
prit.
Chinatown Charlie"
And how'd you know he's called
Chinatown Charlie?" demanded rebel
llous-eyed Dan O'Mara.
Il know moren that, pop said the
girl, with a gulp. Il know that city
crooks ropin' you in for work / never
thought you'd dol"
Work? What work."
There's a bunch OF opium SNUG
giers got wise TO the fact that the dye
works Ia bringin' In tons OF that Kali
SOW wood from China. And certain o
them blocks is goin' TO come In hol'
low with secret marks. and you're
KoIn' TO dig the opium out o. them and
hide Il here until that hop runner for
Chinatown Charlie comes and carries
N away In a laundry bag"
"Aint your mother got to have med
icine?" demanded her father. "Ain't
we behind In our rent? And Amt the
company locked me ten month since
that one-armed man had me machine
work taken away from me7"
But you'll have more'n your ma
chine taken away from you. pop
You'll be eusered with the company
for tsmperin with stock. and then the
bulls II get wise and send you MP the
river for smugglin'!"
T've thought that out. me gerh. I've
no love for goin against the law. al
me time o. life. bat | guess we've go'
to take chances. We've got TO. or &C
under for good and all! For I'm think
In your poor mother was right wher
she said there was no crime so black
A the crime o. bein' poori"
But they'd promised 10 raise your
par, eyer TO the dye worksl" she 70
mo him.
gtead o. which they took on me
machine and gave II to that one-armet
snitch who claimed I'd been workin
.asainst the company by tryin' TO In
%ent a chemical color thatd soon b.
sendin' their old Iogwood plant 1 th'
scrap heap"
silent an Peggy o'Mara remained
on thel subject OF her discovery. sh'
brooded Tong and darkiy on this heav
Ter cloud. that hung over her home ans
her fathers good name. II haunte'
her thoughts as she worked. II flle'
her blind young heart with spirit o
revolt. II converted her into al
minutlve yet iowering.browed lshmaaI