Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1916-01-27
CHAPTER XXI.

- EANlNG MS TASK OF Se"' '"i"- 'N'
the trouble in the mechanism
of the motor. Quabba slipped
h@ aronIVl to the back Of it and
pushed the little machine. with many
crunts and straining efforts from the
dangerous spot near the set blast anu
its warning sign.
Pushing and painting. he showed the
heavy little machine over the water
covered tracks hundred yards or
more down the tunnel Then he rush
ed back under the electric light by the
set blast and. Selling the blast battery
by its leather handle and uncoiling the
loops Of wire. the other ends OF which
were fastened deep down In the blast
holes TO the detOnator in the dynamite.
Quabba slipped back through the dark
ness and called to Esther In tense
whisper to come around behind the
shielding bulk Of the motor with him.
From the blast battery box he carried
trailed the length OF wire that would
carry the vital spark of the forces of
destruction.
Now Blair Stanley and Luke Lowell
had located them by the single light
upon the electric motor They pressed
forward with eXultatt then
Just rs they reached the wide space
where the blast was set at the new
heading Quabba. hundred yards
away ana shielded. with Esther, be
hind the motor. drove the plunger Of
the battery down swift and hard
There was n deafening boom and
crash. a burst OF tire. the sound Of
showering rocks Il heavy fall of earth
and debris that seemed to heave out
and groan and rattle and settle-then
choking fog Of blast smoke and 81
lence.
Whatever had been the matter with
the motor. the shock and jar Of the ex
plosion had settled the lOoseued wire
back in place 10 Il proper contact. for
when shaking with fright and excite
ment. Quabba had dragged Esther
aboard the motor again and turned the
lever the little machine moved forward
like a living thing. slowly at first and
then gaining speed. glided smoothly
and swiftly out of the smoke and on
and Oh, swifter. faster. until the hunch-
back and the trembling glrl felt q
breath Of fresh air from outside blow
upon them and saw CLEAN Of day.
light and sped on and out from the
dark mouth of the mine into God $
good sunlight.
The men called to this side OF the
mountain to the new workings were
astounded ut the appearance OF 50
strange Il pair bursting out from the
tunnel and speeding down the track on
the electric motor that had been left
at the other and far of portal OF the
tunnel The ekmen dropped their
tools. The mine foreman and his Nile
joined with the thron- Of miners that
surged around the motor aud the
strange pair that drove It.
They told their wild story to sympa
thetic ears. Turning Esther over to
the ministerius attentions Of the biz
hearted sharcr of his joys and sorrows.
the mine boss and several assistants
reversed the motor and drove back res
olutely into the mine depths to lind the
men whom Esther and Quabba told OF
They returned at ni-htfall. having
cleared away the debris Of the blast.
but finding no trace of Luke Lowell
and Blair Stanley. The wicked have
luck alike with the good. At the edge
af Ia
struck down and hurt slightly. and
Luke had borne him back through the
choking smoke all the weary way.
whence they had come until they. too.
reached the daylight and safety. az
Esther and Quabba had reached it. but
on the far side of the mountain mine.
That night by the fire in the Office
shack of the mine boss Esther and
Quabba told again such parts Of their