The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1916-02-25

N EANiNb his task OF searching for
the trouble In the mechanism
Of the motor Quabba slipped
~" around to the back Of II and
pushed the little machine, with many
grunts aud stmlnlng efforts. from the
dangerous spot near the vet blast and
liz 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 hnch under the electric Hight by the
set blast and. scizlng the biast battery
10y rs leather handle aud uncolllng the
loops Ut wire the other ends Of which
were fastened deep down IN the blast
holes to the dclonntor In the dynamite
Quabba slipped back through the dark
hess aud called to Esther In n tense
whisper 10 come around behind the
shielding bulk " the motor with him.
From the blast battery box hc carried
trnilcd 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 cxultnnt shouts; then
Just as they reached the Wide space
where the blast was set at the new
heading Qunbba, hundred yards
away aud shielded, with Esther he
hind the motor drove the plungcr ~
the battery down swift and hard
There was o. dcafcning boom and
crash. burst Of fire. the sound OF
showcrIng rocks. n heavy flll Of earth
aud debris that seemed to hcnvc out
aud grunn and rattle aud sctile-then
choking fog Of blast smoke and 81
lcncc
Whatever had been the matter with
the motor. the shock aud Jar N the ex
nloslon had settled the looscncd wire
back In place to proper contact, for
when. shaking with fright aud excite
mcnt. Qunbha had dragged Esther
aboard the motor again and turned the
lever the little machine moved forward
like living thing, slowly ut first aud
then, gaining speed, glidcd smoothly
aud swiftly out Of the smoke and on
aud on. swlftcr. faster. until the bunch.
back and the trembling girl felt
breath Of fresh air from outside blow
upon them and saw CLEAN Of day
light aud sped on and out from the
dark mouth u the mine into Gods
good sunlight
The men called To this side Of the
mountain to the new workings were
astoundcd at the appearance Of 50
strange a pair bursting out from the
tunnel aud speeding down the track on
the electric motor that had been left
ut the other aud far OH portal Of the
tunnel. The truckmrn dropped their
tools The mine foreman and his wife
joined with the throng Of miners that
surgcd around the motor and the
strange pair that drove It.
They told their wild story to sympa.
thctic ears. Turning Esther over To
the miuIstcrIng attentions of the big
hearted sharcr of his joys aud sorrows,
the mine boss aud several assistants
reversed the motor aud drove back res
olutcly into the mine depths to find the
men whom Esther and Quabba told OF
They returned ut nlgh;,nll having
cleared away the debris u the blast
hut finding NO truce Of Luke Lowell
aud Blair stanley The wicked have
luck alike with the good AZ the edge
uf the blast Blair Stanley had been
strucl, down aud hurt slightly and
Luke had borne him back through the
choking smosc all the weary way,
whence they had come, until they, too.
reached thr daylight and safety as
Esther aud Qunbba had reached IL, but
ou the Ear side of the mountain mine
That uIght by the fire In the Office
shack OF the mine boss Esther and
Qulbha told again such parts Of their