Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-05-18

II was WIN ueClucu HrnlnC5S tndt
Randall Gregory, mine manager spoke.
It was with rcscntful lips and deep
scowl that William Dale faced him.
"DOn't stand in your own light. Greg
ory," he uttered, and there was hid
den snarl IN his tone.
"Tm not thinking of that" declared
the young manager freely. MY mind
is with tho men. You order the old
shaft pierced 1t cannot he tapped
above the two-hundred foot level
There isn't man in the gangs you
could hire to go down Old Seven. They
know that poisoned air, fire damp
sure death lie at the bottom of the
abandoned shaft"
"Oh, they always say that" retortcd
Dale irritably. II don't ask them to go
down Seven. want the wall pierced
50 we can break through across it to
tho new lode"
"Why not work around it In the
regular way" challenged Gregory.
And waste over ten thousand dol
lars :"
"a dozen lives arc worth more than
that" suggested Gregory, steadily.
Dale lost all patience with him. He
looked ugly and menacing as ne
asked with an angry catch in his voice:
"DO you refuse to do it,
The Implied Threat
"Positively. Mr.. Itansom the prcsi-
dent Of the, company. may do SOL VIII
not take the responsibility
But it is his expectancy to have the
work accomplished by this time next
week when he returns He is bringing
some capitalists with him, Your du'
fear" added Dale. as if he WAS pre-
sentIng clinChing argument "hesta-
tion on your part may lead to the loss
Of his confidence and-well, that also
of his family"
Gregory bowed with dignity and was
silent, but he left the office fully aware
Of the Significance Of those last words.
They referred to Miss Beatrice Ran
som, daughter and heirrss of the rich
and powerful owner of the Blythes-
dale coal mines.
The allusion had disturbed Gregory.
As he proceeded on his way his brain
was hard at work, seeking 10 devise
some method of tapping the new vein
without risk There was way and
ne had suggested it. but il involved
two months labor and considerable eX-
pcnse.
ON his way to the shaft house the
young manager paused in front of ono
OF the numerous wretched shaCks that
lined the road. small, poor crowd
surrounded tn" place. IN the front yard
we're n score or more of the household
articles, such as beds, a cupboard, chairs
and tables.
4 little white-faccd crippled child
sat on tho bench just outside of tn"
door. her Crutchcs by her side stand
ing near her was holow-eyed man,
apparently her father. His eyes We're
swollen with despair as he viewed the
proceedings about him.
zone Of our workers. remember
him. soliloquized Gregory becoming in
tCrCSted, "Oh, | see :"
Tackled to a tree was a legal notice
Of eviction and the seizure of Chattels
for delinquent rent. This was COM
mon occurrence at the mines. In this
the pitiable helplessncss of the little
child and the fOrlorn bearing of the old
man appealed strongly to the mine man.
ager
"What do you say" shouted the
au .'aneer. taking up hird-cage and
swinging it within the sight of his au-
dienCe. Cage and bird canary.
Looks. like a singer. What am l Of
fercd?"
The cage was Of the commonest, its
fcathered occupant as neglected looking
and cheerlcss as it's owners.
"Oh. papa. spoke the little girl in
pleading, fearful tones, don't let them
sell poor dear DiCky :"
Robert Gregory moved to the side OF
the old man.
Don't / know you?" he spoke
quickly.
You put me on watch duty nights.
sir" was the response, but the old
rhcumatiCs laid me up. We came from
the Dexter, coal district when they shut
down and had no money. What you so
kindly allowed me to earn here is all
gone, and they're taking our poor be-
longngs for rent"
"Ill stop that spoke Gregory firmly.
Don't cry, little one. You shant lose
your pet bird"
Robert Gregory was as good as his
word. Inside of five minutes the claim
upon which the sale was based was
paid out of his own pocket, the goods
restored to the house, and he was more
than embarrassed at the overwhelming
gratitude of his poor pensioners.
The little child had the bird out of
its cage and was caressing it as if it
were a petted child.
You don't, know about Dicky," ex-
planned the old man. He's a hero. he
mines twice We sent him into the shafts,
and twice he came out, staggered and
nearly gone, We knew what that meant,
Sir--tire damp"
Gregory. He had read once of these
trained mine birds. For some time he
piled the old man with questions re-
garding the capabilities of the feathered
pet.
can he do it," exclaimed the old
man-"could he tell how things are in
the old shaft Seven? Why. sir, I'll be
glad to try the experiment"
The Test
Two hours later do zen curious
miners watched proceeding unique and
myStifying to their point of view
Old John Dean had not boasted vain
ly of DiCliy and his clever abilities The
little bird stood on his finger, head on
one side, watching him as if listening to
an understood mandate as a board was
pulled away from the shaft top
Then, with a bright Cheep DiCky
plunged straight down into the gloom
and darkness.
Five minutes. ten minutes-no token
of the return of the messenger. Fiji
teen minutes! John Dean looked grave
and anxious.
Then a great wave of excitement
passed over the gathered throng as
there futtered into view a wavering
splash of yellow-Dicky.
The bird barely got through the aper-
ture. Its head dropped. its wings folded
1t sank, helpless lump, to the ground.
Its eyes moved once or twice, it straight
ened out rigid