The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1922-12-09
CHAPTER xvlIl-continued.


They reached the mouth Of the Sill
yer Queen. Harry reconnoitered
moment before he gave the signal to
proceed. Within the tunnel they went,
b follow along its regular, rising
course to the stope where, on that
xarish day when Taylor Bill and
Biindeye Bozeman had led the enthu-
siastic parade through the streets, the
vein had shown. It was dark there
no one was at work. Harry unlocked
his carbide from his belt. lit 1t and
looked around.
.gt amt coming from 'ere!" he an
nounced. ats" then his voice
dropped to a whisper-"what's thatF'
Again a rumbling had come from
distance, as Of an ore car travelling
uyer the tram tracks. Harry extin-
Kuished his light, and drawing Anita
and Fairchild far to the end OF the
utope. fattened them and himself on
the ground. A long wait, while the
Stumbling came closer. still closer;
then. in the distance, light appeared.
shining from q side Of the tunnel. A
Changing noise, followed by clatter-
inr sounds, as though of steel rails
hitting against each other. Finally
the tramming once more-and the
Hight approached.
Into view came an ore car, and be-
mind It doomed the great form of Tay-
Tor Bill as he pushed It along. Straight
70 the PIE of ore he came, unlocked
the front of the tram. tripped 1t and
paIed the contents of the car on top
Of the dump which already rested
there. With that, carbide pointing the
way. he turned back, pushing the tram
before him. Harry crept to his feet.
"We've got to follow !" he whispered
tits q blind entrance to the tunnel
som'eres."
They rose and trailed the light along
sfhe tracks, fiattening themselves
against the timbers of the tunnel as
the form Of Taylor Bill, family out.
lined in the distance, turned from the
regular track, opened great door in
fhe side Of the tunnel, wliGa, to all
appearances, was nothing mere than
the ordinary heavy timbering Of 9
weak spot in the rocks, pulled 1t fal
hack. then swerved the tram within
Then. he stopped and raised a port
able gwitch, throwing II into The open
ln1. A second later the door closed
behir.d him, and the sound tf the tran
began to fade in the distance. Harr,
went forward, creeping along the sid
of the tunnel, feeling his way, stop
ming to listen now and then for thu
sound OF the fading ore car. BEHIND
him were Fairchild and Anita, follow
1ng the same procedure. And all thre'
stopped at once.
The hollow sound was coming d
irecfly to them now. Harry once NOR
brousfN out his carbide to light it TO
4 moment and to examine the tim
beEinx.
-It.s d good job r. ne commented
..Yoa couldn't tell It I'VE feet on"
They've made cross-cut !" Thi
zine Il was Anita's voice. plainly an
NJ In spite Of its whispering tones
NO wonder they had such wonder
~ strike came scathingly. ''Tha
SGhe1 stope down there"
~Aln't nothing but sailed propc
xatfcn, said Harry. They've cement
"a up the top Of # with the real stui
and every once In q while they blow
- Of 1t out and cement II up agai
- make It look ike thst's the rea
vein
And they're working our mine!
Rcd spots Of anger were flashing b.
Tore Eairchild's eyes.
ssYcu'ye said It That's why the
4ure % anxious to buy rs out. An