The St. Charles herald., 1922-11-11
CHAPTER xtv-continued.

q
him. The Rodaines had known of this
strike long before he ever went to
that Office in Denver. They had wait
ed long enough to have their assays
made and had completed their first
shipment to the smelter. There was
no necessity that they buy the Blue
Poppy mine. Therefore, was it simply
another trick to break him, to lead
him up to point of high expecta-
tions, then, with laugh at his dis
appointment, throw him down again?
His shoulders Strengthened as they
reached the outside air. and he moved
close to Harry es he told him his con-
lectures. The Cornishman bobbed
his head
II never thought Of 1t that wye!"
he agreed. "But 1t could explain lot
Of things They want to beat Us and
they don't care 'ow. 1t 'urts person
to be disappointed. That's IT. / al
wyes said you 'ad good 'ead on
you! That's 1t. Let's go back to the
Blue Poppy"
Back they went, once more to de-
scend the shaft, once more to follow
the trail along the drift toward the
opening Of the stope. And there,
where loose earth covered the place
where a skeleton once had rested.
Fairchild took Off his coat and rolled
up his sleeves.
Harry" he said, with a new deter
mination, "this vein doesn't look like
much, and the mine looks worse. But
II you're game, I'm game, and wen
work the thing until 1t breaks u.s."
"You've said it. If we 1t anything,
fine and well-if we can turn out five
thousand dollars worth of stuff be-
fore the trial comes up, then we can
sell hit under the direction of the
court, turn over that money for cash
bond. and get the deeds back. II we
can't, and IL the mine peters out. then
we amt lost anything but lot OF
'opes and time. But ere goes. Wen
double jack. I've got big 'ammer
ere. You 'old the drill for awhile and
turn II, while / sling tn sledge. Then
Won take tn 'ammer and Lor' ave
mercy on my 'ands II you miss"
Fairchild obeyed. Hour after hour
they worked. Then, as the afternoon
grew late, Harry disappeared far
down the drift to return with a hand
full Of greasy, candlelike things.
wrapped in waxed paper.
"T knew that dynamite OF yours
couldn't be shipped in time. 80 !
bought a little up ERE" he explained,
as he cut one Of the sticks in two
with a pocketknife and laid the pieces
TO one side. Then out came a coil OF
fuse, to be cut to its regular lengths
and inserted IN the copper-covered
caps Of illuminate of mercury, Harry
showing his contempt for the danger.
ous things by crimping them about
the fuse with his teeth, while Fair.
child, sitting on small pile OF muck
nearby, begged for caution. But Harry
only grinned behind his big mustache
and went on.
Out came his pocketknife again al
he slit the waxed paper OF the geiat
inous sticks, then inserted the cap II
the dynamite. One after another tn
charges were showed into the holes
Harry tamping them into place with
steel rod, instead Of with the usua
wooden affair. his mustache brushing
his shoulder as he turned to explain
the virtues OF dynamite when handled
by an expert.
TITS all in the wye you do IT," ~
announced. "If you don't strike mr.
with a steel rod, It's fne.
.sBut II you do?"
aOh. then I" Harry laughed. Thel
IFS flowers and a funeral-afte
they've finished picking you up"
One after another he pressed Tn
dynamite charges tight into the dril
holes and tamped them with muc
wrapped In q newspaper that
dragged from his hip pocket. Ihe
he liz the fuses from his lamp an
stood a second In assurance that the
ell were spluttering.
snow we runw he announced, an
they hurried, side by side, down IN
drift tunnel until they reached 70
shaft. "Far enough" said Harry.
A long moment of waiting. Inc
the earth quivered and INJURIES
booming roar came from the dlstanc
Harry stared at his carbide lamp.
.one.. he announced. Then, TWO
Three, four and Ave. followed. z
counted seriously, carefully BY HarT
-,,,- xhc., <rsruod hack along ff