The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-12-21
CHAPTER xviI-con,lnued.

the sting or the batteries. An hOuf
passed. two: gradually Harry came to
himself. TO stare about him ia a won
dering. vacant manner and then TO
fasten his eyes upon Fairchild. He
seemed to be struggling for speech, for
coordination OF ideas. Finally. after
many minutes
That's you. BoyT
Yes. Harry"
"But where are we7"
Were In a hospital. and you're
knocked out. Don't you know where
you've beenT"
II don't know anything since slid
down the wall"
"Since you whatT"
But Harry had lapsed into semi
consciousness again. And 1t was not
until late in the night after the rescue,
following a few hours OF rest forced
upon him by the inferno. that Fair
child once more could converse with
his stricken partner
"It's something I'll ave to show you
TO explain" said Harry. 81 can't tell
you about Il. You know where that
little fissure is In the Angling walt,
away back in the stopeT
yes
swell, that's II. That's where got
out"
"But what happened before thatT'
"what didn't 'appenT asked Harry.
with a painful grin. Everything In
the world 'appened. but what did
the ASSAY showT"
FaIrchild reached forth and laid a
hand on the brawny one Of his part
ner.
Were rich, Harry" he said. ''richer
than | ever dreamed we could be. The
ores as good as that OF the Silver
Queenw
"The bloody ell II isl" Then Harry
dropped back on his pillow for long
tIiue and simply grlnned at the cell.
ing. Somewhat anxious, Fairchild
leaned forward. but his partners eyes
were open and smiling. I'm just let
ting 1t sink in" he announced, and
Falrchild was silent, saving his ques-
tIons until ''it" had sunk. Then:
You were saying something about
that fissureT'
"But there Is other things first.
After you went to the assayers. l
fooled around there in the chamber,
and thought I'd just take flyer and
blow up them 'oles that I'd drilled In
the 'auging wall at the same time that
shot the other. SO | put In the
powder and fuses, tamped 'em down
4HE A.
somebody moving around In the drift.
But | didn't pay any attention TO 1t
you know. I was busy and all that.
and you often ear noises that sound
funny. So I set 'em on-that Is, | lit
the fuses and ! started TO run. Well.
'adn't any more'n started when
bloeyy-y-y. right in front Of me, the
whole world turned upside down. and
felt myself knocked back into the
chamber. And there was them fuses.
All OF 'em burning Well, | managed
TO pull out the one from the foot wall
and stamp II cut. but | didn't ave time
10 get at the others. And the only
place where there was a chance for
me was clear at the end OF the cham
ber. Already | was bleeding like
stuck hog where whole 'arf noun
tain 'ad II me on the 'ead, and
didn't know much what was doing.
just wanted to get be'ind something
that's all could think Of So | SHE'D
for that fissure In the rocks and
crawled back In there, trying to
squeeze as far along as could And
'ere's the funny part OF it-I kept on
goingl'
"You whatT"
"Kept on going. I'd always thought
II was just a place where the 'anging
wall 'ad slipped, and that II stopped
few feet back. But It don't--it goes
on. erawled along It as fast as
could-I was about woozy. anyway
and by and by card the shots go or
te'lnd me. But there wasn't any use
in going back-the tunnel was cayed
I'm. So kept on.
after while, ran into a stream OF
water that tame out OF the inside Of
the III somewhere, and | took drink.
II gave me a bit Of strength. And
then kept on some more-until all OF
a sudden, / slipped and fell just when
/ was beginning TO see dyelight. And
that's all | know. 'Ow long ave
been goneT'
Long enough to make me gray.
headed" FairChild answered with a
little laugh Then his brow furrowed.
you say you slipped and fell just as
you were beginning TO see dayllght?"
"Yes. II looked like Il was reflected
from below. somewyes."
Fairchild nodded.
Isn't there quite a spring right by
Crazy Laura's housef"
Yes; II keeps going all year:
there's a current and 1t don't freeze
up. II comes out like II was water
fall-and there's roaring noise be-
Ind IT,"
"Then that's the explanation. You