Evening star., 1923-10-31
(Continued from Yesterdays Starr

give Stead up to the authorities
so long as he could make out Of
him what they would give; besides, he
thought he knew a way of squeezing
him for more. And as he hacked and
hewed at the shining black coal in the
little hole in which he was working,
doubled up like some antediluvian ami
NAL of strange shape, he cogitated on
many plans for getting Stead out of
the mine and away from Mannersley.
Two or three hours later he perceived
a feasible plan of escape, and after
much thought he was so pleased with
1t that he set oft to Stead in his dun
geonlike refuge to talk 1t over with
him.
The accumulated ceal dust lay thick
as the sand in the seashore on the floors
of the gallery by which Tandy ap-
preached the place where the fugitive
lay hid. His boots We're old and soft
in the sole; having a naturally sly
manner of approaching anything. Whlch
had been accentuated by his poachlng
habits. he was at the entrance of the
diSused office before Stead, who had
certainly not expected to see him, was
aware that he was near; and the con-
sequence was that Dogger Tandy came
full upon a sight which made his fer
ret eyes grow unnaturally large with
sheer surprise.
Stead sat at the rough table in the
center of the cell-like room; the miners
lamp before him threw its light full
on his face and eyes But it's yellow
rays fell on something eSe-on some
thing that he had spread out on one
of the newspapers which Tandy had
brought him: and, yellow as the light
was, that something glittered and cor
uscated in it like dewdrops in a sum-
mer sun.
Tandy uttered a little cough and
stepped in. Stead made a sound which
was more like a woman's frightened
scream than anything else, and covered
the sparkling stones with both hands.
He turned livid and snarling face on
the miner.
.'Confound you!'' he snapped out.
"What do you startle me like that for?''
Tandy stepped to the table and sat
on it. His eyes, covetous and greedy,
We're fixed on Stead's hands.
Easy, guv'nor easy" he said.
''There is no call to use swear words
And what's them, guv'nor?"
Go away" said Stead. What do
you mean by spying on me in this
Spying? Nay. guv'nor: only just
looked in to say l had an idea" replied
Tandy; II can't help it if you didn't
hear, but You We're so engaged Dia-
monds eh, guv'nor? Now, l shouldn't
wonder if that's what was in that little
packet you got me to dig out of your
orchard the other night, guv'nor, eh?
You said it was letters, you did,"
Whats it matter to you?" said
Stead sullenly.
"A good deal. guv'nor." replied the
miner In course, if you're wanting
pounds worth of shiners-weI Dogger
Tandyll naturally expect to have his
nor"
Tbot dow .bo,,,h l., ,, -. -,
by that time whether it was day or
night down there, for Tandy sometimes
came down by the afternoon shift and
some sometimes by the night shift-stead
take his luck. And with the diamonds
In his pocket he CROPPED his way along
the pitch black galleries until he came
to the part where the disused workings
ended and those in use began. And
there he met Dogger Tandy.
Dogger Tandy took him by the throat
with a sudden curse and with the snarl
OF dog who sees it's bone being stolen,
ana then began a fight of that sort
which quickly degenerates into a far
worse thing.
From the feeling of half-wild and
primitive joy which impelled the Man
nersley folk to give their favorite the
heartlest OF demonstrations on his re-
ieaSe, the entire community was sud-
oeniy brought face to face with the
The men who a moment before had
been shouting and yelling at the TOP
OF their voices grew strangely silent
ana turned to look at each other with
white faces: the women on the fringe
or the crowd who had been laughing and
waving their hands at the two cousins
on the courthouse steps began 10
scream and weep. and, in the case of
those whose men had gone down with
tne last Shift, to develop Mysteries
II any one there had had time to
.nlnk, ne would have noticed the
horTlole contrast between the calm
pitilessness of nature and the terror
striking aspects of the situation
IL was glorious summer morning
"a morning which had made PhiIIipa
Mannersley's heart dance in spite of
all her recent troubles. so full was II
OF life and the gladness of the earth
Phillipas motor car was standing
near the courthouse, and before she
fully realized what was happening
she found herself in it, with Clinton
at her side, and Quinton on the oppo-
site side. speeding away in the din
rect1on of the pit yard On all sides
men. women and children were has
tenfng in the same direction
They stood in crowded ranks which
were momentarily added to as fresh
contingents came hurrying in. and
over them had fallen a silence that
seemed worse than loud outcries of
grief. They gazed at the motor and
It's occupants with eyes which SEEM
ed to see nothing as the driver made
his way to the engine house. At any
other 3Iie1 time they would have greeted
Ph1llipa and her cousin with a rous-
ing cheer. AS the motor stopped and
It's occupants got out, some of the
women rushed forward and seized the
young. proprietress anywhere they
could lay hold of her-by her hands
on. Miss Phillipa, my mans down
and us only wed month, miss. Oh,
Miss Phillipa, get 'em to do some
thing"
Quinton firmly but kindly pushed
pa toward the door of the engine
house.
"Oh. miss. there's by husband and
the three lads all down-all 1 have
in the world"'
"Now. my good souls, let Miss Man
nersley through" he said. "We"u do
everything we can to get the men
up-don't interfere with us-let us
get to work"
Clinton sprang back on the car
which they had just left, and. taking
or his cap, faced the people, who at
sight of him became as quiet as a
flock of sheep.
Now, lads and lassies" he said,
pit yard. There's one thing for you
to do-keep your hearts up. Well
have a rescue party down in no time,
and Mr.. Quinton and / are going
down with it. Well not rest till we've
got every man and lad out safe and
sound; and if we can't-welI, then
Heavens will be DONE Show your
selves brave men and women"
Then he turned and ran for the en-
gine house, where Quinton had al
busily talking to an anxious and
whitefaced knot of officials, who were
pouring in upon him disjointed scraps
OF information.