The Meeker herald., 1923-01-06
CHAPTER xv,ll-csnslrusd. 4.

They reached the mouth Of the Sil.
vss Queen. Harry reconnoitered .
aoment before he gave the signal to
proceed. Within the tunpel they went.
70 follow along Ats regular. rising
eourss to the stope where. on that
garish day when Taylor Bill and
Blindeye Boxeman had led the enthu-
siastic parade through the streets. the
vein had shown. It was dark there
10 one was At work. Harry unlocked
his carbide from his belt, lit II and
looked around
ut amt coming from 'erew he an
sounced. "It's-" then his voice
cropped to q whisper-'what's thatf''
Again . rumbling had come from q
distance. a. Of an ore car travelling
over the tram tracks. Harry extin.
guished his light. and drawing Anita
and Fairchild far to the end Of the
stops, nattened them and himself on
the ground A long wait. while the
sumbling came closer. still closer ;
then, in the distance. a light appeared.
shining from q side of the tunnel. A
changing noise. followed BY clatter-
ing sounds, a. though Of steel rails
hitting against each other. Finally
the trAmAias once mofe-and the
light approached.
Into view came an ore car. and be-
hind It doomed the great form of Tay-
tor Bill a. he pushed It along. Straight
to the pile Of ore he came. unlocked
the front Of the tram, tripped 1t and
piled the contents Of the car on top
q the dump which already rested
there. With that. carbide pointing the
way. he turned back. pushing the tram
before him. Harry crept to his fest.
.We'vs got to follow I" he whispered.
Its . blind entrance TO the tunAei
oom'eres."
They rose and trailed the light along
the tracks, iattening themselves
against the timbers of the tunnel %
the form Of Taylor Bill. family out
lined in the distance, turned from the
regular track. opened q great door in
the side Of the tunnel. which. to all
appearapces. was nothing more than
the ordinary heavy timbering Of a
weak spot in the rocks, pulled It far
back. then swervsd the tram within.
Then. he stopped and raised 4 port
able switch, throwing It into the open
ing. A second later the door closed
behind him. and the sound Of the tram
began to fade in the distance. Harry
went fsfward, creeping along the side
Of the tunnel. feeling his way. stop
ping 70 listen now and then for the
sound of the fading ore car. Behind
him were Fairchild and Anita, follow
ing the same procedure. And all three
stopped at once.
The hollow sound was coming di.
rectly to them now. Harry once more
brought out his carbide to light It for
Q moment and to examine the tim.
oerinE.
IT'S . good Job" he commented.
sYou couldn't tell It i've feet OFT"
They've made a cross.cutr" This
cine It was Anita's voice. plainly an.
Sry In spite Of its whispering tones.
mo wonder they had such q wonder
fdl strike" came scath!nsly. THAT
other stops down there"
.Aint nothing but q salted propo-
siticn." SAID Harry. They've cement
Cd up thu top Of It with the real stuff
and every once In while they blow 4
lot Of .it out and cement It up again
to Haks It look like that's the real
VEIN"
.AAd they're working our mine I"
Rsa spots Of anger were flashing be-
fo9O Tairchild's eyes.
You've said IL That's Why they
were % anxious to buy ~ out. And