The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1923-01-26

ward, and went to his hands and
knees.
1t was there before him-all about
him-the black, heavy masses Of lead
silver ore, a great, heaping, five-ton
pile OF It where II had been thrown
out by the tremendous force Of the
explosion. It seemed that the whole
great floor OF the cavern was covered
with IL, and the workmen shouted with
Fairchild as they seized bits Of the
precious black stuff and held II t. the
light for closer examination.
Look" The voice Of one OF them
was high and excited. "You can see
the fine streaks of silver sticking OUT
It's h~igh-grade and plenty of it,"
But Fairchild paid little attention.
He was playing In the stuff, throwing
It In the air and letting 1t fall to the
floor Of the cavern again, like a boy
with a new sack of marbles, or a child
with It's building blocks. Five tons
and the night was not yet overt Five
tons, and the vein had not yet shown
its other side!
Back to work they went now. Again
through the hours the drills bit into
the rock walls, while the ore car clat-
tered along the tram line and while
the creaking of the block and tackle
at the shaft seemed endless. In three
days, approximately forty tons OF ore
must come out of that mine-and work
must not cease.
Nnrnin~ ond IN Snitn nf thA cInon-
laden eyes, the heavy aching in his
head, the tired dropping Of the Shout
ders, Fairchild tramped to the board
ing house to notify Mother Howard
and ask for news Of Harry. There
had been none. Then he went on, to
wait by the door Of the Sampler until
Bittson. the owner, should appear, and
drag him away up the hill, even be-
fore he could open up for the morning.
There II isl" he exclaimed, as he
led him to the entrance OF the cham
Der. There IL is; take all you want
Of 1t and assay Ill"
Bittson went forward into the cross
at new holes, and examined the vein.
Already 1t was three feet thick, and
there was still ore ahead. One of the
miners loked up.
"Just finishing up on the cross-cut,"
he announced, as he nodded toward his
drill. 1--WE just bitten into the foot
wall on the other side. Looks to me
like the veins about five feet thick
as near as I can measure It."
"And-" Bittson picked up a few
samples, examined them by the light
Of the carbides and tossed them away
-"you can see the silver sticking out.
l caught sight of Il couple Of pencil
threads Of it in one or two of those
samples. All right, Boy ~ he turned
to Fairchild. "What was that bargain
we nader"
1T was based on two hundred dol
lars-a-ton ore. This may run above
or below. But whatever 1t Is, I'll sell
all you can handle for the next three
days at fifty dollars a ton under the
assay price,"
you've said the word. The trucks
will be here In an hour II we have to
shovel a path all the way up Ken
lucky gulch."
He hurried away then, while Fair
child and the men followed him into
town and to their breakfast. Then.
recruiting q new gang on the promise
Of payment at the end Of their three
day shift. Fairchild went back to the
mine. But the word had spread, and
others were there before him.
Already fifteen or twenty miners
were assembled about the opening Of
the Blue Poppy tunnel, awaiting per.
mission to enter, the usual rush upon
a lucky mine to view It's riches. Be
hind him, Fairchild could see others
coming from Ohadi to take a look at
the new strike, and his heart bounded
with happiness tinged with sorrow.
Harry was not there to enjoy II all :
Harry was gone, and In spite Of his
every effort, Fairchild had failed to
find him.
Some one brushed against him. and
there came a slight tug at his coat.
Fairchild looked downward to see
passing the form Of Anita Richmond.
A moment later she looked toward
him, but In her eyes there was 10 light
Of recognition, nothing to indicate that
she had just given him a signal Of
greeting and congratulation. And yet
Fairchild felt that she had. Then, abb
sently, he put his hand into his
pocket.
Something there caused his heart to
halt momentarily-a piece Of paper.
He crumpled 1t In his hand, he rubbed
his fingers over 1t wonderingly It had
not been In his pocket before she had
passed him. HurriediJ he walked to
the far side Of the chamber and there,
pretending to examine a bit Of ore,
brought the missive from Its place Of
secretion. to unfold it with trembling
fingers, then to stare at the words
which showed before him:
"SQuint ROdaine Is terribly worried
about something. Has been on an aw-
full rampage all morning. Something
critical Is brewing, but I don't know
what CuUuoof Won koon wafeh On