Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1924-12-11
CHAPTER XVI
Captain Kilmeny Retires

A voice calling his name from the
top of the shaft brought Jack Kilmeny
back to consciousness. He answered
A shout Of Joy doomed down to him
in Golfers heavy bass. He could hear
too, the sweet troubled tones Of q
woman.
Hurry. please. hurry. Thank
God, we're In time"
"Got that breakfast with you. little
neighbour" Jack called up weakly. He
did NOT need to be told that Moys
Dwight was above, and since she wal
there, of course she had brought him
the breakfast that he had ordered
from the Silver Dollar.
SECT back into the tunnel. Jack.
Golfer presently shouted.
swhat forr
"We're lowering someone to you.
The timberings are rotten and they
might fall on you. Get back"
"All right"
Five minutes later the rescuer
reached the foot of the shaft. He
stood for a moment with a miners
lamp above his head and peered into
the gloom.
Where away, Jackr
The man was Ned Kilmeny. The
captain had insisted-all the more
because there was some danger In IT.
that he should be the man lowered to
the aid Of his cousin.
Bring that breakfastr' Jack
snapped. testify.
yes. old man. It's waiting up
above. Brought some soup down with
me-
Il ordered two hours ago. What's
been keeping your I'm going to COM
plain Of the service"
The captain saw at once that Jack
was light-headed and he humored
him.
yes, I would. Now drink this
soup"
The imprisoned man drained the
bucket to the last drop.
Ned loosened the rope from HIS own
body and fastened II about that of his
cousin. He gave the signal and Jack
was hauled very carefully to the sur
face In such a way as not to collide
with the TANNED timbers near the top.
Golfer and Bleyer lifted the highgrader
over the edge Of the well, where he
collapsed at once Into the arms Of his
friends.
Moya. q flask In her hand. stopped
over the sick man where he lay on
the grass. Her fine face was full Of
poignant sympathy.
Kilmeny's mind was quite clear
now. The man was gaunt as a fam
fshed wolf. Bitten deep into his face
were the lines that showed how close
ly he had shaved death. But In his
eye was the gay inextinguishable
CLEAN Of the thoroughbred.
Amt I the gutter, Miss Dwightf
Keeling over just like a sick baby"
The young woman choked over her
answer. You mustn't talk yet Drink
this. please"
He drank. and later he ate sparing-
iy Of the food she had hastily gathered
from the dinner table and brought
with her. In jerky little sentences he
sketched his adventure. mingling fc-
ton with fact as the fever grew on
him again.
Bleyer. himself a game man, could
not withhold his admiration after he
had heard Captain Kilmeny's story Of
what he had found below. The two.
with Moya. were riding behind the
wagon In which the rescued man lay.
Think Of the luck Of the fellow
boring away at that cave-in when any
minute q million tons Of rock and dirt
might tumble down and crush the life
out Of him. That's big enough thing
But add to Il his game leg and his
wound and starvation on top Of that
III give II to him for the gamest fel-
low that ever went down into Q
mime
THAT'S not an the captain added
quietly. He must have tunneied In
about twenty-five feet when the roof
cavsd again Clean bowied out a. he
was, Jack tackled the job . second
time
Moya could not think Of what had
taken place without MIN coming
over her eyes and q sob choking her
throat. A vagabond and worse he
might be. but Jack kilmeny held her
love beyond recall II was useless to
remind herself that he was unworthy.
None the less. she gioried In the SPLEEN
did courage Of the man. Whatever
else be might be. Jack Kilmeny was
every inch Q man
There was q little discussion be-
tween Golfer and Captain kiimeny a.
20 which Of them should take care OF
the Invalid TIE captain urged that
he would get better care NJ the hotel.
where Lady Farqrhar and India could
look after him Golfer referred the
matter 10 Jack
I'm not going 20 burden Lady Far
quhar or India. Golfer can look out
for me- the siek uzA said -