Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-09-06
THE DOUBLE CHANCE
Foseuahng Wrongly Aeead Hero and Loyal Srse
BY il S. FLETCHER
Au.ho, of "Royney- Slads Amaqamaion:" III

with the force of a machine jurked
the other mans head upward and
backward until he heard the spine
crack and felt convulsive tremor
run through the body. the grip on
his own throat relaxed and become
as feeble as a child's. He shook the
body of and rose, trembling to his
feet.
"Hs would have 1t. curse him."
he muttered to himself. II wouldn't
ha' finished him II it hadn't been
that he'd lla' finished me-I'm most
strangled as 1t Is. Curse that lamp
1 shall have to find my way out now
in the darkness"
Feeling for the table he leaned
against it for n minute or two to re-
cover his breath. Then he began to
feel about In the hope of discover
inc the tin bottle in which he had
brought drink to Stead during his
shook 1t eagerly; there was nothing
in H.
Dogger Tandy threw the empty
bottle away with another oath, and
shook himself together. He stumbled
forward n step or two and bending
down. felt for Stead's body; then
undoing the clothing. placed his
hani on the heart.
Hes goner" he muttered, rising
up. ~ eonrer. right enough. Well
serve him right-he shouldn't ha'
tried to throttle me, curse him!
Well. let's be cleafing out"
Mechanically he thrust his hand
into the pocket Of his rough jacket
to feel if his prize was safe. An
other curse broke from him-tl1e
diamonds were gone.
Cant be far away" he said
Must ha' slipped out when he flew
at me-
nogger Tundy got down on his
hands and knees and began to feel
about the floor. He knew that he
and the dead man had rolled hither
and thither in the struggle, but,
after all, the area was circumscribed,
, and the bag must he close Mt hand
And yet. feel about as he would in
the soft Coal-dust strewn surface, he
could not lay his hands on what he
sought.
He began to swear beneath his
breath, for he was beginning to
realize two things in no very plea sant
fashion-first. that he was alone
with a dead man, whose life he had
taken. and second. that the i'm
penetrable blackness was beginning
to weigh heavily upon him. and
that his nerves were getting UNI
strung. lie searched with his fingers
more eagerly than ever. but the dia :
monds eluded him.
Then Dogger Tandy suddenly re-
membered something. He remem-
bered that in his pocket there were
some matches--three matches.
Now it was a very terrible thing to
be in possession of matches in the
workings of Mannersley Main Col
hery, and Dogger Tandy had no
business to have those matches OF
his person. But he had these. and
he knew wherf-they were in a hole
in the lining Of the waistcoat pocket.
and were all that remained Of a
small stock which he had kept there.
And in his eagerness to frd the bag
containing the diamonds he felt for
them and drew one out. Standing
up In the darkness he ruminated.
II never heard of no gas in these
here workings" he said. Anyhow,
I'm going to chance it can't stop
here forever affecting about. as if /
was APPLYING blind mans buff"
Anu Ho SUZUKI TIE hdtch Oh the
sole OF his boot and, carefully
shielding the fame with the other
hand. bent down and looked quickly
about him.
The little wash leather bag lay
close at hand-just by Marshall
Stead's shoulder. He made a snatch
and secured 1t. but not without see
ing the dead mans wide-open eyes,
now glazed and staring and terrible.
The fame of the match died out.
Now the darkness seemed ten thou
sand times more dense and i'm