Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1924-12-04

Jack decided that he would eat half
OF the sandwich that day and reserve
the rest for the second one. His cigars
were precious Injuries to be INDUCED
In once every twenty-four hours after
he had knocked OF work.
He attacked the cave-ln with the
cool energy that characterized him.
Out Of piece Of board he fashioned a
kind Of shovel with his knife. Bits of
broken timber,ng lay at the foot of
the shaft. These he dragged into the
tunnel for fuel to feed a small fire
which he built to give light for the
work. All through the night and TIN
noon the following day he dug among
the fallen rocks and dirt, cleaning this
debris away after he had loosened II
with his bare hands.
The impact OF the fall when he had
been thrown down the shaft had Jared
him greatly. With the slightest move
ment of the body his back and shout
ders ached, sending shoots Of pain in
protest to his brain. The spralned
ANKLE he had- bound tightly In a WEI
handkerchief. but every time his
weight rested On that leg he had to
grit his teeth. But 1t was not in him
to quit. He stuck to his Job till he
had done the shift set himself.
At noon he crawled back to the foot
of the shaft. He was tagged to en-
haustion. For half an hour be lay
stretched on his back with every
muscle relaxed.
Presently he cut from his coat the
pocket that contained the sandwich
and divided the mash of ham and
bread into two parts. One Of these
he ate. The other he returned TO the
coat.
Favoring his Kicked ankle as best he
could, Jack climbed the wall ladder
to the ledge upon which he had found
himself lying the previous night. Five
minutes examination Of the walls
showed him that there was no chance
to reach the top Of the shaft unaided.
He tested the jammed timbers to
make sure they were secure before he
put his weight upon them. During the
next six hours he called aloud every
few minutes to attract the attention
Of anyone who might chance to be
passing near.
Toward evening he treated himself
to his first cigar. making the most of
the comfort that It gave him. When
the stub grew short he held II on the
small blade OF his knife SO as not to
miss a pun. What was left he
wrapped In q pocket handkerchief for
later use.
As the stars began to come out In
the little patch Of blue sky he could
see just above his prison Jack lowered
himself again to the foot Of the shaft.
Here he lay down second time and
within 1--WE minutes had fallen Into q
deep sleep.
About midnight he awakened and
was aware at once Of ravenous hun
ger. He was still resolute to win a
way out, though the knowledge
pressed on him that his chances were
slender at the best. TIL morning he
worked without a moments rest. The
fever in his ankle and the pain Of the
sprain had increased. but he could not
afford to pay any attention to them.
Blood from his SCARED, torn hands
ran down his wrists. Every muscle
in his abused body ached. Still he
stabbed with his knife into the earth
that filed the tunnel and still he
pulled great rocks back with his
shovel.
All his life he had fought for his
own hand. He would not let himself
believe fate had played so scurvy a
trick as to lock him alive into tomb
closed so tightly that he could not
pry way out.
When his watch told him II was
eight o'clock he staggered TO the shaft
again and lay down on his back to
rest. Before climbing to the platform
above he finished the sandwich. He
was very hungry and could have eaten
enough for two men had he been
given the opportunity. Again for
hours he called every few minutes at
the top of his voice.
In his vest pocket were a pencil
and a notebook used for keeping the
accounts of the highgraders with
whom he did business. To pass the
time he set down the story OF the
crime which had brought him here
and his efforts to free himself
After darkness fell he let himself
down TO the foot Of the shaft and
slept. Either from hunger or from
fever In his ankle he slept brokeniy.
He was conscious of little delirium
in his waking spells, but the coming
of midnight found him master OF him
self though a triie iight-headed-
II was impossible to work as stead
ily as he had done during the two pre-
yious nights Hunger and pain ana
toll were doing their best to wear out
his strength. His limbs moved lag
gardly. once he fell asleep In the
midst Of his labor. He dreamed OF
Nova. and after he awakened-ss he
presently uid win q start-she seemed
~ near that Il would scarce have sur
prised him IL In the darkness his hands
had come In contact with the soft
flesh of her vivid face. Nor did IL
strike him as at all odd that u was
IL. 49,