Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-11-16

The Cave-In at
the Mine
By MARTHA WILLIAMS

- It's going to raln?" Anne asked
dlspusslonately.
"Why ask me thatT' from young
Bernard In surprise.
"Oh. Because I've noticed colts and
calves and chickens and pigs act up
as you've been doing this last hour
whenever there's a storm coming"
Anne flung back.
"But-what have doneT Bernard
demanded aggrlevedly.
Anne began to check Off, her finger
waving up and down: LET me see.
First, you leased Fluff into scratch
ing-not yCu righteously, but me, the
innocent bystander, upset the lnkstand
upon my brand-new table cover-and
said bad words-many bad words, sim
ply because the curate came to call
Bernard snatched Anne upright by
the shoulders, looked deep Into the
dancing eyes and Kissed: you had
better stop. | tell you | won't have
this! can stand a rival-provided
Only he's man. But not something
made of putty and peppermint candy
with u sauce of psalm-singing."
whats this? What's all this2
Practice for grand operaY Major
Barnes, Anne's uncle, called from the
door.
A long keen blast of u stentorian
whistle made him start and turn pale,
Ias 1t was instantly repeated, thus sig
mailing deadly danger at the mine he
had left in full swing half an hour
before.
Anne understood--sO did Bernard.
Then over the phone came II call
'"Cave-ln at Number Z drlft-men be-
But by the time the major reached
the plymouth checkup had told the
tale. Nine good fellows were behind
the deadly barrier. 1t could be dug
land blasted through, but not In time
TO save them.
Anne was white and stony with an
gulsh-all these mine folk were close
to her heart. II was through them
the curate had won his place In her
regard-he was so nalvely of them,
heart and soul, entering into their
joys, their sorrows, hopes, aspirations
and bewllderments. To some among
them he was a fool for his pains; to
others a harmless Merry Andrew, but
to the most part a cOmrade, heaven
sent, to show them the better weVs
rather than tell of them.
He, too, the whistle had called I'm
peratlvely--but he had been hlndered,
apparently-th major was almost
through his relief-orderlng before he
appeared on the scene.
"What Is needed w0rstf" he asked.
"Air--whlch means life"
Curate Lee dropped his eyes, medl-
tatlvely for a moment, then darted
'away without further word. A few
cursed his flight.
Bernard whispered to Anne: "All
yellow, you see." But she did not
hear him, APPRENTICESHIP gave him
no answer. She was thinklng-hard.
Curate Lee knew the outer face OF
the workings as did no one else. He
loved outdoors with a passiOn--and
the coal country was q magic land to
his lOwland soul. He had spent all his
scant leisure ranging It. She asked
herself the question over and over as
she went among the women crouchlng
here
II was left to Bernard to supply
fans. ice water, milk and fruit. He
had forgotten himself and his en-
mites, letting his fine realities come
to the surface.
There was a constant roar of ar
rlvuls-trains, motors, apparatus from
the nearest cOllierles all manned with
the pick OF their profession and ev.
cry man eager only to succOr the
doomed prisoners.
Blasting would make an end OF the
bnrrier-yet might bring down so
much greater fall as to crush all
within range. II crawlway could be
cleared at the top Of the massed earth
and rock air could be sent In through
a hose7.maybe even food and water
then rescue would be certain II lag
gard.
So they set about making lt-these
men OF might and muscle. BY late
afternoon they had got In ten feet
and there were above a hundred to
pass Moreover, the roof was none
too solld-sh0rlng II meant still slow
er progress. The major, watching
with stralning eyes the snail-llke prog.
ress, prayed silently-he was past
speech. And suddenly there smOte up.
on his ears a Wild hubbub OF yells, OF
cheers-the maddest ever heard. lie
turned to face Bernard, who leap0d
from the descending cage, crying:
"MaJOr, major! Come up. They're all
snfe--nll Out-eyery man. They-ev-
erybOdy- wants TO see you"
"Wby-lt was nOthlng-less than
nothing, indeed" Citrate Lee ex-
planned, somewhat haltlngly and red.
denlng at what everybody was saying.
"YOu see, I had notion the cave in
North Hollow ran almost 10 the mine
/ hnd meant a long time TO find out
so II came TO me--thIs was a good
lme for IT,
But he was dripping from plunge
in subierranean pool, his clothes In
rags. his hand' bleeding from cllnglng
to Jagged rOchs.
Also. the men who had followed
him the pcrlIous way to snfety had
much to say.
Hearing II Eeiurd sud dejectedly |
to Anne: "Of r"'' q, II Is all up with
me now" 10 which she ret0rted:
5000 cy. your" RI 'ulous. You need
a carctnl;cr. = ad. Lee does not
and never D",'r WI. Besides, he haS
o girl bar5 L"o""