The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-11-22
CHAPTER u
Kathleen Takes Command

Kathleen Takes Command
~AH lass, don't worry row."
"A Balmy chided. The fires in
the main shafts. not in the winch
shaft. I'll get through. There'l be
naught but smoke. and fear of
missing my step, to hamper me. l
have no fear. and what is smoker"
Kathleen ran sleeve across her
eyes TO dry them. She Strengthened.
smiled and gave him a snappy sa-
lutte. AYE. boss. Wen be seeing
you before the thirty-six hours are
up"
She turned to the young engi-
neer. what Is the setup?" she
asked.
And now she held up her hand
and quiet fell.
"Townsmen volunteers to work
from this side. Fall in to the right.
Every miner, start for The Golden
Girl. Wen be with YOU" Morgan
issucsi the orders.
The road turned into a mael-
stroEn of humanity.
where's Donald?" Kathleen
asked.
God knows answered Nor
gan. "1e was seen driving out of
Neutrality some time before the
alarm. We're trying to reach him
at carsted."
Norman Macdonald appeared
suddenly. II can't understand il"
he cried in protest. 81 can't find
him at all s. he's simply van
tshed. He went next door after
you. Cleo. dinner was ready and
you weren't there. Bridget said
you were resting. He didn't come
back. You'd better get going"
They ran across the mine plat
form to a waiting car. Young Dom
AIDS assistant would handle the
rescue work from this side.
Then came the heartbreaking
work Of trying to make speed along
roads packed with crowds. with
cars.
II suppose BaImy meant you'd
have to fight Kit-Smyth TO let us
onto the grounds" Morgan OBJ
served.
Kathleen barely heard him. eff
Balmy can get down the winch
shaft, can't the miners get up?"
she demanded.
"Balmy was optimistic. We don't
knolD that shaft isn't afire That's
the chance he was taking. And
once he's down we don't know but
what the shaft will take fire. It's
doubtful If the men realized there
was fire In time to make the shaft
before the smoke made 1t impos-
sible."
Kathleen closed her eyes to
vision. The bulky figure Of the old
man going hand by hand down the
ladder. feeling foot by foot for the
next rung. Working in total dark
ness dependent entirely upon his
sense Of feel. Suppose he missed o
step. went crashing down. INC"
she cried aloud. "Balmy will make
II. ! know he will"
"Oh come on" she begged. II
can't stand this snail's pace. Wen
make better time running"
They were on the down road Of
The Golden Girl now. pushing
through women trudging on half
run. half trot, scuTrying around
men pressing forward on steady
lope.
Ahead of them the crowd was
massed into q solid. motionless
body.
Whats wrong?" yelled Morgan
They won't let US inl"
SITS those damned Gregorys.
they'd kill our men before they'd
give Us an inchi"
They've locked the gates:
they're holdin' guns on US.
They want to bargain.
And then in one voice arose q
cry. Donald -. get Young
Donald!"
I'll Shoot
KATHLEEN pushed through the
n crowd to the fence: worked
her way down 10 the gate.
She was never TO forget the
sight that met her eyes. A motor
truck had been driven within fifty
feet Of the gates on the opposite
side. It's power light threw the
tahleaux into bold relief. Men
with rifles. stationed few feet
Rpart. their sight drawn on the
crowd.
Down. Beyond them was The
Golden Girl, a veritable Golden
Mine, yellow floodlights catching
the sheen Of shining paint lining
In the towers and derrieks against
the black base Of the cone noun
tain.
Lets make q rush for itl'
shouted q voice.
Kit-Smyth answered. He
stepped forward closer 20 the gate.
~rn shoot the first man who
crosses that Incl"
There was something in his voice
which told them he would.
Kathleen jumped TO the top OF
the fence. balanced there BY Nor
gan. She looked back at the miners
SEiold everything until ] yell
She turned TO kit-Smyth
scheerio old top. here ] comet