178

 

CGooDpD

smooth, and he broke off another piece, being so far in the rear as not to count in
repeating the operation until the steel the chase.

had’ been used to the hilt.

The bolt was cut nearly half through; then; but the darkness
. but, as he judged, two hours must have from recognizing his frien

passed,

Fred glanced over his shoulder now and
revented him
until the lat-
| ter deliberately threw himself in front of

“Tf err? succeed in flooding the mine I the pursuer, and a tumble was the result,

shall still be a prisoner when the water
comes,” he muttered, and at that moment
he heard the sound of approaching foot-
steps.
Two or more had come from the direc-
tion of the shaft, and halted near the door.
“It’s no use to try and fight our way

; i rough the hole,” he he
into the drift through the hole,” he heard |; teach homut?

one of the new-comers say, and recognized
the voice as that of Cale Billings.

“Are you goin’ to give up beat!’’

‘“Not much. Inside of an hour we’ll
have fifty men here, and while the fools
think we are trying to get in by the were
a tunnel can be made from one of the
smaller cuttings.”

“What good will that do?”

“Tf I ain’t mistaken we shall come out
on the second level where it’ll be no more
than child’s play to get the best of both
crowds.”

“But suppose Wright has sent for sol-
diers?. [I heard he telegraphed to the gov-
ernor.”

“We'll be in possession of the mine, an’
I reckon they’ll be willin’ to make terms
with us, for a regiment couldn’t drive us
out.”

“Well, what are you stoppin’ here for?”

“TI want to see aga that boy is. We
mustn’t lose him yet awhile.”

“He’s in here.”

“An’ I reckon he’ll stay till we want
him,” Billings replied, with a laugh, after
apparently examining the bolt.

Then the two men passed on, and Sam
began his slow task again. Hope was
strong in his breast, for he knew from the
conversation that Fred had succeeded in
warning the miners.

He used the small blade, and it wore
away so quickly that there could be no
chance it would fast to complete the work,

“Tf I could get a purchase on the door it
might be broken open now the bolt is cut

“Keep on, it’s me—Sam!” the butty boy
shouted, as he scrambled to his feet before
the man had fully recovered his senses,
and with a ery of glad surprise, Fred
asked:

“How did you get away?”

“It’s too lone a story to tell now when
we need all our breath. Are you trying

“No; the store:”

“Then you know what Billings’ crowd
are intendin’ to do?”

“Yes, and help is needed at once.”

Sam made no reply. Both the men he
had overthrown were on their feet again,
and, with a dozen others, were close in
the rear, making every effort to overtake
the fugitives.

The race was virtually won, however,
unless other rioters were met on the road.
The boys yet had thirty or forty yards the
advantage, and before this could be over-
come they were within sight of the store,
from which, attracted by the shouts, came
Mr. Wright and a number of employees.

All of these latter were armed, and the
pursuers halted at a respectful distance,
while the boys dashed into the building
breathless and nearly exhausted.

t was several moments before Fred
could repeat the message Donovan had
sent, and this was hardly done when a

 

 

{

message from the governor arrived, stat-
ing that no troops could be sent until the
following day. ;

“I’m afraid those at the mine will have
to take care of themselves,” Mr. Wright
said, when he learned of the condition of
affairs there. “If we should leave here,
or even divide our force, the store as well
as the offices might be sacked.”

“But the mine will be flooded if Billings
succeeds with the tunnel.”

“It can’t be helped now. We should
need, at least, fifty men to effect an en-

so much,” he said, looking around once| trance, and eighteen is the full number
3

more.
Near the uprights was an extra piece

of joist standing on end as tif forming a },

portion of the side.
The floor of the cutting was full of ir-
regularities where the slate had been

broken or taken out, and this gave him that he must tr

the opportunity to get the required
purchase.

With one end of the joist pressed firmly
against a slight elevation, and the other
on the doors just over the bolt, he clam-
bered up until near the top, when all his
weight and strength were brought into

lay.
ss Bed twice, he swayed up and down,
and then inch by inch the metal yielded
until the heavy timbers swung outward,
and he was free so far as liberty of move-
ment in the drift was concerned.

At the moment when he emerged there
was no one in the pareaee and he hur-
riedly re-closed the doors that his escape
might not be discovered by those who
should pass.

After some difficulty he succeeded in
pushing the broken piece of iron into the
sockets in such a manner that a casual

observer would hardly notice anything‘

wrong, and then, extinguishing the light

shaft, arriving there just as half a dozen
men were on the point of descending,

Crouching against the wall at one corner
the new-comers failed to notice him; but
it was impossible to ascend the rope lad-
der which had been let down without at-
tracting attention, because of the numbers
who continued to arrive at irregular in-
tervals.

During an hour he waited, shrouded
from view by the gloom, and then came
the desired opportunity.

Two men returned from the further end
of the drift, and ascended the ladder.

“T’ll follow them, and run the risk of
being recognized,” he said to himself, and
suitiny the action to the words he climbed
the network of rope immediately behind
the second: rioter.

It was a when he arrived at the
surface, and oe forces were build-
ing a row of fires ctly in front of the

——
o start toward the Village immediately
would be to take too many chances of dé-
tection, and Sam loitered ‘on the outskirts
of the crowd watching for. the desired op-
ete: re came whén Fred left the
slope to car onovan’s

Wraht. 3 message to Mr,

nstantly the alarm was giy

tarted: in pursuit, aéconipatited wo
dozen others, and only by outstripping
the rioters could he have to make his
escape.

Fred ran as he had never done before
with the howling mob at his heels, and
foremost among them was Sam. Two men
were in advance of the escapin prisoner ;
but by an apparent misstep while he ran

' pay you off,” Sam said, as they wa

 

alongside the second, the rioter was over-
turned, and but one remained; the others

who can be trusted.”

“Those who are there may be drowned.”
“There is no danger of that since all
ands are on the alert for the first signs
of trouble.”

“Then Sam and I may as well go home.”

“It would be a good idea to tell Brace
to get here unobserved.
The men already believe he is in town,
and Iam afraid they may discover his
hiding-place, when there’s bound to be
mischief done.”

Disheartened, because after incurring all
the danger no real good had been done,
Fred motioned to Sam, and left the store.

The streets of the village presented an
unusual appearance. Nearly every house
was open and lighted as if for a general
illumination, while the sidewalks were
crowded with throngs of excited women
and children,

“This would be a good time for Ski S
e
swiftly along. “While so much is goin’
on they could do pretty near as they
pleased without fear of being stopped.”

“What he might do seems to be of little
consequence compared with the danger
which threatens the poor fellows at the
mine. If the lower level should be flooded

in his cap, he went swiftly toward the! while they were guarding the drift there’s

every chance all would be drowned.”

“It don’t doto think of such things
when there’s nothing which can be done
to help them. It might be worse, an’
there’s some comfort in that.” :

“I fail to see anything very cheering in
such an idea,” Fred replied, and then the
two were at Mrs. Byram’s home.

The door was locked; but the lightest
of taps sufficed to attract the widow’s at-
tention, and the visitor received no less
warm a reception than did the son.

Brace was’so impatient to learn what
had been done by the rioters that he de-
scended the stairs immediately upon hear-
ing the boys’ voices, and “while Mrs.
Byram prepared supper, Fred and Sam
gave an account of their own adventures,
as well as all which was known concern.
ing the mob.

So I’m to sneak over to the store, eh?”
~ miner asked, as the recital was con-
cluded.

“That was what Mr. Wright said,”
“T’ll do nothin’ of the kind.”

“Why not?”

“Because I ve had enough of hidin’ like
fellow who has done somethin’ wrong.”
“But it isn’t safe to show yourself.”
“T’ll take the chances, an’see what Bill-
ings’ gang can do.” ‘

“Don’t think of such a.thing;” Mrs,
Byram cried in alarm. “You might be
killed.”

“A fellow who has worked a matter of
half a dozen years at Farley's can’t be
knocked out so easy.”

“Are you going into the street?”

.+es, an’ to the mine if I take the
ne

“What could you do alone against two
or three hundred men?” J

Show that there is one fellow who

a

NEWS.

ain’t afraid of the whole murderin’ gang.”

“That would be the height of foolish-
ness,”

“I can’t help it,” was the dogged reply,
and Brace rose to his feet as if to leave
the house.

Both Sam and Fred sprang up to detain
him; but. before a word could be spoken
by either, angry shouts and cries were
heard in the distance.

“They are up to fresh mischief,” Sam
exclaimed, as
the curtains to look out.

“There are a dozen of the rioters on the
sidewalk,” he cried, “and they are evi-
dently watching us.”

Brace ran to Sam’s side, and the instant
he showed himself some of the men shout-
ed:

“Here’s the traitor! We've got him
caged !” :

“String him up!”

“Yank him out so’s the bosses can see
how we treat spies!”

These cries were echoed by the body of
men who were’ approaching on a run, and
Mrs. Byram said, as she drew Brace from
the window :

“They have learned you are here, and in
their mad excitement murder may be com-
mitted.”

Then came from the street as if to give
emphasis t her words:

lang him! Hang him! He’s worse
than the bosses !”

“You must go to the store now,” Sam
cried.

“What’s the good? They will get in
there as easily as here.”

“Mr. Wright and his men are well
armed, and can protect you.”

“There has been no shootin’ done yet,
an’ I’ll not be the cause of the first bullet.
It is better t give myself up at once.”

“You shall not,” and Sam o—e the
miner around the waist. “Try the back
door; it will be possible to give them the
slip if you hurry.”

Breies hesitated a moment as if unwill-
ing to display anything which might be
mistaken for cowardice, and then Fred
— Sam _ literally forced him toward the

OOK.

“While you run I will attract the atten-
tion of the men,” Mrs. Byram said, as she
showed herself at the window, and the
miner sprang out at the very instant when
half a dozen of the rioters entered the gate.

“Tryin’ to give us the slip, eh?” one of
the party eried, as all rushed forward.

It was too late for Brace to return; in a
twinkling the men had surrounded him.
Fred and Sam saw a short but sharp
struggle, and before they could so muc
as make a move toward going to his as-
sistance he was overpowered.

Attracted by the cries of their com-
panions, those at the front of the house
came around swiftly, and Brace was half
carried, half forced into the street.

Mrs. Byram tried to plead with the
mob; but they pushed her aside without
ere as they shouted : ;

“We'll show them at the store how we
deal with spies and traitors.”

“We've got the rope, and the sneak,
now we only need two or three of the
bosses to fix the thing up brown.”

“Do you suppose they really mean to
hang him?” Fred asked in a tone of awe,
and Sam replied, sadly :

“I’m afraid they will. Billings always
was down on him, and the men are so ex-
cited as to hardly know what they are
about, so anything is possible.”

 

CHAPTER X,
THE RESCUE.

     

A\HE capture of Brace seemed to in-
1? flame the passions of the mob, and
1 ), not even while the buildings were
“7” being sacked was the town in such
a state of excitement.

By the time the prisoner had reached
the vacant lot in front of the store it a

eared as if every man, woman, and child
in the village was on the street.

Sam and Fred felt impelled to follow
the howling, shrieking, mob, although it
was not probable they could aid the un-
fortunate man, and both pressed as near
as seni, ‘ ie

* ings’ gan aven’t go
of the mine yet,” Sam whispere

“How do you know?”

“Because if that had happened we
would see Bill Thomas, or Donovan
around here somewhere.”

“Perhaps they have been made pris-
oners.”

“It isn’t likely. Even if they couldn’t
hold their own it. would be possible to re-
treat in good order, armed as they were.”

“Don’t you suppose Mr. Wright will
try to do something if these féllows really
mean to hang Brace?”

“They are bound to help him: but I
don’t. see what can be done against so
many.”

_ Owing to the crowd around him it was
impossible for the boys to see the prisoner.
The men swayed to and fro as if fighting
among themselves, and after a time the

wags

 

plain,

  

e cautiously pulled back | up

cence

lashed together at one end, and set up
like the letter V inverted, These were

was a long rope.

Billings was on hand acting as mastel)
of ceremonies, and when this portion of
the work had been finished, he shouted: ~

“Half a dozen of you take hold of the”
rope, an’ when I count three, string him

In anagony of apprehension Fred looked
toward the store. No one appeared
the door; it seemed as if the bosses
abandoned Joe Brace.

“Stand ready, boys!” Billings shouted,

“We'll soon show ’em how we serve oul f

spies.” a
There was a moment of painful silene®
during which more than one of the m0
acted as if frightened because of the te
rible crime about to be committed, and
then an old miner cried:
“Hold on! This thing has gone f=
enough !” p
“What do you mean?” Billings asked,
angrily. d
“Just this: I joined your crowd to stam
up for my rights, not to commit murdel
There’s been mischief done already, a2
the most of us will be sorry when we VY
had time to think the matter over.”
“Hold your tongue and go home like thé
rest of the old women.”
“I’ll stay where I am, an’ you’ll be thé
one to go home if the boys take my &®
vice.”
Then continuing, the old man reminded
the throng that he had worked at Farley #
longer than the majority could remembeh
He spoke of the fact, that until this be
there had been no mob rule; intimate
that they were blindly following one iD
whom very few ever reposed confiden®
and asked if they were willing to hang4
friend simply because Billings commam

it.

The speech was a long one, and befor
twenty words were spoken as many
termined looking men gathered arou®
Brace to prevent any harm from be

one. Ry
“Don’t listen to the old fool,” Billing?
cried, in a voice hoarse with rage;
now very few paid any attention to him {
and, when the prisoner’s friend finisl
his appeal there was no danger a huma?
life would be taken.
Some of those who had been most e@
to drag Brace away unloosened his bon@®
and at least a hundred stood ready
defend him. n
At this juncture Mr. Wright came fro?
the store, and the mob were in the pra
frame of mind to listen. ad
He explained the true condition of nd
fairs, told exactly why the works, a
been shut down, and finished by promis!
to let the matter be forgotten, regar@@
of the amount of property destroyed,
case the mob should disperse. a iI):
“And if we go home, what then?” B
ings asked, sneeringly. “We’ll starve

please you, eh?” ine
“Those who attempted to flood the mine
arley’s, for all in

will not starve at a Fee
Not: one of tha 1] be

plot must leave.
can work here; but the others sha
treated as before.”

“So we’re to be driven out?” est

“Certainly. It isn’t probable any ho? ho
miner would care to work with those ws
may succeed in drowning their fellor.
simply to gratify a spite against the
cers of the company.” nae

“It will take more than you to driv
away.” ter:

“T can at least ae you from enl'¢
ing the mine, and that I'shall do eve?
it is necessary to station guards ent to.
around the property. Are you willin8”
go home now, men, with the assu rp
that work shall be resumed in the m0
ing?” the.

“Ay, that we are, an’ glad of int?
chance. It was out of the fryin’-pan to
the fire when we left one set of bosse5 5,
take up with Cale Billings an ¥
cronies,” a miner shouted, and imme.
ately the mob dispersed, leaving the
ers standing in the lot, evidently const,
ing as to how their lost power mig.
regained, Nae

Then Brace was at liberty he joa
Sam and Fred, and the three wal nti!
the latter’s home, neither speaking 4
they. were inside.

“Do you think the strike is reall
Mrs. Byram asked, after Fred tol
what had occurred.

“It is so far as the majority
miners are concerned,” Brace rep af
“but there’s no tellin’ what Billings,™ :
contrive to do between now and morn!
“TI suppose those men are still 12

Two long pieces of timber had bee®

eee
ee ee md

fey
spliced’ |

ye

ON

mine trying to overpower Donov@® ~ 7
”

  

held in place by some of the mob, and | ©
drove through the fastenings at the top”

ad ey

vert PF
her of

 

arty. : 6
. “Most likely; but now that Wright yi
got the upper hand there’s little cha e
they’ll be allowed to stay very long:

Despite the excitement on every
the occupants of Mrs. Byram’s ¢?
were gla

rage

 

reason ‘of these movements was made-

ity, and before the tumult in ¢ e st

  
 
 
 

had died away they sought the necder ace a

pose. It had been decided that

 

 

yard

to retire at the first opporedt |

RP