fie
IfM'
VOL II.
LINCOLNTOX, N. C, FRIDAY, MAY 3, 1889.
NO. 51
. l '- '
! III! III! Ill . I! II
fly
c
BY JOHN E. IS AK RETT.
COPTKIOHTKD 1S. BY COLMtli'S "ON'CK A
WKLK." "ALL Hi Q UTS KK.-ifc.KV ED." I'UB
I.ISHEO BV HPKCIAL AURA NO EM H.NT
WITH TUB F'HOPRIKro.H OF
"osck a v::kj."
"""Presently a wan, who seemed to be in
a great hurry, and who crossed tho va
oant lota from the nntravelcd portion of
the lower sid, where a h-ap of culm lay,
turned Into the sloio, anl hurried down
into the mine as rapidly as the darkness
would permit.
" Let's follow him," said Ham.
The suggestion uiado the detective
shudder, but he tald;
"Doiou know the way ? "
" Yes, a well as he does, Lot we ought
to havo a lamp."
Il had no sooner said tho words, than
a light appeared a few yards lower down
the slope. The face of the man who
lighted the lamp, just as oou as he was
far enough in from the entrance not to
betray himself, was now fully re
vealed against the tiny flame that strug
gled for existence in the ttiff current of
uool air which rushed through the elope,
and Sawyer was amazed.
"As I live 1" he exclaimed, "it is Tom
Eckert! Sam, my boy, we must follow
him, though he should fro to the center
of gravity itself."
CHAPTER XIX.
THE BLACK-DAMP OF DEATH.
TIE appearenoe of
It he wealthy and
beautiful Zelda Oar
on in the humble
home of Noel Ed
.v w:
Z&l to
wards was a surprise
Edith; but great
as was Edith's riston-
hment over such au
unlocked-f o r visi t,
Zelda was even more amazed at finding
Detective Sawyer there. The eagerness
of the detective to implicate 'her cousin
in the fearful tragedy made Zelda regard
him with aversion, not because of any
desire on hei part to shield the assassin,
even were he her own brother, but
because she believed implicitly in Clar
ence Carson's innocence, and f-be shrank
from the distrrace of seeing a member of
the family on trial for a crime which she
felt certain he. did not commit.
" Pardon my curiosity," said Zelda to
Edith, in a tone of ill-concealed anxiety,
a soon as t c detective disappeared,
"but I should like to know very much
what that man was doing here."
Edith was truck by the abruptness, aa
well as by the strange nature of the
question, and her first impulse was to re
sent it. She felt that Clarence Carson's
proud co isin would not dare speak so if
their social positions in life were equal,
but she did not put her thoughts into
words.
Zelda, who was most kind at heart,
noticed Edith's embarrassment, and
promply hastened to repair her mistake.
"Excuse mo," she said, "if the question
has given you offense; it was an impul
sive one, and asked for a purpose, which
I don't mind explaining to you."
"There is no reason why I should not
tell you why he called here," replied
Edith. " It is the first time he ever set
foot in this house, and he came with a
message which was quite aa unexpected
aa his visit. I refer to this letter from
your cousin, Mr. Clarence Carson," and
ho showed Zelda the brief and hastily
writ ten note which Clarence had sent to
her.
"Impossible 1 " exclaimed Zelda, before
looking at the writing. "That man isa
detective, and instead of carrying a
letter from Cousin Clarence to you. it
would be his duty to arrest him a duty
which I assure you he would be only too
glad to perform just now. Why, it is but
a short time since Clarence escaped from
the cut-tody of that same detective, and
I helped him go away, until this mystery
U cleared up: net :iue I don't believe he
i guilty, and I half suspect that some of
those who are so eager to put him in the
toil are the real offenders themselves."
Zelda glanced at the letter which
Edith gave her, expecting to be able to
condemn it as a forgery, and she was as
tounded to find that it was without
doubt in her cousin's handwriting; but
how it could possibly have passed into
the possession of Detective Sawyer was
a punzle which she could not hope to
solve.
"Yes," she said, "this was written by
Oiarenee; but how could that man Saw
yer get hold of it ? Surely there is some
trap connected with this."
Although Edith's aversion for Clarence
Caron could hardly be greater, her
sympathetic curiosity was aroused by
Zelda's strance conduct and startling
words.
"I don't quitw understand you, Mia
Carson," h aid. " Why should a trap be
laid for your cousin? I would not be a
party to any conspiracy against him or
any body else," and Edith colored crim
boa as he spoke the recollection of the
hateful marriage certificate rising up
.vividly before her mind. '
"I don't say that you are," answered
Zelda; "why should you be, now that you
are hi wife? Ah, you cannot believe
the fearful accusation which hi9 enemies
make' aguiust him 1 With all his faults,
Clarence could not be so cold-blooded or
m cruel as to take my poor, dear f ather'i
lkV"
'Gracious Heaven I Miss Carson," Edith
exclaimed; " is he suspected of this fear.
Jul thing i "
v7SV Tallin-R fifP
"Yea, but, as I firmly believe in my in
most soul, wrongfully. He is Incapable
of such infamy. Still, as ou are his
wife, it is but right that von should know
all."
" No, thank fortune, I am not his wife,'
taid Edith.
"Not his vvil '" echoed Zeida in won
der. "Why, he told uie himself of your
marriage. He said it orvuried at a place
called Ihiws ?i's, and that- Ju "v llai.souj
officiated. He was very e:irne-.t about
the matter, and I don't -believe he would
have told me lust that he was anxious V;
account for all lus movements on th
dreadful n";hf that my dear father war
attacked. told me of hid h-ss of nfty
thousand c'olluis to i woman whom I be.
lieve to be an ailvntire. of his pay
Uient of that t i rihle gunibli-i d.-hi (.
ha infatuation fm ymi shn. e he first
you, of your hasty marriage aurl lntcn&i
ed trip to Europe, when all his plans were
frustrated on the evo of your departure.
Can it be possible, after all this, that you
still deny the marriage which it may yet
be necessary for you to swear to in order
to save hi9 life? Ah, reflect! Remem
ber that although he is under a cloud, it
will not be always so, and he will yet be
able to show that he is worthy of you."
" I would not deny our mat ringe If It
hud taken place," said Edith. "Mr. Car
son is laboring under a false impression
and his delusion is strengthened by a cer
tificate of our supposed marriage signed
by Judge Kiiusom, who stoutly declare
that he performed the ce.emony. But
strange as it may seem to you to hear me
say so, 1 never took part in such a cere
mony, and it makes miserable to think
that I must be haunted forever by this
mystery. I am a poor girl, Miss Carson,
but I would not wed your cousin were he
teu times a millionaire, because I posi
tively dislike him."
"This is a strange puzzle," kiid Zelda,
who was sadly perplexed. "Clarence
claims you as his wife, and holds a cerJ
filiate to that effect. Judge Ransom, who
performed the ceremony, corroborates
his claim, and yet you deny it all. The
facts are ail against you, and yet if you
consented at any time to such a marriage
you ought to remember it. Can it be pos
sible that you were married in a trance ?
Do you remember all that took place
while you were at Dawson's ? "
'I cannot remember a great deal that
occuied there. I was unconscious when
token there, and I remained so for some
time, I suppose. I do recollect distinctly,
however, that I met your cousin; that he
followed me along the corridor, calling
out that I was his wife, and I succeeded
in evading him because I thought he
must be drunk or insane. My next re
collection was that I was placed in a car
riage by force, and was about to be car.
ried away somewhere, wheu my father
happened upon the scene and saved me.''
Zelda, who had been listening to
Edith's story in astonishment, said.
"Y'oursis indeed a wild and peouliar
experience. It amaze me the more 1
learn about it, and I am at a lo-s what to
think. lilt not possible that there may
be some villainy at the bottom of" the
entire, affair, of which neither you nor
my cousin can have any cognizance? It
seems so to me, and I am more than half
convinced that you are both the vic
tims of a conspiracy that is engineered
by some desperate people. Is it not pos
sible that those who entrapped you into
this alliance with mv cousin, of which
you seem to know nothing, are the same
persons that robbed and assaulted my fa
ther? Can vou not recall some of the
faces uud the incidents at Dawson'
What kind of people did you. see there?
Do vou know anything of my cousin's
connection with t hem ? "
"I can tell nothing because I know
nothiug, said Edith. My experience
iri that place is like some horrid night
mare unpleasant to recall and one thai
I would gladly forget."
" Alas !" said Zelda, in despair, "I had
hoped that you could help me throw
some light on this mystery, but I feat
that you cannot. I have felt the hand ol
Death upon my heart, and thinking you,
as his wife, might be interested in the
case of my f ugative cousin, Cllirence, 1
thought I would come and tell you o1
our great trouble of our affliction and
our dtegrace."
There were tears in ifelda's eyes, and
Edith was touched to the heart by hei
great sorrow.
"I wish indeed, I wish that I could
comfort and console yon," said Edith, ir
a tone of voice that trembled with emo
tion. "I feel keenly for your grea
grief."
Zelda extended both hands. For a few
seconds she could not ppeak. At last sh
said:
"Let this interview be as though it
never had been held, but if you evei
need assistance come to me."
"It shall be as you say," and Edith
clasped tho proffered hands of the Steel
King's daughter in her own.
In that moment both women felt that,
although separated widely by wealth and
social station, there was a bond of sympa
thy that brought them very cloe to
gether as they mingled their tears.
Zelda Carson could remain no" longer,
so with a choking V good-by," she drew
her wrap about her, and hastened out
and away in the .direction of her now
desolate home.
She was ' about to turn into the main
thoroughfare of Grimsby, when a thrill
ing crash, as if a thousand thunder-storms
were thrown into one, shook the side
walks and shattered the glass in the
gTeat show windows of the stores.
Zelda thought of an earthquake.
The strange wild commotion and startl
ing storm of sound filled her with terror,
and for a few minutes she was appalled
by the awe-inspiring incident. Present
ly a new element of fear was added to
the bewildering sensation. The gas went
out, leaving the streets in sudden and
complete darkness. Zelda feared to go
ahead, and as soon as she could control
her reasoning power she decided to go
back to the little dwelling which she Sad
justleft.
She found Edith Edwards In darkneai,
consoling the younger cnildreu, whowere
clinging about her in terror. The little
lamp that occupied a placw on the shaky
center-table in the parlor had been
smashed into fragments by the great
nhock.
Zelda Carson pause! at the door, fear
ing lest some disaster had occurred with
in. Presently she was reassured by the
sound of Edith's musical voice and hope
t ul words, as she heard her saying:
" Children, dear, have courage. The
God that guards us when the sun is shiu
ing will not desert u in the darkness and
the storm ! '
These words fell like healing balm on
Zelda's sore heart and feverish spirit,
and bhe repealed:
" The God that guards us when the sun
is shining will not desert us in the dark
ness and the storm."
' " Ah, what sublime faith ! " thought
Zelda.
Edith heard the words that seemed an
echo of her own prayer, and wondered
who it could possibly be, until Zelda
made herself knowu.
In a few minutes another lamp was ob
tained. The house was still shaking
perceptibly from the effects of the sho k.
Presently the street was tilled witb
people, whoso excited cries mingled in a
wild chorus that rose high above the
rumbling sound of the dying storm.
Men stopped and asked in wonder and
dismay, "What has happened?" and foi
the time being no intelligent answei
could Ai given to this question.
Edith and Zelda looked at each other
hi terror; and it was a relief to both when
they heard a voice from the crowd that
rushed past, exclaiming:
"It is an explosion of fire-damp in the
mine ! "
The next moment the welcome face of
Ned Newcomb appeared at the door. He
was evidently much excited, like every
one elBe, but his manly, reassuring words
were good to hear as he said:
"Have no fear, Edith; the danger is
past. A tremendous explosion of lire
damp has occurred in the Carson slope,
but the shock has already spent its
force."
Never was Edith's admiration for Ned
Newcomb greater than in that moment,
when, like a guardian angel, he step
ped down, as it were, from the midst of
the storm-cloud to calm her fears. Dear,
brave, big-hearted, unselfish Ned 1 She
did not expect that she would ever see
him again, after having sent him away
without hope when he declared how
deeply he loved her!
But Ned's love was not of that tickle or
selflsn kind, and when the terrible ex
plosion occurred that shook the city of
Grimsby, his lirst thought was of Edith
and of the little ones that were clinging
about her in fear.
The excitement on the streets contin
ued, and a Ned was allaying the fears of
his listeners, a miner was heard telling a
group that halted in front of the door:
"There were men In th mine at the
time of the explosion, and it is feared
that they are all lost. To the rescue,
boys, and let it not be said that any man
among us is too selfish or too cowardly to
risk his life forjthose who are in danger! "
Ned Newcomb could not resist this ap
peal, even if it was not addressed to him,
and, promising Edith that he would re
turn in a short time, he hastened out and
joined the crowd of men that ran to the
mouth of the mine-slope, that hail so re
cently belched forth the black-damp of
Death.
CHAPTER XX.
A SUBTERRANEAN STORM.
. - HEN Tom Ec kert
lighted the lamp
that was to guide
him down the steep
:4ope leading into
the depths of the
Carson coal mine, he
little knew that two
pairs of keen eyes
were eagerlv watch
ing him, and least of all the eyes of de
tective Sawyer and Sam Sh;rrp, the
newsboy.
The mine had been idle -since the great
steel m il was dismantled, because its
suppiy of coal was ued mainly for the
purpose of keeping that establishment
going, and Eckert firmly believed that
there was not a human being in the place
but himself.
" Some grt at motive must have brought
him into this spooky tunnel alone," w-his-pered
the detective in i-ara Sharp's ear.
"It's queer as he should come hereby
himself, " said Sam, " when he might have
all the men from the mill with him if he
wanted them. I guess he wouldn't iike
it if he knew we were a-f ollerin' him."
"We must take good enre that he
doesn't know, my boy," replied Sawyer,
with emphasis, adding, " Don't lose your
lamp, lad; we may have plenty of use
for both yours and mine before we get
back. "
"Never fear, " said the boy, "I know a
thing or two about mines."
The detective and Sam took with them
two mine lamp which they found near
the entiauce of the slope, but they did
not intend to light them unless some
emergency might arise that would make
it absolutely necessary for them to do
so.
The slope was an unusually long one,
and its descent difficult, owing partly to
the steep pitch, partly to the worn, ir
regular ties which held the rickety track,
and partly to the little pools of water
formed here and there by the slimy drip
from the roof; but the detective and his
brave little newsboy assistant managed
to make excellent headway.
Two or three times Tom Eckert paused
and looked cautiously around as if he
feared that he was followed, but when
ever he did so, Sawyer and Sam Sharp,
who moved with light footeps, also
came to a stand-still.
"If he should come back it wouldn't be
easftokeejfthd oJhim in the clark,"
said Sam, who secretly fenn-d Ec kert.
"He is not likely to come hack now,"
replied the detective. "He is too near
the loot of the slope to return until he
attends to the errand that brought him
dowu here. "
The haste with whloh Eckert darted
forward now justified the detcctivo's
cpii-i n.
A stiff current of oool air was rushing
through the slope, and Eckert found It
no easy t:irk to prevent las lump from
going out, but the nickering name held
ou with woiid'-rful tenacity, until after
a tiresome zig z.tg journey the light-bear
er came to n halt from pheer exhaustion.
After trimming his lainpimcw, Eckert
stood still for several minutes during
which he listened intent!)'. to make sure
that he was alone in that deep, dai k tol
itude. He gazed eagerly around him,
lifted his lamp high above his head and
peered anxiously into the gloom; then,
being satistied that his movements were
hot watched, he turned to the right and
walked rapidly along the main gangway
for some distance.
Sawyer and Sam Sharp managed if
keep as close behind as the line of light
would permit, aith w.)i the detective re
marked that the atmosphere of the place
was beeontii);r unbearable.
" Well, we au ftand b he can.1" sju!
Sam, "although I've heard the men say
that the air is none too good even vhcr
the miners are at work. Ah, soo where
he is coin' now. " And the boy plucked
the detective's sleeve as Tom Eckert
turned suddenly into a narrow passage
that led to an abandoned, working of the
tnine. " I'll swear I think the fellow is
took suddenly crazy, and that it ain't
iafe fur us- to' fdllow him any longer,"
added the newsboy.
"Hush, Sam! Not so loud. The sttll
oess of this place makes it a regular
whispering gallery, and if Eckert should
bear our voices it would spoil everything.
He is not crazy, as you shall see before
this hunt is ended; and r.s you said a min
ute ago, if he can stand it, we can. " '
Eckert now slackened his speed and
began to search carefully about in the
iismal mine-chamber, as if anxious to
locote some particular spot. H-e made a
t lose scrutiny of a coal pillar which had j
been left standing to support the roof of
:he mine, and he was evidently much
pleased with the result of his observa
tion much so, indeed, that he forgot
:o give his lamp that attention which he
lad bestowed upon it since entering the
nine. j
Sam noticed this, and the boy's quick I
;yes also saw a faint blue circle of light
meedily .formed like a halo about the
3ame. "" '.
" S'e ! see S " the lad cried, in a frighten-
?d whisper, as he caught the detective !
Convulsively by the arm.
Just then there was a succession of
olue flashes all through the chamber in
w hich Eckert was standing. They seem.
id to flit about with the velocity of
thought, and reminded Mr. Sawyer of
the darting forth of serpents tongues.
"That's fire-damp! " said Sam in alarm.
" Let's run back to the slope before it's
too late."
The detective felt that the warning
was well timed. Death in one of its
most horrible shapes was close at hand.
He knew the consequences that would
result in case the flame of the lamp
should strike the volume of deadly gas
which was evidently near. Sawyer was
a young man of iron courage, but here
was a situation in which neither courage
nor daring could avail in case the contact
itr flame and fire-damp should occur.
" Let us go, " raid Sam Hiarp.
'If you intend to be a detective,
you must show clear grit, Sam, " said
Sawyer, who in teality shared Sam's
tv u s. but was so fascinated by Eckert's
conduct that even the sen?' of a terrible
danger could not drive him away.
Eckert, after locating the spot in the
coal pillar for which he had been look
ing, laid his lamp on the floor of the mine,
took n short piece of steel from his over
coat pocket, "and with a few sharp strokes
released a large slab of anthracite which
had evidently been cut to fit a certain
opening.
This he removed, after which Sawyer
and Sam Sharp, who wore now watching
his actions with breathless interest, saw
him take a small box from the cavity.
As near as the detective could judge,
the box corresponded in size with the
cash-box that had been stolen from
Philip Carson's study on the night of the
murder. He had received a minute .des
cription of the missing cash-box from the
chief of police, to whom it had been
described by Zelda, after the tragedy,
and he could scarcely restrain himself
from rushing forward there and then to
confirm the suspicions that had recently
been growimr in his mind concerning
Eckert.
"Let us go back," said Sam, clutching
the detective by the arm; "I don't like
to be here."
We must not go now," responded. the
detective. "1 would not lose sight of
that man for all the gold in Grimsby."
"Why does he hide that box there?"
asked the boy.
"Ah, that's the point, my lad. Why
he has hidden that box there and why he
visits it alone is tire mystery that we
propose to penetrate. Men don't do
such things for mere pastime. There's
a secret conneoted with that box that
Eckert would sell his life rather than
reveal; so we must be cautious," whisper
ed the detective.
" He used to be Mr. Carson's confiden
tial book-keeper," said Sam.
"Hush, my boy! Not a word of that
at present," replied the detective, add
ing, "and now I think it would be pru
dent if we were not quite so close."
Saying this, they moved several yards
further away from Tom Eckert and in
the direction of the slope, but not so far
that the keen-eyed detective could not
watch every movement of Eckert's.
Sawyer assisted his observation con
siderably by watching Eckert through
onera-lass which enabled him to ex
Hmme tne cash-p0X minutelv and the
character of the papers that the confi
dential ixjok-keper took from it.
As long us Eckert's lamp stood on the
floor of the mine, thwr was an abnen
of those sinister flashes of blue flame
which had been cau-ed by contact with
the light. The volatile gax's rose t the
roof of the mine, and there accumulated
rapidly until a gieat volume was formed,
which was capable of causing death and
destruction.
Eckert had been in the miaes many a
time, with visitors who were the guests
of Mr. Carson, ami he had seen expert
miiMTft-inKe the gas that rushed through
some fissure in the coal, without incur
ring uny particular danger thereby, sc
that he was not particu.arly alarmed at
the fantastic streaks of light that danced
ubouthim. He took his time, therefore,
iu examining the valuable papers which
tho" cash-box contained, ami Detective
Sawyer' could s.-c by the expression of
hisface that he was highly pleased.
After a close scrutiny ot the papers,
Eckert placed them caref ullv ba -k in
the box, took it under his left arm. and
taking up his lump in his right hand,
started forward at a r.ipid pace in the
direction of Hie slope.
"We must get out ahead of him,"
whispered the detective to Sam Sharp,
" and arrest him just as lie emerges with
his plunder. It will be no easy matter
for us to make lu';nljt ay in the dark, but
it must be done."
"That's impossible,'' aid Sam. "we
must have. light.'
At that moment there was u burst of
light in the mice that fairly dazzled Sam
Sharp an lithe detective, awl looking
back they saw Eckert :tamhiiK in the '
midst of a sheet of flame, as if trannxed
with terror.
Presently there was a sharp crash of a
thrilling and deafening nature, and
Sam Sharp and Sawyer threw themselves
on their faces instantly, and crouched
close beside the sharp-edged rock. They
were not a moment too soon.
The very next instant ther?. was a
deafening roar, as if all Nature were
going to fragments, and coal-dust, rocks,
and pieces of lumber were whirled along
the gangway with the fury of a cyclone.
It was an awful moment of terrible sus
pense for Detective Sawyer and his
courageous little companion, as each
realized that death was close at hand.
Tom Eckert's lamp had done the work,
lie walked right into a great volume of
tire-damp, which exploded with fearful
foroe, and shook the mine from end to
end. Sawyer and Sam Sharp could hear
the tremendous commotion and feel the
shaking of the mine for several minutes.
In distant portions of the colliery,
where the pillars had been removed, the
crash of falling roof could be heard, and
it seemed as if the entire place would col
lapse. Sam Sharp's heart was beating wildly,
and it was a great relief to him when he
heaid Sawyer's voice saying:
' Sam ! Sam, are you alive ? "
And there can be no doubt that it was
a relief to Sawyer, after those moments
that seemed an eternity, to hear Sam's
cheery answer:
"I in alive, Mr. Sawyer, but not so
much as I'd like to be."
The echoes of the great crash were
gradually .dying out bv this time, and
Sawyer said:
"Let us go back and see what has be
come of Eckert."-
'"I'm afraid it ain't worth while" said
S im. "He must be a goner, sure"
"It is best to know di -finitely,'' s lid the
detective; "and besides there maybe
something in that box that we want very
badly. Let us go back.'
"All right," said Sam; aul t.ie detec
tive, lighting his lamp, led the way to
where, a few minutes before they bat
seen Tom Eckert standing with his box
under his arm in a halo of flame.
The chamber in which they had seen
him was blotted out. The entrance was
closed by a great fall of roof, which
carried with it immense blocks of coal,
and these were piled upon each other so
thick, and wedged together so closely,
that it was impossible to remove them
without blasting.
"He mut have been crushed to
death ! " suggested Sam, after thy made
a careful examination of the situation.
" Or he may be simply shut in," added
the detective. Loth listened intently
for a voice, but they heard nothing.
Then Sawyer shouted "Hallo!" with all
his might. The echo went ringing
through the chambers of the mine as if a
thousand voices had spoken.
Then they listened again, and both j
heard distinctly a painful moan. It was
clear that Eckert was injured, but how
to reach him, through that impenetrable
wall of rock and anthracite, was a prob
lem with which Sawyer and Sam Sharp
were unable to cope. Again that painful,
half-stifled moan reached their ears.
Sawyer called aloud, but their was no
answer, and after waiting a few minutes,
the detective said,
" Sam, we can accomplish nothing by
standing here. Let us go out of the slope
at once and get help to extricate Mr.
Eckert. He cannot now escape or hide
the mysterious errand that brought him
here, and if we can reach him before he
dies he may be able to tell us a story
stranger than fiction. Come, let us lose
no time in securing help to get Eckert
out," and saying this, detective and
newst-oy ran to the slope as fast as
possible, intent on obtaining assistance
to rescue Tom Eckert from his black an 1
narrow prison.
CHAPTER XXI.
TO THE B 6CCE.
HE fact that no per
son was known to
-x('5i be in the mine at
the time of the dis
aster soon caused
people to los in
terest in the matter,
and a good many
were about to go
home, when the
u w
fee ble bli. kei of a nvne-lamp wa seen
emerin from tic si pi
In less th. in a minute the news flew
around that some of the workmen wero
in the mine, and Sawyer uud Sam Sharp
had some difficulty in trying to allay the
appreht nins of tho e vh proved
around them for information. ThHr
aplaruitov was unexpected, and they
were immediately plied with all aorta of
Inquiries.
In reply to the numerous questions
addressed to them, Sawyer said:
"Gentlemen, this is no time for tedi
ous details. A iarty of visitors were
reckless enough to venture into. the
slope, and one of their number w:s
caught under the eiash, where he ;-t;lI
remains in great agony. We were un
able to assist him, and we decided to
Come out for help. Who will volunteer
to go down the shqie with me to the
fescue of this man?"
"I will! I wili!-' came from a dozen
voices, and the eager volunteers pressed
forward to the mouth of the slope where
Sawyer and Sam Sharp stood.
The detective was anxious to reach
Tom Eckert alive, for reasons of his
own, and so he urged the relief corps
hat accompanied himself and Sam Sharp
to make all possible speed. Sawyer, as
n shrewd detective, knew the value of
getting at his man before the latwr lo--t
consciousness, if such a tii ug were possi
ble. Ned Newcomb was one of the most
active, eueigetic members of the party.
Tho mere announcement that boinebody
was In deadly peril wa sufficient to en
list his sympathies and command his
assistance, and he was ainon r tie: i?-t to
volunteer his services when Dctetive
Sawyer appealed for a.d to n scite his
suppostd friend from the fearful fate
which threatened him in the mine.
Although he had been employed at
the steel miil, he was familiar with
mining, having worked for several years
in the slope m his younger days, and his
executive mind and energetic spirit were
of great benefit in directing the work of
extricating Eckert from the fearful pri
son into which he had been shut by tho -frightful
fall of roof that followed tho
awful explosion of fire-damp.
For six long, painful and perilous hours
the workmen toiled for life and death at
the grim task of trying to save Tom
Eckert's life. They succeeded in locat
ing his whereabouts at first by listening
attentively and hearing his faint half
stifled cries of pain and they labored
zealously and earnestly in that direction.
It was a difficult and dangerous task.
The after-damp was so dense as to make
the air almost unbearable, and the fall
ing of the roof, all around, at frequent
intervals, gave warning of impending
peril. Still the hardy rescuers toiled on
with heroic and admirable unselfish
ness, until the right hand of Eckert was
visible, sticking out from under a great
mass of anthracite by which he had leeu
p'nued down.
The sight of the hand gave the rescu
ers renewed strength and hope, and
caused them to redouble their energies.
Presently they were rewarded by a
sight of Eckert's head and body. Detec
tive Sawyer, who had been out for a
b. eath of fresh air, had just returned to
the slope a few minutes before Eckert
had been reached. It wa found that
Eckert was held fast to the floor of the
mine by a block of coal, weighing sever
al tons, whic h lav across his legs. His
head and body were but slightly Injured,
as they were prot cted by the contact of
two big boulbis. which met In the
cra-h and formed an inverted A. un"
der which he lay; but both his legs were
broken.
He was n.jt aware of this latter fact,
however, until the enormous weight was
lifted from his limbs and he made an
effort to stand erect, when he fell in a
dead faint on the floor of the mine.
Might beside where he was found was a
cash-box bearing the name "Philip Car
son.' This box was taken possession of by the
detective, who assured all around him
that he would give a good account of
its contents.. He called iqion Ned New
comb and two others to examine the
parers which it contained, along with
him, and they found, anions the rest,
United States bonds amounting to $J00,
000, in the box.
The discovery filled them with amaze
ment, being such an unusual sight to see
in the mine, and many were the conjec
tures indulged in as to what could have
brought Eckert and his treasure in such
a place.
Sawyer's keen mind took in the situa
tion at a glance, but he said nothing.
As soon as Eckert showed signs of re
turning consciousness, the detective
quietly gave orders for his immediate
removal from the mine.
Eckert, however, ki'clced ani struggled
against removal, and as he lay writh
inz in the coal d.ist, cried out to his ri scu
ers in a jntif ul tone of voice:
To be Continued."
A uew crematory facto v was
tried the other day in Jacksonville,
Fla, The result of the firtt hour's
wotk waa highly satisfactory.
Twelve barrels of night noil, five
baneis of garbage, one barrel of
chickeriP, one barrel of poiled
tih, four dog, one box of mat,
f ur alligators aud five load of re
fuse matter, including street. weep
ing", etc, two of thes being double
loads, making in all 7,800 pr-unds,
were burned. All this wa accom
plished with the ase of le-o than a
quarter of a cord of wood, as a large
portion of the reluse was of sacb a
ua'ure that it furnished its own
fuel, and all that was left at the end
of an hour was less than a pound of
ashes.
Muht any man caa get a olocic,
but it requires geuius to set a hen.
Ronton Ilullttin.
Chickens should receive their food
by the peck by the henpck, that
'a- Pittsb u rg Chron icle 1 elegra ph.
If your hen lays an egg in a hol
low tree, the easiest way to get iC
out is to hatchet out yourself or let
the hen. Dansville Breeze.
When all the hens in Farmer
Sitnpsou d barnyard refused to Uy
eggs the. worthy agriculturist wan
foic i to bok uhu it as u grand
chicken coup. Kucfuster Pvtt Ec-
Tho Uomeu I raise II. II. II.
The suffering of women certainly aw
kens the sympathy of the true philanthrop
ist. Their best friend, howevr ,i B. B. B.
(Botanic B'ood Balm). Send to Blood
Balm Co., Atlanta., Ga , for proof.
II. L. Csssidy, Kennesaw, Oa., writes:
"Th ree bottles RUB cured my wife of
scrofula.
Mrs. ti M Laws, Z-tlaU, Flu , "1 hTe
never used anylhiD to equal B. B. B.'"
Mrs. C H- Gay, Rocky MouDt, H. C-,
writes: "Not a day for 15 years was I free
from headache. B B B entirely relieve!
me I feel like another person."
James W Lancaster, Hawkinaville, O.,
writen: "My wife was in tal health for
eight years. Five doctors and many patent
medicines had done her ro good. Six bot
tles of II B B cure! her."
Miss S Toralinscn, Atlanta, Ga., says:
"For years I suff-Tea with rheumatism,
caused by kidney trouble and indigestion,
I also was leble and 'nervons. B B B re
lieved me to once, although several other
medicines had fsilei."
liev. J M Rich aid-on; CUrkston, Ark ,
writes: "My wife suffered twe've year
with rheumatism sni female c mp'aint- A
lady member of my church had been cured
by B B B. he persuaded my wife to try
i , who now say s there h nothing like ti B
B., as it quickly gave her relief."
Tlio First Apple Pair.
Eve was the first appte womaj.
Puck.
Adam inaugurated the er'y
c'othing movement. Boston Bulle
tin.
Adm s second Pon was the first
AbeUbodied man on record. Wash.
ingtori Critic.
If, as we are led to infer. Eve be
came Adam's wife on the day that
she was made, she had ample rea
son for using the phrase so common
to ber daughters in th jse d-typ, "Ob,
this is f-o sudden !': Boston Courier.
IS CONSUifPTION IS CUR A BLE?
Real the following : Mr. C. II. Morrii
Newark, Arkansas, ?ay8' "Was down with
Abscess of Lungs, and friends and pby
lcians pronounced me an insurable con
umntive. IWan takinc Dr. King's New
Discovery for conumrtion. urn now on
my third bottle and able to oversee the
work on my firm. It is the best medicine
fver made."
Je? MHdlewart, Decatua, Ohio, says:
"Had it not bn tor Dr. Kind's New Dis
covery fr c neumptin I wou'd have died
of Lung trouolcs. VV ho givm up by doctors.
Am now in bt of health. Iryit. f?am.
pie bcti'.f-s fre'i at 1).-. J. M Lawin's
Dru::strK
Keceipe.
Cutlets of Cold Mutton. Cut the
regains of cold loin or neck of mat
ton into cutlets, trim them, and
Uke away a portion of the fat.
should there be too much ; dip7 them
in beaten egg, sprinkle with bread
crumb, and fry them a nice brown
in hot drippings! arrange them on
a dish, and pour round them either
a good gravy or hot tomato sauce.
Stewed and Celery Sauce. Cat 3
roots of celery into pieces two
inches. long, pot them ia a stewpan
with a pint of good gravy, two
onions si ice 1, and simmer gently
until' the celery is tender; let the
gravy cool, then add the beef, cut
into rather thick pieces; let it jast
boil up, and serve with fried pota
toes.
ELECTElC BITTEBS.
This remedv is becoming so well known
and so popular as to need no special mens
tion. All who have used Electric Bitters
sins; the fame &m of prai.e. A purer
medicine does not exist and it is zuaran
teed to do all that is claimed Electric
Bittc-s will cure all diseases of the Liver
and Kiicey?, will remove Pimples, B)ils
Salt Kbeura and other affections caused by
impure blood. Will drive Malaria from the
system and prevent aa wtll as cure all
Malarial fevers. For cure of Headache,
Constipation and Indirection try Klectric
Bitters Entire satisfaction guaranteed, or
money refunded. Price 50 cents and $1.00
per bottle atDr, J. M. Lading's Drugstore.