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Show THE NEPHI, UTAH TIMES-NEW- S, CHAPTER XV Continued Wm. MacLeod Raine 14 He knew now that his situation win very serious one, for be had been flung alive Into a grave that offered only a slight prospect of escape.. He was without food, effectually cut off from the surface of the earth, and none but those who had assaulted him knew that he was burled. The alternatives that lay before Mm were plain. He might climb the ladder again to the timber ledge and keep calling for help, or he might attempt to dig a way over the cave-I- n with his hands and his pocket-kniftrusting that the tunnel led to another shaft. The former was a chance pure and simple, and a slender one at that It was not likely that anybody would pass the mouth of a deserted shaft far up In the hills at this season of the year. But It was quite within the probabilities that the tunnel led to some of the workings of a live property. Many miles of underground drifts were connected by Intercepting stopes of adjoining mines. If he could force a way through the cnve-lthere might be safety beyond. To go moling into such a place without timbering would be a dangerous business, but the crisis was one that Justified any risk. He took stock of his assets. Fortunately he had bought at a lunch counter a ham sandwich to stay his appetite during the night trip. This was still In his pocket, budly mashed but still edible. Five cigars were in the cnse he carried and upon his person all told he found eleven matches. A little trickle of water ran through the tunnel and gave assurance that he would not die of thirst. His pocket-knif- e was a serviceable one and he had plenty of physical strength. Jack decided that he would eat half of the sandwich that day and reserve the rest for the second one. Ills cigars were precious luxuries to be Indulged In once every twenty-fou- r hours after he had knocked off work. He attacked the cave-i-n with the cool energy that characterized him. Out of a piece of board he fashioned a kind of shovel with his knife. Bits of broken timbering 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 till noon the following day lie dug among the fallen rocks and dirt, cleaning this debris away after he had loosened It with his bare hands. The Impact of the fall when he had been thrown down the shaft had Jarred him greatly. With the slightest movement of the body his back and shoulders ached, sending shoots of pain In The sprained protest to his brain. ankle he had bound tightly In a wet handkerchief, but every time his weight rested on that leg he had to grit his teeth. But It was not In lilra 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 fagged to exhaustion. For half an hour ho 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 be returned to the n coat Favoring his ricked 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 tw minutes to attract the attention of anyone who might chance to be passing near. Toward evening he fronted himself to his first cigar, making the most of the comfort that It gave him. When the stub grew short he held It on the small blade nf his knife so as not to a p"ff. nils What was Iift he wrapped In a pocket handkerchief for later use. As the stars began to come out In the little patch of blue sky he could see Just above hh prison Jack lowered himself again to the foot of the shaft. Here he lay down a second time and within five minutes had fallen Into a deep sleep. About midnight he awakened and was aware at onre of a ravenous hunger. He was still resolute to win a out, though the knowledge way pressed on him that his chances were slender at the best. Till morning he worked without a moment's rest. The fever In his ankle and the pnln of the sprain hud Increased, but he could not afford to pay any attention to them. Blood from his scarred, torn hnnd ran down Ids wrists. Every muscle In his abused body ached. Still he stabbed with his knife inlo the earth that filled (he tunnel and still he pulled great rocks back with his shovel. All his life he had fought for his cwn hand. He would not let himself believe fnte bed played so scurvy a trick as to lock lilm alive Into a tomb closed so tightly that he could not pry a way out Wien his watch fold him It was elgfit o'clock he staggered to the shaft gnln and lay down on hi back to rest. Before climbing to the platform above he finished the sandwich. He was very hungry and could have eaten enough far two men had be been Copyright by O. W. Dllllnghim Co. the opportunity. Again for hours he called every few minutes at the top of bis voice. In his vest pocket were a pencil and a notebook used for keeping the accounts of the hlghgraders 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 brokenly. He was conscious of a little delirium In his waking spells, but the coming of midnight found him master of himself, though a trifle It was Impossible to work as steadily as he had done during the two previous nights. Hunger and pain and toll were doing their best to wear out his strength. His limbs moved Once he fell asleep In the midst of his labor, ne dreamed of Moya, and after he awakened as he presently did with a start she seemed so near that It would scarce have surprised him If in the darkness his hands had come In contact with the soft flesh of her vivid face. Nor did It strike him as at all odd that It was Moya and not Joyce who was visiting him when be was In prison. The face he saw was the mocking one of the young woman, in which gayety overran the tender sadness of the big, dueky eyes beneath which tiny freckles had been sprinkled. More than once he clearly heard her whisper courage to lilm. Next day the notes In his diary were more fragmentary. "Broke my rule and smoked two cigars today. Just finished my fourth. I drink a great Leaves one more. deal. It helps me to forget I'm hungry. Find a cigar goes farther If I smoke It In sections. I chew the stubs while I'm working. "Have tunneled in about seventeen feet. No sign that I'm near the end of the cave-In- . There's a lot of hell In being burled alive. "Think I'm losing my voice from shouting so much when I'm In the shaft Gave It up today and let little She's a trump. Moya call for me. Wish she'd stay here all the time and not keep coming and going." The Jottings on the fourth day show the Increase of the delirium. Sometimes his mind appears to be quite clear, then It wanders to queer fancies. Got sick from "Last cigar rone. Violent retchings. eating the stub. Kept falling asleep while working. Twenty-nin- e feet done surely reach the end tomorrow. . . , Another cave-IJust after I crawled out from my tunnel. All my work wiped out. Moya, the little devil, laughed and said It served a highgrader right. . . . "Have telegraphed for help. Can't manage alone. Couldn't make It up the shaft and had to give up the climb. Ordered a big breakfast at tile Silver Dollar steak and mushrooms and hot The telegraph wires run cakes. through pipe along floor of tunnel. Why don't the operator stay on his Job? I tap my signals and get no answer." He began to talk to himself In a rambling sort of way. Sometimes he g would try to Justify himself for In Jerky phrases, sometimes he argued with I'eale that he had better let him out But even In his delirious condition he stuck to his work in the tunnel, though he was scarce able to drag himself about. As the sickness grew on hlra, the Intervals became more frequent In one of these It occurred to him that he had struck ore and he filled his pockets with samples taken from the cave-In- . There was no sequence to his thoughts. They enme In flashes without logical connection. It became, for Inslnnce, a firm obsession that the pipe running through the tunnel was a telegraph wire by means of which he could communicate with the outside world If the operator would only stay on duty. But his Interest In the niHtter was intermittent. It Is suggestive of his condition that when Moya's answer came to his seven taps he took It quite as a matter of cou rse. "The son of a Greaser Is hack on the Job at last." tie snld aloud without the least excitement. "Now, I'll get that breakfast 1 ordered." He crawled bark to the foot of the shaft In a childish, absurd confidence that the food he craved would soon be sent down to him. While lie waited. Jack fell Into light sleep where he lost himself In fancies thnt voiced themselves In Incoherent snutcheg of talk. given light-heade- lag-gardl- y. n high-gradin- half-cohere- light-heade- the breakfast that he had ordered from the Silver Dollar. ' "Get back Into the tunnel. Jack," Colter presently shouted. "What for?" "We're lowering someone to you. The timberings are rotten and they might fall on you. Get back." "All Five right" minutes later the rescuer reached the foot of the shaft. He stood for a moment with a miner's lamp above his head and peered into the gloom. "Where away, Jack?" The man was Ned Kilmeny. The captain had Insisted all the more because there was some danger In It that he should be the man lowered to the aid of bis cousin. breakfast?" Jack that "Bring snapped, testily. It's waiting up "Yes, old man. above. Brought some soup down with me." "I ordered two hours ago. What's been keeping you? I'm going to complain of the service." The captain saw at once that Jack was and he humored him. Now drink this "Yes, I would. light-heade- d soup." The Imprisoned' man drained the bucket to the last drop. Ned loosened the rope from his own body and fastened kt about that of his cousin. He gave the signal and Jack was hauled very carefully to the surface In such a way as not to collide with the Jammed timbers near the top. Colter and Bleyer lifted the highgrader over the edge of the well, where he collapsed at once Into the arms of his friends. Moya, a flask In her hand, stooped over the sick man where he lay on the grass. Her fine face was full of poignant sympathy. mind was quite clear Kilmeny's now. The man was gaunt as a famished wolf. Bitten deep Into his face were the lines that 'showed how closely he had shaved death. But In his eye ' was the gay Inextinguishable gleam of the thoroughbred. "Ain't I the quitter. Miss Dwlght? Keeling over just like a sick baby." over her The young woman chol-eanswer. "Xou mustn't talk yet. Drink this, please." He drank, and later he ate sparingly of the food she had hustlly gathered from the dinner table and brought with her. In jerky little sentences he sketch d his adventure, mingling fiction with fact as the fever grew on hlra again. Bleyer, himself a game man, could not withhold bis admiration after he had heard Captain Kilmeny's story of what he had found below. Tire two, with Moya, were riding behind the wagon In which the rescued man lay. "Think of the luck of the fellow when any boring away at that cave-Iminute a million tons of roc- - and dirt might tumble down and crush the life out of him. That's a big enough thing. But add to It his game leg and his wound and starvation on top of that I'll give It to blm for the gamest fellow that ever went down into a mine." "That's not all." the captain added quietly. "He roust have tunneled In about twenty-fiv- e feet when the roof raved again. Clean bowled out as he was. Jack tackled the Job second time." Moya could not think' of what had taken place without a film coming over ber eyes and a sob choking her throat A vagabond and worse be d n d high-grad- e K. 'WV ?Tn unless said in you come to the hotel," a low voice. lie looked at ber, was about to decline, and changed his mind. The appeal In her eyes was too potent "I'm In the hands of my friends. Settle It any way you like. Miss Dwlght Do whatever you want with me, except put me back In that hell." After a doctor had seen Jack and taken care of his ankle, after the trained nurse had arrived and been put In charge of the sick room. Captain Kilmeny made a report to Moya and his sister. "He's gone to sleep already. The doctor says he'll probably be at well as ever In a week, thanks to you, Moya." "Thanks to you, Ned," she amended. "He sent to you this record of how he spent his time down there said It might amuse yon." The captain looked straight at her as he spoke. "I'll read It." "Do. You'll find something on the last page that will Interest you. Now, I'm going to say good night. It's time little girls were In bed." He kissed his sister and Moya, rather to the surprise of the latter, for Captain Kilmeny never Insisted upon the rights of a lover. There was something on his face she did not It was as If he quite understand. were saying good-bInstead of goodisfied Moya " W "And what did you think?" be asked watching her steadily. "I admired her pluck tremendously." "Did Verlnder and Eleyer and Lady Farquhar?" "How do I know what they thought?" flamed the girl. "If Mr.Verinder is cad y She understood It presently. Ned had written a note and pinned It to the last page of the little book. She read It twice, and then again-itears. It told her that the soldier had read truly the secret her anxiety had flaunted in the face of all her friends. "It's no go, dear girl. You've done your best, but you don't love me. You never will. Afraid there's no way left but for me to release you. So you're free again, little sveetheart "I know you won't misunderstand. Never in my life have I cared for you so much as I do tonight But carlhtf Isn't enough. I've had my chance and couldn't win out May you have good hunting wherever you go." The note was signed "Ned." Her betrothed bad played the game like the gentleman he was to a losing finish. She knew he would not whimper or complain, that be would meet her tomorrow cheerfully and easily, hiding even from her the wound in his heart He was a better man than his cousin. She could not deny to herself that his gallantry had a finer edge. Ills sense of right was better developed and his courage quite as Ned Kilmeny bad won his steady. V. C before he was twenty-fivHe had carried to a successful Issue one of the most delicate diplomatic missions of recent years. Everybody conceded that he had a future. If Jack had never appeared on her horizon she would have.marrlel Ned and been to him a loving wife. But the harum-scarucousin had made this Impossible. Why? Why had her rovlnr heart gone out to this attractive scamp who did not want her love or care for It? She did not know. The thing was as unexplalnable as It was Inescapable. All the training of her life had shaped her to other ends. Lady Farquhar would explain It as a glamor cast by a foolish girl's fancy. But Moya knew the tide of feeling which raced through her was born not of fancy but of the true romance. e. CHAPTER XVII Two in a Bucket Jack heard the story of his rescue from India. He surprised her alone In the breakfast-rooby hobbling in one morning after the rest bad gone. She popped a question directly at him. "Did the doctor say you could get up?" "Didn't ask him," he answered with a laugh, and dropped Into a seat across the table. Shaven, and dressed In a clean freshly pressed suit, he looked a different man from the haggard grimy vagabond Captain Kilmeny had brought bact with him three days earlier. The eyes were still rather sunken and the face a bit drawn, but otherwise he was his very competent and debonair self. Ills "Good mornin'. India," was as cheery and matter of fact as If those five days of horror had never existed. "Don't believe It will hurt you." Her were warm In their apbright proval of him. "Ton look a lot fitter than yon did even yesterday. It's awfully Jolly to see you around again. Cousin Jack." "I'm enjoying It myself," he conceded. "Anything of Importance In that covered dish over there T' "Tell me all about It," she ordered, handing him the bacon. Then, with a shudder, she added: "Must have been . rnther awful down th're." "Bad enough." he admitted lightly. She leaned forward, "Tell me." chin n hand. "What's the use? Those fellow put But Even In Hie Delirious Condition me down. Your brother took me up. He Stuck to His Work In the Tunnel. That's all." "It Isn't all. Ned says It Is perbut held her Jack Kilmeny might be, fectly marvelous the way you dug that was useless to tunnel and escaped from being crushed, love beyond recall. It CHAPTER XVI remind herself that he was unworthy. and then dug It again after It bad None the less, she gloried In the splen csved." Captain Kilmeny Retires did courage of the man. Whatever could "Couldn't lie down and A voice calling his name from the else he might be. Jack Kilmeny was I? A mnn In the hole I wasquit, enn't pick man. Inch top of the shaft brought Jack Kllnw'ny every and choose." He smiled lazily at her hack to consciousness. There was little discussion be and took a muffin from a piste He answered. handed A shout of Joy boomed down to hlin tween Colter end Captain Kilmeny as blm by the waiter. "My turn to ask In Colter's henvjr bass. lie could hear, to which of them should take care of I want the full story of questions. the Invalid. The captain urged that how you gtieed 1 was In the too, the sweet troubled tones of west care would at woman. the hotel, shaft of the Golden Nugget?" he get belter "Hurry, please, hurry. . . . Thank where Lady Ftrquhar and India could "Haven't yoa heard? It was Moya look after him. Colter referred the guessed It from the tapping on the God, we're In time." "Got that breakfast with you, little matter to Jack. pipe, ynu know." r "I'm not going to burden Lady "So I've been told. Now let's have neighbor," Jsck called op weakly. Me to need or India. Colter on look out the particulars." His eyes weot arrow-straigdid not be told that Moya Into hers and rested there. Dwlght was above, and, since she was for me," the sick man said. India told blm. She knew that Ned "It's no trouble, India won't be sat there, of course she had brought him Far-qaha- Nugget" night s e.-e- StS would make a safer husband for Moya than this forceful adventurer. It was quite likely to bt on the cards that he cared nothing for her friend. Indeed, his desperate flirtation with Joyce Indicated as much. Moreover, Moya would not marry a man whom she could not respect one who made his living by dishonest practices. But In spite of all these objections Miss Kilmeny told her cousin how Moya had fought for his life against ridicule and unbelief, regardless of what any of them might think of her. He made one comment when she had finished. "So I have te thank Moya Dwight for my life." "Moya alone. They laughed at her, but she wouldn't give up. I never saw anybody so stubborn. There's something splendid In ber. She didn't care what any of us thought The one thing in her mind was that she was going to save you. So Mr. Bleyer had to get up from dinner and find out from the maps where the pipe went He traced it to the old west shaft of the Golden "He's a Better Man Than You Are, Jack." " She enough stopped, recalling certain obligations she was under to that gentleman. "Why did she do it?" She flashed a look of feminine scorn at him. "You'll have to ask Moya that if you want to know." He nodded his head slowly. "That's Just what I'm going to do." "You'll have more time to talk with her now that Joyce is engaged and daren't flirt with you," his cousin maliciously. Though he tried to carry this off with a laugh, the color mounted to his face. "I've been several kinds of an Idiot In my time." "Don't you dare try any nonsense with Moya," her friend cried, a little sug-gest- fiercely. "No," he agreed. "She's not Joyce." He had an answer for that "I'd marry her tomorrow If she'd take me." "Yoa mean you . . . ?" "Yes. From the first day I met her And I didn't know It till I again. was down In that bell hole. Shall I tell you something?" He put his arms on the table and leaned toward her with shining eyes. "She was with me down there most of the time. Any time I stopped to listen I could bear her whisper courage In that low, sweet voice of hers." "You know about her and Ned?" "Yes." "He's a better man than yon are. Jack." "Yes." "But you won't let him have her." "No, by G d, not unless she loves him." "She would have loved him If It hadn't been for you." "You mean she loves me?" "She won t marry you. She can't" "Why not? Because I don't belong to her social set?" "No. That would be reason enough for Joyce or me. but I don't think It would stop Moya." "You mean blghgradlng?" "Yes." Joyce Interrupted further confidences by making her usual late appearance for breakfast At sight of Kilmeny her eyes brightened. Life always became more Interesting for ber when possible man was present Instantly she csme forward with a touch of reluctant eagerness that was very effective. "I'm glad to see you up again so glad. Mr. Kilmeny." In the pretty breakfast gown wnlch displayed her soft curves and the ripe roundness of throat and arm she made a picture wholly charming. If Jack wss overpowered he gave no sign of It. "Glad to meet you. Miss Seldoo." Her eyes rained sweet pity m him, a tenderness potent enough to disturb (he serenity of any young man not In armor. "We we've been so worried about you." He laughed genially ai without resentment "Awfully good of you. Shall I ring for the waiter?" India rose. "I'm going riding with Ned and Moya." she explained. (TO RR CONTINUED.) When women realize that they are lot of better than men they spend time r retting the fac FARMER MUST KNOW PRODUCT OF COWS That utensils exert the greatest Influence on the bacterial count of Bin-gl- e fresh milk has been shown many times by experiments, says F. C Button, professor of dairy Industry at the New Jersey State College of Agriculture. Professor Button points out that baying clean, sterile utensils Is the most Important of the "Big Four" In clean milk production, clean cows, small-to- p palls, clean utensils, and prompt cooling. Utensils may be clean so far as the eye can discern, but unless they are thoroughly sterilized they may contribute enormous nuubers of bacteria to the milk coming in contact with them. , Utensils should first be rinsed In water that Is clean and cold or lukewarm. .This will remove any milk that might otherwise be cooked to the sides of the utensils later when hot water Is used. They should then be washed in hot water containing an alkali or washing powder. Scrub-bin- e with a stiff brush Is necessary to get Into the cracks and seams. Wash rags, soaps, and greasy powders should not be used in the dairy. A final rinsing In clean water prepares the utensils for sterilization. Steam is the best sterilizing agent. Live steam should play upon the utensils for five minutes. After that the utensils will dry quickly when Inverted on a rack. Boiling in water for five to ten minutes is next best to steaming. The drying of utensils after sterilization should not be overlooked, and protection from dust flies, and chickens Is Important The Importance of washing utensils Immediately after using them Is very great Experiments showed that when utensils were washed dlrectfy after milking, the average bacterial count of the subsequent milking was 606,000 in 25 drops of the milk. When some of the utensils were left unwashed for eight hours and then washed in the same manner as the other utensils, the subsequent milking had an average count of 1,677,000 bacteria in 25 drops of the milk. Improved Milk Shipping Methods to Avoid Los3 To develop better methods for handling and shipping milk from the farms to the city market Is the object of an investigation of practices In various milk plants, which Is being made by the dairy division of the United States Department of Agriculture. Milk losses during shipment have a marked effect upon the price that the consumer must pay for the product and upon the price that the farmer receives for the product The losses are of two kinds; those resulting from milk souring in transit and those from theft spoilage and leakage. Both are believed to be avoidable If the farmer, country dealer and city dealer will work together. Dealers are being asked to give information on various subjects, such as the methods used for transporting milk from the farm to the dealer, the protection provided for milk while In transit between the dealer and the city market and the relative efficiency of different types of refrigerator cars. Five Points to Observe in Selecting Dairy Cow The five points to be observed in selecting a good dairy cow are as follows: First Large body, and especially middle piece. Indicating a capacity for eating and digesting a lot of food. Second Thinly fleshed backbone, and especially back of the shoulders. This Indicates that the food Is not made Into flesh. Third Large udder, as It Is here thnt the milk U made. It IsJ Fourth Large milk wells. through these that the blood returns to the heart from the udder. If they are large. It Indicates that a large amount of blood passes through the udder. Fifth Large, clear eyes. This Indl- cafes good nerves, and they drive the organs of digestion and milk-makin- Treating Hard Milkers cows are treated the persistent use of dilators or nard-mllkln- g by by cutting the lining membrane of the teat with a teat bistoury. After this la done a little milk must be stripped away often during the healing process. In some cases it may be advls-able to cut away a small portion of the tip of the teat. These Instruments may be obtained and used at home, but It Is usually best to have the work done by a veterinarian unless one Is skilled with the Instruments. DAIRY FACTS The dairyman who Is receiving less than 200 pounds of bntterfat from his cow Is being poorly paid for his labor. The silo provides the best and cheapest form of succulent winter feed, which belps to keep the cows healthy and productive when dairy products are highest. f i |
