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Show Ituc i nv im tuc rnc Lfiui m nil I COAL MINE As Dan Gronowny, forcmnn of tho colliery wns directing tho Instillntlon of a new wlro cable In the tlpplo, ho was slgnnled by n good looking, styl. iBhly dressed young woman standing on the track by the box cur loader. "Mr. Oronowny?" sho chirruped, extending a gloved hand to tbo sooty ono of tho mlno boss reluctantly held out. "Tho same, mn'nm," said Dan, with tho air of a man to whom time la monoy. "My namo Is Kthel Hunter," she said, In n friendly way. "I am trav cling tcprcsentntlve for tho Ladles' Delight, n lenutlful publication, and when I sell so many copies 1 get a teachers' course freo In tbo unl-.eislty." unl-.eislty." "Ycs'm," was tho roroman's brlel responso, as ho began edging off. "I want to go down In llio mlno." "Tbo dt I mean, )cs'm," Bald Uan, recovering hlmsolf. "When can I go?" "Ye can't go nt all." "llut I hae a written order fro: Mr Thurston, the manager." "Then let Mr. Thurston come and show jo around." Tho oung woman looked wltr, troubled ees Into tho stern faco ot tho foreman. "I heard you wore such a nice man," Bin; said. "They be telling lies on mo," ro-turned ro-turned Dan, though not unkindly. "Hut, look a hore. Miss or " Hunter." "Miss Hunter It's us dark as stack ot black cats down thorc, and thcro be mulo trains whlrzlng by evory blessed mlnuto, and tho cross entries has got water In 'em and thcro bo rnts as big ns cats." Tho oung woman burst Into tears. Hevoral wen hnd gathered around, during the colloquy and looked sym-putitzlngly sym-putitzlngly at tbo fair petitioner. "And I wanted to bo a teacher, eo ns to support my poor old mother nnd Httlo brothers and sisters!" sho sobjed. A slight framed, wiry man touched tho forcmnn on tho arm. "I'll go with her, Dan," ho whispered whis-pered Tho good sntrnrltnn was Jack Illch-nrds, Illch-nrds, n shot llrcr. Tho young woinat with n big family responsibility wlpir1 her eyes and looked gratefully at tin slight framed knight. 11)' a contemptuous con-temptuous hrug of his shoulders Dan Indicated tb'J wnshlng of his hands In connection with tho wholo fool business, and returned to his wire cable. As tho seven o'clock whistle rss splitting tho nlr above tho engine room of No. 8 tho next morning tho lady with n mission appeared at tbo tlpplo nnd sought her cuvuller. Sho was attired In a coarso black garment gar-ment and woro it hcuy shnwl over her head, but It did not kluo seductive seduc-tive lltt'o curls which peeped out over tho white forehead. At tho bottom Jack filled and han-J-cd her a pit lamp, which she to;-!; gingerly and transported at ana's length. Tho shot firor loaded her with advlco, which sho took with nv.tr-murs nv.tr-murs of gratitude, Whon thoy got out on tho far entries, en-tries, whoro tho minors wore at work tho lady proceeded to business. in most of tho rooms It was not necessary to go Into details about tliu widowed mother aud llttlo children before tho dollar camo for tho Ladles' Delight Whoro thoy didn't havo tho monoy, she took mi ordor on tho treasurer. treas-urer. Not a. man balked. It would look moan, they thought, to turn down a handsome lady who had dolled tho horrors of tho underground world to visit thorn. Tho woman solicitor had a way of talking which mado each man tlilnV sho hnd gono down on purpose to soe him. They had novor heard ot tho Ladles' Delight, and wouldn't havo known It from an almanac ot the vintage of '70, but thoy did know this young woman know how to talk, and that she was bravo and pretty. At tho end of tho second dny, wber a complot haul had been mado In tho mine. Miss Hunter turned to hor escort es-cort I 'I guoss jou think It funny, Mr. ' Illchnrds," sho aald, "that I go down I In tho mlno utter men to soil them s. woman's paper rather than seu tholr wives, who uro up on earth." It did look a llttlo odd at first," replied re-plied tho shot-flrer, "but I bellovo I know tho reason now. Tbo lady smiled. "I began In tho mlnos ot Wyoming," sho said, "and then through Kansas. I'vo been In every mlno lu this district. dis-trict. Out thcro at CI, whoro they employ Italians nnd negroes who can't read, over half of them subscribed. If I'd work I them on top I wouldn't havo taken six subscriptions. Now, you'vo been good to mo, my frlocd, and I" "Don't mention It," Bald Jack, backing back-ing off. Sho was reaching Into her handbag whoro she kopt her money. "Yes, sir, Bho said, firmly "I will. You'vo been with mo two whole dnys now, and I know the time of a gen-tloman gen-tloman ot ability Is worth some thing. Hore frke thin." Sho handed him u small, squaia packago, neatly tied up. Tho hliot-flror hliot-flror thanked hor warmly end assisted assist-ed hor Into tho cab which wis wulttng for her. Then ho oponed bis preit-cnl. preit-cnl. It wns a picture of 'ho yeunj woman who wasguunlng uidergroual for n, college course N Y. Sue. |
