CHAPTER XI
Jimmy is Tricked by His Rival
In a moment Jimmy was in telephonic communication with his chief. "Therehas been a big coal mine disaster, Jimmy," said Mr. Johnson. "We havejust received a despatch from Shenandoah about it. The mine is near thatcity. More than one hundred men are believed to have been imprisoned inthe mine. It is not known how many are dead or whether any of theentombed miners are still alive. We want as complete a story of thedisaster as you can gather in a short time, and we particularly wantphotographs. You've got just about time enough to get there and get somephotographs before dark. You can pick up your story after you get yourpictures. Then hustle back here. If you make as good time as you havemade on some other assignments, you can get back here before 10:30. Youought to make it by 11:00 for sure, and you _must_ be here by 11:15. Iwould send Handley with you, but he is in Phillipsburg on a story. Iwill try to get into touch with him by phone, and order him to go toShenandoah, to follow up the story to-morrow."
"I'll do my best, Mr. Johnson," said Jimmy. "Good-bye. I'm off." And inless than no time he _was_ off.
The minute Jimmy had reached a safe altitude and was straightened out onhis course, he began to consider how he should cover this story. He hadnever reported the story of a coal mine disaster. He was a littleuncertain as to how to get at it.
First of all, there was the matter of topography. Shenandoah was in thevery heart of the anthracite region in Pennsylvania. That meant it wasright among the hills. Jimmy knew the region well. It was almost on theAir Mail route. In fact, in a straight line it was only three miles fromRingtown. But a great ridge--the North Mahanoy Mountain, that toweredaloft almost 1,900 feet--rose between Ringtown and Shenandoah. Thehighway between the two places, circuitous and winding, was probablytwice that distance. Jimmy was of course sure that he could make alanding at Ringtown. But whether he could do so at Shenandoah or not, hedid not know. The town itself occupied almost every foot of the levelland in the little bottom in which it stood. On every side the groundrose sharply.
Jimmy managed to get the proper topographic map from his map case.Folding it in small compass he studied it as he flew along. The onlyplace where there seemed to be even the possibility of making a safelanding was in the tiny bottom along Lost Creek, southwest of the town.But the more Jimmy studied the map, the more impossible this placeseemed for his purpose. Jimmy finally decided that he would not take achance. He would land at Ringtown, get a motor car, and drive toShenandoah.
"If Johnnie Lee is home," thought Jimmy, "there won't be a bit oftrouble about that. Johnnie will take me over there in his car. Thatwill be just the thing, too. Then he can help me cover the story. I cantell him what to do and he can do it readily enough. It will give him astart toward reporting. Johnnie will know the country round about, too,and that may be a very great advantage. For I see now that it is goingto hustle me to get back on time. I'm sure glad this has turned out thisway."
A load seemed to drop from Jimmy's mind. He had come to a decision as tohis course. Now he had only to drive ahead as fast as possible along theway he had chosen. He felt his confidence growing.
Suddenly he heard his own name sounding in his head phones. "The NewYork _Press_ speaking to Jimmy Donnelly," said the voice. "We have beenin touch with Handley at Phillipsburg. He will go with you toShenandoah. Land at Easton and wait for him. He is on the watch foryou."
Jimmy hardly knew whether to be pleased or sorry. He would be gladenough of Handley's help. Even the two of them could not clean up thestory in the short time Jimmy would have at the scene of the disaster.But now that Jimmy saw an opportunity to help his friend Johnnie Lee, herather regretted that Handley was to join him. They could hardly botherwith Johnnie now.
These thoughts went through Jimmy's mind in an instant. They did notprevent him from answering promptly the _Morning Press_ message. He puthis mouthpiece to his lips and said: "Jimmy Donnelly talking to the NewYork _Press_. I have your message about Handley and will wait for him atEaston."
When Jimmy reached that city, it looked for a little time as though hewould not be able to keep his word. It hardly seemed possible to make alanding. But west of the city Jimmy found some fields and got downsafety, though he had a scare when he saw a fence loom up suddenlybefore him. His plane struck sand and came to a stop within ten feet ofthe fence.
Jimmy hopped out of the ship and looked about him. Handley was nowherein sight. "He'll have to come along pretty soon if we are to get thestuff back to New York in time," thought Jimmy. "I wonder if there isanything I could do to help matters."
He thought of Johnnie Lee. "If I could talk to him," muttered Jimmy, "Icould put him right to work."
With Jimmy, to think was to act. Not far away was a house. Jimmy racedover to it, and was rejoiced to see that telephone wires ran to thehouse. He knocked at the door. A pleasant faced woman answered hisknock.
"Good afternoon," said Jimmy, politely. "I need very much to use atelephone. May I use yours?"
The woman looked him over. "I take it you are the pilot of the planethat just landed," she said.
"I am," said Jimmy, "and I am in a trying situation. It will help megreatly if I may use your phone."
"Go ahead," she said. "You are welcome. I'll be glad if it will helpyou."
Jimmy called for the long-distance operator and asked for the Lee homein Ringtown. He begged the operator to hurry the call, as it was anurgent one. In a very few moments Jimmy had his connection. To hisdelight, Johnnie himself answered the telephone. Jimmy recognized hisvoice at once.
"Hello, Johnnie," he said. "This is Jimmy Donnelly. Have you heardanything about a mine explosion in your neighborhood?"
"We sure have," said Johnnie. "It was near Krebs. It was a terribleaffair."
"Where's Krebs?" demanded Jimmy.
"About two miles from here. It's at the foot of North Mahanoy Mountain."
"What do you know about the disaster, Johnnie?"
"A lot, Jimmy. My father's first cousin, Pat Healy, telephoned us allabout it. He's a foreman in the mine, and was just on his way out whenthe explosion occurred. He got out all right, though he was hurt some.But he says there are scores of men entombed."
"Can you get hold of him again, Johnnie?" cried Jimmy, his voice almostshaking with eagerness.
"Sure. He lives near us. Why?"
"It's like this, Johnnie. I'm on my way out to cover this story. I'vegot to get pictures and as much of the story as I can pick up in alittle while. But I had to land in Easton to pick up Mr. Handley. That'sgoing to delay me a lot. This is a chance for you to show what you cando in collecting news. Will you try it?"
"Will I? You bet your neck I will. What do you want me to do?"
"Have you got a camera?"
"Yes, I have."
"Then get some pictures of the wrecked mine if you can, and of the mineentrance, injured miners, crowds at the shaft, or anything else thatwill illustrate the story."
"I can do that easily. I can drive to the mouth of the mine in less thanten minutes. I'll hustle right over and get all the pictures I can.Anything else?"
"Sure. Get the story. Get hold of your father's cousin again. Find asmany survivors as possible. See anybody you can who is in authority atthe mine and get a statement from him. Get all the details you can."
"Just what do you want, Jimmy?"
"Find out what happened, when it happened, where it happened, how ithappened, why it happened, and to whom it happened. Get every detail youcan about every phase of the story. Get the names of the dead andinjured, if possible. Find out how many are still in the mine. Maybe Mr.Healy can tell you. Get a story of the explosion from him. Find out howit happened and what caused it. Get Mr. Healy to tell you about the mineitself--what it is like, whether there is any chance for rescue, whetherthere are places where the imprisoned men can take refuge in the mine.Ask all the questions you can think of. Try to get enough stuff togetherso you can tell me a co
mplete story of the disaster when I get there."
"I'll do it, Jimmy. I'm off this minute. Good-bye."
Jimmy said good-bye and rang off. "That was a lucky thought," hemuttered, "to set Johnnie to work. He's evidently got the inside track.He may be able to get the whole story."
Jimmy ascertained the amount of his tolls and paid the woman. She hadheard his talk with Johnnie and was intensely interested. She askedJimmy question after question about his work as a flying reporter.Before Jimmy knew it, half an hour had passed. Then he noticed a clockand frowned. He looked out at his plane. Some small boys had gatheredabout it, but there was no sign of Handley. Fifteen minutes more passed,and Jimmy was growing desperate. Finally he reached for the telephoneagain. "Please get me the New York _Morning Press_" he told theoperator.
When Jimmy finally got his connection, he called for Mr. Johnson. "Haveyou any idea how long it is going to take Handley to reach me here atEaston?" he asked. "I've waited for him more than an hour already. I'vegot to push on if I am to get any photographs."
"What's this about Handley and Easton and waiting an hour? What are youtalking about?" demanded the managing editor.
"What am I talking about!" exclaimed Jimmy. "I am talking about Handley.You ordered me to wait for him in Easton. I've been here at Easton formore than an hour. Can you give me any idea how soon he will arrive? Ican't possibly wait much longer if I am to get back with the story intime for the midnight edition."
"You're in Easton! Waiting for Handley! What are you talking about? Inever ordered you to stop at Easton. You ought to be in Shenandoah thisvery minute."
"You never ordered me to stop at Easton!" cried Jimmy. "Somebody did. Ireceived a radio message forty minutes after I took off, telling me youhad ordered Handley to join me here and ordering me to wait for him. Iacknowledged the message and supposed you had my acknowledgment."
"Somebody has put one over on you, Jimmy," said the managing editor."It's a pretty bad business. But we have no time to discuss it now. Geton to Shenandoah as fast as you can and do the best you can. I want tosee you about this as soon as you get back here. Now hustle."
Jimmy was mortified, angry, and anxious. His face showed his anxiety. Hepaid his telephone tolls and raced back to his plane. As fast as hecould, he got his ship into the air. Then he opened his throttle as faras it would open and went streaking along the Air Mail route forRingtown.
In less than half an hour he dropped down on the landing field at thatplace. He leaped from his plane, threw off his flying togs, and racedfor Johnnie Lee's house. Johnnie's mother met him at the door.
"Johnnie's expecting you," she said. "He called up a few minutes ago andsaid you should call him at Healy's when you arrived. Come in. I'll getthe connection for you." And in no time she had it. She asked forJohnnie and handed the receiver to Jimmy.
"Hello, Johnnie," he said. "This is Jimmy. I just arrived at your house.Where are you? How can I get into touch with you?"
"I'm at Healy's. It's straight down the road. Mother will show you theway. Come over as quick as you can. Mr. Healy is talking to me now."
Jimmy hung up the receiver, got directions from Mrs. Lee, and raced downthe road. In ten minutes he was in the Healy home.
"What have you done and what have you learned?" Jimmy demanded, afterJohnnie had introduced him to Mr. Healy.
"I went right over to the mine with my camera, after you called me, andI have a whole roll of films for you--a dozen pictures. They ought to begood, for the conditions were just right for taking them. I got apicture of the mine mouth, the crowd about it, some snaps of the rescuecrews descending into the mine, one of an injured miner who was hurt inthe attempt at rescue, and other similar pictures."
"Good! They are just what I want. What about the story?"
"I believe I have the whole thing. Mr. Healy was in the mine when theexplosion occurred. In fact, he was close to the very spot where ithappened. He saw the explosion occur. He was injured slightly, but notdisabled. He gathered together all the men within call and started foran old opening that is no longer used. The explosion had preventedescape through the shaft used nowadays. Gases began to spread throughthe mine, and the men with Mr. Healy were overcome one by one. Thosestill able to walk tried to drag the others out. But the only man whogot out on his own feet was my cousin. He dragged out one man. Then hecollapsed himself. He came to in about half an hour and managed tostagger home. He telephoned about the man he had dragged out, and someminers came and got him. We heard about it over the telephone, justbefore you called me from Easton."
"Won't you repeat your story to me, Mr. Healy?" asked Jimmy. "Just startat the beginning. Tell me what the conditions were like in the mine whenthe explosion came. That is, about how many men you think went into themine, how many were still in it, and what the mine is like. Give me amental picture of it, so I can follow your story. Then start again withthe explosion and tell me what you saw and did." For half an hour Mr.Healy talked steadily, stopping only when he was interrupted by Jimmywith a question. He gave Jimmy an excellent picture of the mineworkings. Mr. Healy had been a foreman in this particular mine foryears, and knew every foot of it as workers above ground know the citiesin which they live. Then he told of the explosion, pictured the damageit did, showed how it shut off escape by the newer shaft, and picturedthe situation of the imprisoned men. He estimated their number at morethan one hundred.
"If the gas was as severe in other chambers as it was where we were," hesaid, "most of those one hundred men are now dead. I have been using thetelephone, and so far as I can learn, we two men who got out through theold drift are the only men who have escaped. Unless some of the minerswere able to retreat to dead ends of passages, ahead of the gas, andmake air-tight barricades to keep the gas out, I fear every man in themine is past help. But we shall not know for sure until the rescue crewshave searched every foot of the workings. That will take many hours, andperhaps some days."
Jimmy checked back over his notes. His story seemed to be very complete.He asked for a few more details about this point or that. Then he thrusthis notes into his pocket. "You have given me a very complete account,Mr. Healy," he said. "I can write a mighty clear story just from thesenotes. But I must see the mine myself, and the mine mouth, and thecrowds, and if possible I must talk with some of the officials. Youdon't feel well enough to go over there with me, do you?"
"Yes, I am all right now," said Mr. Healy. "I'll be glad to go withyou."
They hurried out to Johnnie's car and were rushed over to the mouth ofthe mine, which was hardly more than a mile distant. Parking the car,the three walked about through the crowd, observing, asking questions,gathering up what incidents they could.
"There's the superintendent," said Mr. Healy, as a large man came out ofone of the mine buildings. "Would you like to talk to him?"
"I surely would," answered Jimmy.
"Then come on."
They walked toward the man. While they were still at some distance fromhim, they saw a young man hurry up to him and lay a detaining hand onhis arm. The superintendent looked surprised. The young man saidsomething. The superintendent brushed him roughly aside and went on. Heseemed angry. He was still frowning when he came face to face with Mr.Healy and the two lads.
"Pat, I'm mighty glad to see you," said the superintendent, "but I ammighty sad to see you alone. I fear it's all up with the menunderground."
"This young man wants to talk to you," said Mr. Healy. "He's a reporterfrom New York."
"So was that jackass that just tried to stop me," said thesuperintendent. "I don't want to talk to reporters."
"But this lad is a very good friend of mine," urged Mr. Healy. "And heis a gentleman. I know you will be willing to talk to him."
"Well, what is it?" said the superintendent. "I haven't much time tospare. This is a crowded hour for me."
"Thank you very much," said Jimmy. "I know how you feel. I don't blameyou for not wanting to talk about this terrible affair. I appreciateyour courtes
y." Then Jimmy began to ask questions, in a courteous,considerate manner. The mine official gave him all the information heasked for.
When the interview was ended, the superintendent walked on. So did theHealy party.
Presently Jimmy heard a voice saying: "There he is. He's the only manwho escaped unaided. He dragged out another man, and they are the onlymen who have reached the surface so far."
"I'll get a statement from him," replied another voice.
Jimmy knew this latter voice well--too well. He began to tremble withanger. A sudden light shone in upon him. Now he understood the game thathad been played upon him. Now he knew who had tricked him into landingat Easton. The voice he was listening to was the voice of Rand.
Like a shot Jimmy turned to Johnnie. "If you think anything of me,Johnnie," he said, "don't let your cousin talk to the fellow who iscoming to interview him. It's Rand, the fellow I have told you about. Itwas Rand who stopped the superintendent a little while ago, though at adistance I did not recognize him. But I know well enough now who itwas."
Johnnie laid his hand on Mr. Healy's arm. "Pat," he said, "this fellowwho is approaching to talk to you is Jimmy's worst enemy. He has justplayed a dirty trick on him. Don't say a word to him."
"Played a dirty trick on Jimmy, did he? Very well. He gets no news fromme."
A moment later Rand stepped up and began to question the mine foreman."I have nothing to say. See the superintendent," snapped Mr. Healy. Andturning on his heel, he strode away, with Johnnie and Jimmy at hisheels.
But as Jimmy walked away, he said: "Rand, dirty tricks don't pay. Youthought you had put over a clever one when you got me down at Eastonto-day, but your game failed. This is what came of it. You lose outyourself." And Jimmy hurried after Mr. Healy and Johnnie, while Randstood and cursed him. "I'll get you yet," Jimmy heard him say. But Jimmywasn't caring about Rand's threats. He held all the aces in the packhimself.