Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-09-10

is born of much disappointment.
ssShe'll have him He kin fiddle and
dance, and she likes that. He does not
work overmuch, nor sile his hands
Mebbe she likes that kind.
The strangers suit--for such it seemed
appeared to prosper. Twice Silas met
them as he was walking at his clay bank.
Already he had interested enough of the
little capital in the place to start small
brickyard and he had given up his car
pentry to become manufactures. 1t
was night-fall the second time he met
them. They were walking arm in arm
along the dusky road toward the town
when he overlook them There was, low
in the north. faint glare in the sky,
and as ha passed. Nina stopped, and IN
rather wild English asked him what it
meant
''It's the day o judgment. And, Miss
Nina, if wuss comes to wuss, don't try
to run. 1t will outrun the fastest horse.
Don't run, but come to me-
'sHer companion, who plainly under
stood better than Nina, laughed, and
said to her in German: 1.-The wind is the
wrong way. There is no danger; and If
there were, would take care Of you.
The day had been hot and sultry, with
a titful breeze and yellow sky. The air
seemed pungent, and full of strange
odors. Toward night the wind changed
suddenly, and blew hot and dry from
the northwest. Silas prepared his even
ing meal with his own hands, as was his
custom, and sat down hstless, with no
appetite, and heavy with disappoint-
ment, and filled with a vague dread of
something he could not define. Just as
he sat down there came hurried knock
at the door. He took lamp and opened
the door. There was no need of lamp.
1t was as light as day, and he saw in the
road team, with two men unloading a
huge trunk. BY the door stood the East
ern man.
'sHere it is. Measure it yourself Me
and my pards are going to run to the
river. If we never get back. bust open
the trunk and take your pay out o. what
We find"
The two men took the trunk and ran
with it to the kara, and then as quickly
ran back to their team. Just then four
horse wagon loaded with men, women
and children was driven at frantic speed
past the house. There were shouts and
cries in the air. Above all rose a deep,
suIlen roar-a something advancing
through the forest behind the town.
The road was filed with cattle as by
magic, believing and tossing their horns.
He heard a child scream by the gate,
and ran bare headed to see what it meant.
A child lay by the road. trampled upon
by the fleeing cattle. He took it up ten
derby in his arms, and ran for the brick
hut
The deluge had come. The ark was
ready lie laid the child down inside,
hauled the trunk within, and with won
derful skill took up kind of rough
shutter coated with clay and jammed it
into the one window, where it seemed to
fit tight; then plunging his hands in
tub that stood ready by the window. he
took up wet clay and plastered it all over
the crack round the shutter.
Before 1t was half done, dozen fran
tic men and women were at the door,
some with bundles, some with children
in their arms
Help mel'' cried Silas. aRig up the
door and get the women inside"
Ready hands seemed to catch the
hint, and in a moment the door was hung
and ready to close.
Don't be scarf. Keep outside as
long as We kin to save the air. Just
watch the thing half minute"
Then he was gone. How he reached
the Landerfelt's he never knew Nina
stood by the door. supplied with horror.
They had no horse. Whittier they could
| fly before such sea of fire2 Her father
seemed to have become utterly helpless,
and lay upon the bed and m0aned. Nina
met him at the door. Not word was said
and Silas paused just for moment ir-
resolute. Could he save both2
''Mein fader"
Eyes. I'll carry him, if you can
walk"
She did not understand She did not
see how ne could save them and sup
posed he had come perhaps to die with
them.
No, no! Go-you gOe-run-run! p
1t was all she could say in English.
though she spoke volnbly in German
He entered the house, and took the sick
man on his back, and then together they
started-shc blindly, being half crazed
with the red wonder all about them.
Half the-town was on fire. All the skv
was an oven, the woods were furnace
It's hot breath was in their faces.
On reaching the kara they found it
tightly closed The people had selfishlv
gone inside and left them to their fate.
"Open the doorf Open the door. or I
viii tear it DOWN.
The heat was intolerabIe. the smoke
binding. He laid his burden an the