Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1888-07-21

dropping his reins and turning his excited
face toward her.
$50 1 see," she said coolly, "and hadn't
you better drive on?'
"Why, l ought to be here" He looked
nervously at the hurrying crowd and back
into Berthas cold beautiful face. Couldn't
you wait in one of these tenements? These
are all nice people,"
But she made no motion, and only looked
at his flushed face in annoyed surprise
'What are you thinking of! l stop with
these people2" ..s..s. ..
"Or drive On home without f1sS 7'hs
horses are gentle and you are such good
driver, You know"
Philip was growing terribly restless; the
people came faster and faster, and his eager
eyes followed each man and woman into the
gates with increasing anxiety. Even Bertha
noticed the curious looks the passers by gave
to the carriage that blocked the way.
81 couldn't think of it," she said in
measured tones that remind9l Philip, even
at such moment as that, Of her fathers
''You had better drive along; there, not SO
fast Why will you run the horses! You
almost frighten me-"
Ittook but few moments to reach Berthas
home, but it seemed a long time to Philip,
the flames which to his excited fancy seemed
rising higher at every glance. He stopped
the horses at Bertha's door at last, and leap
ing to the ground, assisted her to alight The
horses were painting but there was no time
even to give them breath, and in an instant
more Philip was back in his seat. But
Bertha stood as if she had something to say,
h. hot ba Il mt he
"You will make mistake in leaving NE
to myself tonight"
He thought there was mysterious touch of
self distrust in her voice that was soft and
almost tender as she looked fxedly at him.
All! he had never seen her so lovely; as if
the warm passionate woman soul had been
born in her: and he longed in his rapture to
to fall at her feet and kiss them. He was
forgetting the mill in flames as he drank in
the new sweet hope she seemed to give him
He could not leave her thus with that won
derful light in her eyes. No doubt the fire
was subdued, and how little he could do ct
best; there were so many stronger than be.
But suddenly tongue of flame leaped up
into the black sky like lightning.
81 would so love to stay, darling, but the
mills are ON frenzy fathers mills. might
save them. Don't you understand-it would
be infamous in me to"--
sIcnly said you make mistake"
Till he dies Philip Breton never Will forget
that scene; the darting flames beckoning hlm
away, and this beautiful woman, for whose
first TO. 4 caress he would have given every
thing but his manhood and honor, inviting
him to stay. And in her changed face he
thought be saw such sweet promise OF love
if he STAYED and such sure preSage OF evil II
he went.
Good night" he said with faltering voice
as he drew up the reins.
Good night" she answered slowly as she
turned to go in, and he thought he heard her
other sentence over again, You make a MS
take
It was Number Two mill on fire, but all
that ingenuity and strength could do seemed
doing as well without Philip. The men were
as busy as bees Fifty manned the brakes OF
the hand engine, and pumped as vigorously
as if there was no such shing as lame backs
and aching muscles, while on top of the en-
gine beside the bell, whicls rang with every
stroke of the brakes, stood their foreman
keeping time with his arms and whole BODY,
and encouraging them with his hoarse, eA-
cited voice. Then there were three hydrants
in full operation and a crowd of men to keep
the hose in condition, and four more IN rub
Der suits to hold the nozzles and direct the
streams of fast flowing water where II would
quickest subdue the fierce flames. Ihefe
seemed nothing for Philip to do. he was
worth no more than the crowd OF chatterinS
women, who stood as near the fire as thelr
rough voiced men would let them. How odd
their thin white faces looked, half hid by the
shawls tied about their heads. 1t was great
event in their dull, monotonous lives; the
very foundations of their world seemed
shaken, and they could not talk fast enough
to express their crude thoughts at the break
ing up of old associations.
"Carry the hose up to the next story"
shouted the foreman
'The ladder is not long enough" answered
one of the men in rubber suits.
Cant YOU climb? Who can, then"
This was Philips opportunity, and he hur-
ried up the ladder two rounds at time.
Then he swung himself off on the lightning
rod. Its sharp edges cut his tender hands,
but in mis- eagerness he did not notice it. In
a moment more he had pulled himself up to
the window sill and burst in the sash. Then
he reached down for the hose and a cheer
went I'D for the rich mans son who was not
afraid of work.
He heard his fathers voice below thanking
the men for their devotion, as the sullen
flames seemed to give way before their tire
less efforts But it was no time now for idle
Fluctuations The fire seemed under control,
but if the mastery were relaxed, it would
leap high again in Its fury, and the other
mills mast 60 voc. for al they stoed now so
cold and proud The smoke grow thinner IN
the window where Philip stood, so he could
look down on the sweaty faces and bending
forms of the men at the brakes Everything
depended on them, and how strong they sent
the water through the hose he held, and
forced back the fire inch by inch from its
prey. If they could only keep it up few
moments more the mills would be out of
danger. Each stroke of the brakes made the
hose throb against his side almost like a
giants pulse. God grant them strength a
few moments more.
Suddenly he heard loud voice raised
above the murnur of the crowd.
"Wise boys ye be, to clench the nails in
yer own coffins. Amt this mill yer Jail and
its bosses your jailerss Is there fool of ye
all, but knows old Breton who grins so nice