Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-02
CAUGHT IN A STORM.

behind the counter IN New York all these ten
days" sighed Barbara Hale, -'for All the cut
of-the-way adventures we've had"
who wants Cut-ofthe-way a6TentUresf
said Dorcas Dunn scorufuIly.
Behind the counter, indeedr' chined in
Mary Vanneczer. Gan you breathe in clo-
yer scented air like this behind the counters
Can you get the mountain view Ike this from
Sixth avenuei What more would the girl
want, | should Ike to know"
Barbara sighed once more and shook her
head.
''fs is I'll so tane,- she said 1T isn't what
Ie1pected et al
The three girls-Rsrba-a, Dorras and Mary
were sitting on a side hiA under the shade
of grand old cedar tree Barbara, who had
oace taken q quarters lessons zn drawing,
had . sketch board on her lap and was try
ing-w1th but little success, Il 1Cst be owned
TO reproduce the lovely ribbon Ike curves of
the river that wound It's way through ths
valley below.
Mary had her nsedle work in her lap, and
Dorcas, with her hands clasped under her
head, had long given up all atte1lpt 20 read
the payer covered novel that she had brought
with her.
she sky and the sunshine are-so much bet
Ter" she said
They were three shop girls-bright, anoi-
tious spirited young things. full of life and
aspirations, even though they were kept
down by the force of circumstances; and
they dubbed together their slender resources
N order to enjoy their vacation 70 better adj
vantage
Dorcas. the business member OF the firm,
had bought an excursion ticket first, and
Travelled out TO Schepp's valley to see what
could be done But it Is needless to say that
the hotel and boarding house prices were far
beyond their simple means.
is there 10 place said she, ''where We
could obtain one room and the very Simplest
fare for less money!
''You might Try Old Man Norris" said
the poreIy dame who kept the Valley house
Its a quiet place, and Mrs Morris she amt
no great of a cook, but there's them as has
boarded there, I'm told"
''TTh here IS it17 eagerly asked Dorcas.
And the laadLady went TO the door to point
out q slender blpe thread of smoke that was
curling up teavenward from a mass Of woods
on a distant hin, and once more Dorcas set
forth on her pilgrimage, this time with IN
doubted SUCCESS.
she engaged one room. The board, TO be
sure. was plain, the bed q coarse hJlsk mat
tress, with blanket spread on the floor for
Dorcas herself. the furniture home made and
unpain1ed But there vas q grove Of pine
woods in the rear; the black5]rds piped their
silver flutes All day long, and the bees darted
in and out of the red lilies By tho garden
wall, and our three herolnes believed them
selves to be Ia paradise.
But even as Barbara Hale thus bewafled
herself, a porteutOus shadow swept across
the sun, and looking around, they saw that d
mass of Lvld purple thunder clouds had piled
themselves uD along the western SKY. while
distant f1utrerings, and now and then sud-
den fash announced the coming Of STORM
Dorcas sprang TO her feet, Barbara began
hurriedly TO fold up her sketchInS apparatus,
Mary put her thinble and scissors in her
pocket
I've must get home quickly as possibley'
cried all three.
But in avaiIing themselves Of a short cut
across a patch Of woods they got hopelessly
lost. The Sun set behind the purple battle
rnent Of clouds, the dusk fell rapidly in these
dense woods, and The rain began to patter
down IN huge drops.
Barbara. the aspirant after adventure be-
gan 10 cry.
I'VE are lCStr she said
LOST Nonsenset' said brave Dorcas.
''When I CHI see the railway track shining
down below Who ever got lost close to
railway linel Let's make for the track"
And set run over laHlented Barbara
Not likely when there's only one train a
day, and that AZ noon" laughed Do-cas- IF
we walk along the railway line we msstcoIne
out somewhere, don't you seer
And besides added Mary, ''thereds.a lit
lie ruined cabin not far from here wS1e-a the
railroad faSm2n used to Ire before they
changed the location Of the station ze-
member Mrs. Morris showing It u me orlc,s.'
'.Ohl ohr' sLrieked Barbara Il couldn't
go theret The fagnan WIS killed on the
track There's a g-G-ghost therel"
Would you rather stay here and be
5renchcd through with raIuT severely de-
moudad Mary.
''Or struck with L ghtninsT- added Do rcas-
And the uDsho1 Of IL was that the three fu-
gitives took refuge in q miserable old s .anly
close alongside of the railroad track where
weeds we're growing NJ through the racks
Of the floor, and a plentiful portion c the
rain came p2Uteriog through the leaks II the
root, a -le the old stone chimney, al Sc ,tlln-
% one SIDE, looked IS i no stroke Of LghS-
ming ccuId harm II very much.
But il ; some shelter sad Mary cheer
fully. Wen stay here until tae shower =
sver. and lhea MAZE the best Of our way
home
The shower. however. showed no indication
Of abatiaS il its vigOr The rain sail poured
down IL sheets, the thunder sCill beloved
through the ROCKY gorge where the cabin had
been built; the lighting s-il Li5up eT-e-..zchiZss
xIIn sudden spurts OF blue flame, Ike panto-
nine ELECTS.
''Oh. daari oh. desrf' said Barbara, wiring
az her hands; lit must be uidnisat.7
1T cam De . o'clock vet, 5-4d Nary
And In 80 hungry On, how wish
hadn't eaten TIE last Of those Saldwlchesi
On. OH what Is thatg7 Iutcered Barbara
Al unusually vivid electrical fash had NJ
Vealed something white and spectral at the
window. Al three glrb jumped ct onca
le gi4oss. - sETielsed Ea-osIa, stopping
her ears and sszstting her eyes Is tight as was
practicable.
a stray white COW suggested Mary
a young uEan IL flannel tennis suit,
said Dorcas, tie closest observer OF ell
Don't Is him cozls in" sad Earba-a
''W e shall be roboed and nIur6eredl"
Not while we are three 10 one said COM
posed Dorccs.
And ~ tie s11ae moment . voice sounded (
hurrsedly at tie door;
Please, nay cou1e inl know It seems
Intrusion, but its RAINING = Galu-e and I'm
wet through
Come II by 81 means, sai1 Mary
And tbs ghost entered, dripping like q
fountain
"Au IN the DARK said he, erop:-- bis WAY.