The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-03-02


in anyway"
The sun had gone down behind bank Of
tawny, purple clouds, and an ashy palloi
overspread the sky.
"Goin' ter have bad weather." observed
Joe Soaggs, as they rode through the fast
gathering darkness.
Lato that night Bill punched Joe in the
ribs with his elbow aud said:
"Joc, hits gittin' colder AN all git out.
We've got ter git up an find some more
covers, Gee whiz! listen ter that windW
Bill got up and struck light and put on
his clothes.
The weather had suddenly grown intensly
cold, and the wind was roaring across the
paririe, and sweeping through tho dead
grass with sharp Kissing sound.
Bill opened the door and looked out.
A great gust of wind swept into the room,
whrling q cloud of snow-fakcs with it
aud extinguished the light.
"a blizzard" exclaimed Bill, slamming
the door and relighting the lamp.
Joe had also got up and was putting on
his clothes
1--WE must see ter the hosses,n he said,
drawing on his heavy boots. "They'll freeze
ter death in that shed If they h'ain't blank
cted."
He opened the door and went out, and in
q few moments returned.
"Tho hosses air gonen' he exclaimed" '"
'sbrolse loose and been driven away by the
blizzard"
zone NV us must go after 'cm," exclaimed
Bill. "H'it won't do to lose 'em. They'll
die in this storm if they don't find shelter"
eyes, an you'd die dozen times fore
ye'd find 'em in this storm"
"Poor animals!' exclaimed Bill, "but hit
can't be helped.n
Bill isindled fire in the little sheet-iron
stove in the corner
The air was growing colder and colder
every moment, and the circle of heat around
the stove grew smaller and smaller with
each surge of the wind as it shook the roof
and sent the slcet and snow kissing through
the crcvices.
The two men drew their chairs near the
stove after rcplenishing the flame from a
pile of coal in the corner of the room.
Morning came at last, gray and desolate,
with binding clouds of snow and sleet
sweeping across the prairie. The storm
showed no signs of abating, but was increas-
ing in its fury.
"Joc," said Bill, breaking the silence 'no
body can't come from Atticy ter-day; and
the pervisions thar's nothin' in the house
ter eat"
Joe got up and looked out at the small
window.
''H'it's as yer say, Bill; thar can't nobody
come from Atticy ter-day-n And then,
huskily: 'H'it may be week for they
CAM
The two men looked at each other, and
each read the others thoughts.
''Thar can't nobody git nowhar now, and
mebby not for week. Bill, we air in bad
fix"
Bill made no reply, but filled a large black
pipe, lit it sat down by the fire and began
putting away in silence.
Joe brought more fuel from the corner
and filled up the stove.
The day passed and night came down,
and still the storm ragged and the snow fell
in binding clouds.
II was at the close of the fifth day, and
neither Bill nor Joe had tasted food for four
days, and as they looked out across the
desolate, snow-covered plain, their hearts
sunk within them.
"Bill," said Joe, huskily, 1--WE can't hold
out much longer. H'it'll be more IAN a
week fore any Que could git hyar or we
could git away"
"Yas an that will be too late" answered
Bill, an ashy pallor ovcrsprcading his thin
face.
The next morning Joe arose, litndled the
fire in the little stove, and sat down in
silence.
Bill did not get up, but remained in bed
a pinched look settling over his features.
II was getting late in the afternoon when
he called Joe to the bedside.
Joe" he said, fcebly, II h'ain't got much
longer tor stay with ye. This yere cold is
freezin' my thin blood, au' I'm gittin' weaker
an weaker
"Come, come, Bill" said Joe, great
lump rising in his throat "Cheer up; meb-
by som'thin' II turn up; mebby-"
"Tain't no use, Joe. We've all got ter
90 sometime, 'Tain't no use in hopin' when
thar h'ain't nothin' ter expect"
Joe made no reply. STOPPING down pres
entity he drew little box from under the
bed and took out small piece of dry, hard
bread and laid it by the side of Bill
81 saved hit fer ye, Bill, A" he said, turning
away.
''No-nom said Bill; "h'it's better fer one
uy us ter go 'an both NV u.s. Mebby, as ye
say, somethin' III turn up, AM"
A muified sound like footsteps in the snow
came from the outside, and something like
the sound of a human voice mingled with
the kissing wind.
Joe listened. but the sound was not re-
peated. He opened the door and looked out
A few feet from the threshold. half buried
in the drifting snow, was the PROSTATE
figure of a man, large bundle of some
thing at his side. A moment, and Joe was
STOPPING over the PROSTATE figure. He
shook him, but he did not speak Then, by
a series of heroic efforts, he dragged the
unconscious man into the dug-out. AS he
did so a bundle that was strapped about the
akn nf ha npf ri hasnrna do.
tached and rolled over on the floor, display
ing small bag of flour and a chunk of
bacon.
"H'it's John Biggs come back ~ exclaimed
Joe: IAN he's brought enough pervisions
ter carry us through thank God but, pore
feller he's almost done fer"
He hurriedly stirred up the fire in the lit
Tie stove. and then turning to the uncon-
scious man. he brushed the snow from his
wan face.
'Bill" he said, starting with surprise,
"h'it amt John Biggs-h'it's the claim
jumper. He's saved our lives, Bill, an after
we was gon' ter run him away"
"My Godr exclaimed Bill, struggling
fcebly out of the bed, new strength coming
TO his feeble frame. "We must save him,
Joe, II he h'ain't already dead We mustn't
let him die.
The two men, shivering with cold and
weak from hunger, worked as they never
worked before. BY their combined efforts,
they lifted the poor frozen squatter from
the floor and laid him tenderly on their only
bed.
He opened his eyes and muttered some
thing In an incoherent manner. The two
men bent over him and listened.
"H'it amt much farther" he muttered.
81 heard 'em say they didn't have nothin' TO