Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-02-28

1
oval, hit means pull out, l reckon" he
muttered; shut I'll jist stay hyar till morn
in anyway"
The sun had gone down behind bank oi
| tawny, purple clouds, and an ashy pallol
overspread the sky.
| "Goin' ter have bad weather." observed
Joe Scaggs, as they rode through the fast
gathering darkness.
Late that night Bill punched Joe in the
ribs with his elbow, and said:
Joe, hits gittin' colder AN all git out.
We've got ter git up an find some more
covers. Gee Whit listen ter that windr'
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 the dead
grass with sharp, Kissing sound.
Bill opened the door and looked out.
A great gust of wind swept into the room,
whir!ing cloud of snow-f1akes with it
and 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,'' he said,
drawing on his heavy boots. They'll freeze
ter death in that shed if they h'ain't blank
eted"
He opened the door and went out, and in
a few moments returned.
'The hosses air gonerr he exclaimed"
''broke loose and been driven away by the
blizzard"
"One Nv US must go after 'em," exclaimed
Bill 'H'it won't do to lose 'em. They'll
die in this storm if they don't find shelter"
''Yes, an you'd die a dozen times fore
ye'd find 'em in this storm"
''Poor animals!'' exclaimed Bill, ''but hit
can't be helped"
Bill kindled 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 sleet and snow kissing through
the crevices.
The two men drew their chairs near the
stove after replenishing the fame from
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.
Joe" 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.
Hits as yer say, Bill; thar can't nobody
come from Atticy ter-day-" And then,
huskily: 'H'it may be week for they
can"
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 large black
pipe, lit it sat down by the fire and began
putting away in silence.
Joe brought more fuel from the corner
and filed up the stove.
The day passed and night came down.
and still the storm ragged and the snow fell
in binding clouds.
1t 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 one could git hyar or we
could git away"
"Yas, an that will be too late," answered
Bill, an ashy pallor overspreading his thin
face.
The next morning Joe arose, kindled the
fire in the little stove, and sat down in
silence.
Bill did not get up but remained in bed
pinched look settling over his features.
1t was getting late in the afternoon when
he called Joe to the bedside.
joe" he said, feebly, II h'ain't got much
longer ter stay with ye. This yere cold is
freezin' my thin biz od, an I'm gittin' weaker
an weaker.
'Come, come Bill!' said Joe, great
lump rising in his throat. "Cheer up; meb-
by som'thin' Il 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
emily 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 We, Bill, I" he said, turning
away.
"No-no" said Bill; "h'its better fer one
Nv US ter go AN both Nv u.s. Mebby, as ye
say, somethin' III turn up, am"
A muf1ed 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 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 bundle that was strapped about the
shoulders of the unfortunate became de-
tached and rolled over on the floor, display
ing small bag of -four and a chunk of
bacon
'Hit's John Biggs come backr' exclaimed
Joe; IAN he's brought enough pervisions
ter carry us through, thank God but pore
feller, he's almost done ferr'
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,
init amt John Biggs-h'it's the claim
jumper. He's saved our lives, Bill, an after
we was goin' ter run him away"
My Godp' exclaimed Bill, struggling
feebly out of the bed, new strength coming
to his feeble frame. I'VE must save him.
Joe, If he h'ain't already dead. We mustn't
let him die.
The two men, shivering with cold aud
weak from hunger, worked as they never
worked before. By their combined efforts,
they lifted the poor frozen souatter from
the foor 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.