The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-11-13

center and OF deeper hue there, - II
its heart were scowl and 3 menace,
that its mission was ruin.
..Sir, sir-r-rv she stAmmered - she
met old John. The lre will soon be
upon ss! Young John Is not here. Help
mo harness Jim into the plow!"
.'W-w-what?'' he stammered in reply,
90 dazed that he was like one palsy
stricken.
Hannah flew out Of the house and,
quickly embarrassing Jim, attached him
TO the plow. Fat Mrs. Tutherly was
better in an emergency than one would
have supposed. She now came up
bravely. like an Old-fashioned Dutch
cruiser At critical moment in the bat
tie hour.
'.You drive the horse, Mrs. Tutherly.
and I'll hold the plow, and We will make
. furrow all about the buildings Oh, II
Mr.. Blasland would just help and burn
row.
Hannah was more deferential in her
style Of address than was the house,
keeper. The latter was plain and per-
emptory. ''Ilere, here, old John! Come
and help!" she screamed, in the same
breath giving the order: Cit up
there lively. Jim! Up with ~.
git-t-t!"
She resumed her command to the
ranchman: BURN the grass all outside
the furrer! Quick, sir. quick! We will
all be burnt to cinder il you don't fly
round! Tit up there. Jim! Fdsfer. old
bOy!'
After this last equivocal order, the
fat housekeeper, rosy and putting, skill
fully steered Jim down the east side OF
the farmhouse. Hannah guided the
plow, the muscles swelling in ner firm,
shapely hands and along her barred
brown wrists. Her eyes glanced down.
ward to see that the plowshare was rum
ming right, and then they were lifted to
the heavens Those deep ayes Of bluo
were filled with prayers reverent sup
plication.
God help US, God help ns!'' she MUIR
INJURED. Behind the plow tottered the
old ranchman, kindling the grass out
sid0 the furrow. and leaving rapidly
widening space Of black, fre-raSaged
ground between the ranch buildings and
that awful con6agration driving over
the prairie.
Now the north side!' said Hannah.
! 1.-THE east side is OF the most conse-
quence. Ready"
Cit up-up-up, Jiml Come on, old
John!' screamed Mrs. Tutherly. The
smoke was now all about them. but
Hannah would say: THE east side is
safe! Thank God!" and press stubborn
" on.
But where was young John? More
than once Hannah had prayed: C ID
keep him. Had he been overtaken by
that awful dre, scorched. suffocated,
burnt to death? lie was some where
out on the prairie. His horse was swift
His pluck was great He knew cne
| prairie; but there WAS that terrible
| engine OF flame. without wheels, yet
rolling on. the horrible dragon OF fire,
! without wings, yetsteadily fyirg! Who
could escape all this?
! The north side had been furr0 ged and
burnt over. when Hannah caught the
quick beat of horses hoofs, and on came
beautiful brown Betty. bringing her
master, young Joan!
Thank God.' lie shouted as he
leaped from Betty's steamins back,
kissed Hannah, and then sei1ine the
| plow-hanl.cS cried: leave this vest
side and 90 for the south side! Quick!
Run, Hannah, fast, and be firing the
grass up in the southeastern corner!'
| There was crouching form that soon
il Ia hsc ssvSL 1:A han
His face was blackened by the SCOT Of
the burnt pfAirie. ''Is don't see me.
He don't notice me. lie kissed her. I've
been scorched and singed. They don't
notice me- muttered old John.
They did notice him when the work
Of saving had been completed. when out
Of wide, blackened waste rose up the
uninjured buildings, safe behind that
long, protecting furrow. They found
hin, lying insensiDle at one exposed
corner, an expired torch in his hand.
The heat, the excitement Of the un-
usual effort 1t his age, had overcome
him. They carried him to his bed.
What did he murmur at last?
Nobody cares for me here" he
moaned. '.Send for my John"
"Your SOM" asked young John. The
sufferer bent his head in assent
Nobody cares for me here" he then
murmured again. "Send for him!'
I'VE will; but we care for you. grand
pa, said Hannah. I'VE are your John s
children"
| ..W-w-what7' asked the old man, the
faded brown eyes opening wide in as
constituent
"Yes. grandpa" said yourg John
"flannah and I-we-we are brother anl
sister; and-and-we thought ii ".
came. sometime 1t would come abou
that we could tell you. and you woult
hear US. and you would be reconciled t,
father and be willing to see him, and
The old man here broke in with CT,
that came out Of heart once more ten
der and sincere: Thank God! Bless
you. bless you, and send for my John!'
MY John" came. and the coming
wrought wonders in the old father
Edward A. Rand. in Golden Rule.
L