Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-02-07
a RACE FOR llF {.

Something must nave happened.
Father ought to have reached home
two hours ago.
Tom Ely's face wore a troubled look
as he glanced uneasily at the door.
He was sitting by blazing fire in the
rough room Of a lumberman's log
shanty upon the shore of one OF the
large Adirondack lakes. Beside the
rough fireplace, at the head Of pile
of skins and coarse, woolen blankets,
stood Toms gun, his Christmas pres
ent from his father. On the other
side. with the polished steels glisten-
ing in the freight, hung his skates,
for this active lad of fifteen was the
champion skater of the Saranac re-
gion. There was hardly one thing
which Tom could not do on ice. lie
coull 90 forward or backward, wheel
ing and circling with all the ease of II
swallow in mid-air. So swiftly could
he skim along the ice that his father
used laughingly to boast that while
any other skater was going one rod,
Tom could easily skate around him
twice.
The lumbering-camp had broken mp
that very day. After weeks of hard
work the great trees had been cut
down and the logs dragged to the wa
ters edge, waiting for the yearly
spring rise in the rivers to float them
to the mills. There was nothing more
to be done until the breaking up OF
! the ice. Most of the men had gone
directly to their homes in the settle
ments. Ten or twelve of them, how
ever, had spoken of staying for day
/ or two at "a shanty on the second lake
below, with the hope Of securing some
/ deer. and Toms father had concluded
/ to stav behind at the main camp for
a few days, thinking that if he should
set his traps he might succeed in get
ting few skins to make warm tip
pets and mulTs for Toms mother and
little sister.
Soon after dinner, leaving Tom to
cook the supper and gather some fire
wood. the father shouldered his rifle
and started out for tramp. BY sun
set Tom had piled up the wood in one
corner Of the cabin and then he sci to
work to prepare supper. He placed
| the big tin plates and cups on the
rough, pine table, and taking down n
ham which was hanging from the
ceiling. cut off a few slices and put
them in the frying pan, and very soon
an appetizing hot meal was smoking
| on the hearth; but still his father did
not come.
( Tom was a little homesick, sitting
/ there all alone. He thought of his
| snug home in the settlement aud fan
cied Just how his mother and little sis
/ ter looked "a they stood in the door
way watching him and his father set
| ting out for the numbering camp.
/ Even now his mothers parting words
rang in his ears Tom, my boy, take
good care of your father What If
anything had happened to his father.
Tom started to his feet and, run
ming to the door, opened it and step
ped out in the bright moonlight. 1t
was a clear, cold night, and the full
moon was just rising above the dark
line of the forest. He stood listening
for a moment, and was turning to en-
ter the cabin when he heard foot
step. He raised whistle to his lips
and sounded a shrill piercing note.
1t was the camp signal, and after a
brief pause came the answering whis-
tie. But it sounded strangely faint
and quive:ing. Tom wondered at
this, and wondered still more as he
heard halting, uncertain step on the
frozen ground-a step utterly unlike
his fathers long, steady stride.
The next moment tall figure tot
tered down the bank behind the shan
", and, by the light of the moon, Tom
saw his fathers pale, haggard face.
Don befrightened, said the wound
ed man in hoarse whisper as the
boy darted up the bank and saw the
scorched and blood-stained jacket
sleeve and the strong arm hanging
limp and helpless MY foot slipped
the rifle was loaded-and went of
the ball shattered my arm and lodged
in my side-I thought should never
get home"
Tom managed to lead his father in
to the cabin. where he sank down on
the pile of skins in sort of stupor.
After rubbing the cold hand and fore
ing a few spoonfuis of hot coffee be-
tween the white lips, Tom had the sat
isfaction of seeing the sufferer open
his eyes and look up with an attempt
at a smile.
Its pretty hard for you, Tom" he
groaned. Il feel better now. The
loss of blood made Inc dizzy. What
are you going to do?''
Going for help" replied Tom