The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-03-30

under the heels of Babe. She leaued into
the air and whirled, her black eyes flash
inc. Ira dropped bis gun and seized her
by the shoulders.
"Are YOU hit, Babe ?"
'No. guess not; but you scarf me out
of years growth"
81 didn't mean to-a twig caught the
triggers"
81 don't suppose you did mean to shoot
me. but l guess you've scarf away the
squirrel"
Ira looked very grave and seemed to
have lost interest In the sport.
"You and Babe stay here while 90
around the hill and come up on the other
side. After a little you come carefully
straight over until we meet" said Arthur.
Say, Stubby," said Babe, coming up to
where he sat looking thoughtfully, "as
long as you didn't hit me, don't look so
solemn. / suppose YOU would have felt
bad if you had shot me-"
"Oh, Babel" and he surprised his
adopted little sister by Selling ner face in
both hands and kissing her.
The report of Arthur's gun was soon
heard, and they met him coming over the
hill with squirrel.
How close and dark its grown; there's a
big storm brewing; it has felt like it all
the afternoon" said Arthur, as they en-
tered the woods near Filters leap. There
goes q woodcock-Watch where it lights !"
he exclaimed.
They spread out in line, the boys at
the ends and Babe in the center, and fol-
lowed the direction the bird had taken.
Presently. "Whirrn' it went almost from
under Arthur's feet He raised his gun
and just as he pressed the trigger. Babe
unconsciously stepped out from behind a
tree, her head directly in line with the
gun; the cap snapped but the gun missed
fire. For an instant the impression that
had fred was SO real, that it made the
BIO V giddy, and he reeled and almost
tainted.
What's the matter?" shouted Babe.
running up 10 him.
"Oh, Babe twice today YOU have Just
escaped--you must never 90 hunting with
us again."
Arthur was completely unstrung.
Good heavens, Stubby, thought surely
I'd killed her"
"Well, as you haven't never mind but
| think you two old hunters better let me
carry the guns and do the shooting; it will
be safer"
1t grew darker and darker each moment.
There was scarcely a breath of air moving
Stubby watched the rolling and heaying
masses OF smoke-colored clouds in the
west.
81 guess we'll have an awful blow
hadn't we better 90 10 the cave? You can
trust Babe never TO tell where il is"
Babe gave the required promise and also
insisted upon taking the same oath that
the boys had four years before.
We'll have 10 run tor il" SAID Arthur.
10 - n.
trance the first wave OF the hurricane had
reached them. Great trees swayed to and
fro, rustling and creaking and grooming
dead branches snapped and came down
crashing the air was filed with dust and
| flying leaves and the roar Of the storm
| sounded louder and louder each moment.
Babe was delighted with the cave. The
! boys in their different visits had built O
sort Of bench or couch, and there were
substitutes for stools scattered about
some tin dishes and a blanket.
We've often cooked eggs and corn and
potatoes, and even fish and game here,
said Arthur Here's a coal spring down
this wall, and there's fire that never
| goes out--never gives you any trouble
about going down cellar after coal. Stub
| do you know that right there in that
| corner is the strongest reason for keep.
ing this cave q secret?'
"Why?"
Because there's fortune in that Gas
well for somebody some day. What dc
you suppose l am going TO do with my
| share oil it?p
| WHAT asked Stubby.
PAY up all the debts against father, the
| fret thing" said Arthur.
The storm had passed by I'm few min
utcs, but they found that IL had lett be
hind terrible signs OF It's passage. Tn,
partially cleared but concealed path the,
had made down the ravine was all cholIet
up with branches and brush and falef
trees, and IL was only by the utmost exer
ton that they could Chamber out with
Babe.
When they reached tho top OF the bluff
they hardly recognized the place. Grea
ragged branches were torn away entirely
or hung loosely from the trees, or tho tree
themselves were flung down and role,
over aud over and twisted and piled int,
heaps by the mighty fingers OF tho wine
us IA man would twist wisps OF straw.
at was lucky we had the cave for
shelter snid Arthur. "i pity any on,
caught in the woods in the path OF thi
storm"
Poor Arthur I'm the path of the storm
not hall milo from where he stood
pinned 10 the earth by fallen tree lay
his father, crushed and liteloss.
CHAPTER IX.