Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-08-24

The girls eyes opened wide. 'Oh.
of 'em all day."
"Take them reins. I'm goin' back
an see."
He leaped from the wagon and ran
back, noting as he did so how hot
the air had become and how near the
big wave Of smoke was.
Mrs. Walker, singing softly as she
hustled about the kitchen, was bit
startled to see who her unannounced
visitor was.
mis- Walker, where's all your
men folks? No, l didn't come
fer trouble-only this a prairie fire
like mad
Mrs. Walker sank into a chair.
sob heavens! An father sick abed
an all tn boys over t. Berry's on a
breakin'-be
Good Lord! Ant glad I come
back? Where's tn hosses?"
"Oh, Mort. They're all loose in
the paster"
"Git what things We wantuh save
t'gether real quick. They ant no
spare time" And Mort tore out Of
the house like mailman and down
to the pasture. not noticing that
Nellie had entered the kitchen and
was staring at him open-eyed.
Both Mr.. Walkers wagon teams
were compo. led of animals usually as
doci'c a, lambs; but to-day, punched
together in the corner of a pasture.
they shifted the coming flames and it
seemed to put wild imps into their
numbering carcases, and it was a long,
trying time before Mort could catch
two Of them, swear, pray, try as he
might-and the great fire rolled
swiftly nearer. The wind had shifted
from northeast to northwest Mort
saw with sinking at his heart that
there was an even chance of getting
cut off from the river.
Mr.. Walker was on a feather bed
on the floor Of the wagon and Mrs
Walker crouched beside him. Nellie
ran back into the house for the family
Bible then climbed up beside Mort.
"Git up elk" The heavy whip
came down hard on the horses nanks,
and the race was begun.
Faster came the flames; the billow
of smoke rolled over them now and
then dropping feathery grass cinders
as it passed; they could hear the roar
uf the fire and feel its hot breath
whenever the wind increased in veloc-
ity-and Jim River so far away.
Nearer came the great wave of
flame; the air was dense and suffocat.
ing. Mort, in his frenzy, dashed the
now running horses incessantlv ours
ing, praying, saying he knew not
what. Mrs. Walker wept and prayed.
Mr.. Walker now and then gave
feeble moan. Nellie. on the seat be.
side Mort, kept her lips tight closed
/ and said nothing, only clinging to the
seat more desperately as the wagon
bounced and lurched.
Mort looked at her. Her silence
angered him. "Git off'n tn seat!"
he roared. GLOW dye think len
drive. with you sittin' thar'
The girl obeyed, and fell, rather
than climbed, back into the box.
Mort Benedlct's recollections of
what occurred after that are very
dim. He remembers of driving
deeper and deeper into the terrible
heat and smoke, OF tearing through
volume of flame that seemed end
less-fame that burned his eyes, his
nostrils, his throat. and scorched his
hair and eyebrowS-then, with final
| leap, the horses dashed down the
slope into the shallow river, and he
knew no more.
When Mort awoke he could not for
some time realize where he was, and
lay TO-. some time trying to remember.
Oh. yes: he was in Will Berry's room.
He remembered the antlers on the
wall and the white curtains at the
windows Some one came in softly
from the next room.
"Who is it?" he asked.
1t was Nell, and she came and
leaned over him. "It's me, Mort.
I've ben here all tn time thought
We knew me, sometimes. You've
BEN sick.'
care ye here t. stay Nell-always,
] mean?"
She sat down on the edge of the
bed and put her hands on his shout
dcrs.
IF We want me to- Mort"
He drew her face down to his, but
put her at arms length presently.
"But how about tn feud, Nell?"
'sThey amt no more feud, Mort"
San Francisco Argonaut
The Wizards Next Feat.
81 think l shall soon turn my at