Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-07-07

LICK glanced desparingiy around-ah!
was 1t possible? or did his eyes deceive
him? For as he gazed it seemed TO
him, that on the far side of the hedge,
some distance in advance, a moving fig
IRE was distinguishable-a short muf-
fed figure, shapeless, formless, plough
ing through the snow; whether man,
boy or beast, Dick could not say-only
1T was receding steadily from view,
casting strange shadows on the snow.
lie raised bis voice; he shouted again,
and yet again:
Help, help!" he wildly cried; "for
the love OF Heaven, helps helpless fell
low-creature lies perishing in the
snowl''
But answer there was none. only n
dreary derisive echo. which seemed to
mock his impotent frenzy, and render
the desOlation of the scene vet more
pitiably oppressive. Dick turned again
toward the PROSTATE man. Ha. surely
now he stirred; that shout had pene-
tTated his nUfnbed brain. Awaking
slowly from his trance he opened his
eyes and stared blankly round.
Heaven be praisedl" cried Dick.
keep up, old man, and all will yet be
well. Seek 10 yourself: on no ac-
count close your eyes again, and-in
another moment l will be back by your
side
Thus inspired. Dicks W drooping
spirits in truth revived. The newborn
hope Pickering now at his heart seemed
as n beacon-star, which guided him
safely, and in an incredibly short space
OF time, back TO the cab round by the
same road he had already traversed.
The poor horse apparently was dead: it
had ceased to kick or struggle, and
Dick concluded breath had fled. This
was no moment. however, to indulge
in regrets, and he hastily proceeded TO
carry out the notion which had flashed
across his mind.
In the first instance he CROPPED be-
meath the seat inside the cab for a
small black traveling-ba in which he
had slowed various Christmas offerings,
comestibles. ETC., which he had pur-
chased for those at home-among other
things, a couple of bottles of rare cher
~ brandy for his father, which he now
%ruthlessly disentombed; then dragged
the cushions forcibly from off the seat.
Thus loaded he staggered back over the
now familiar ground as fast as circum-
stances would permit.
He found cabby with his ewes now
open. so with an ejaculation of heart
felt gratitude and relief, Dick flung his
cushion lengthwise on the snow, when
TO his joy it sank gradually, but not
more than a foot beneath the surface Of
the frozen crust.
Then with infinite caution, along this
extempore platform, Dick crawled on
all-fours. 1t landed him within an
arms length of the injured man. whom
~. F-.sIafh cnsyAI I.F NlA .all.. - -
clothes, and by a painful effort, sue
ceeded in stirring slightly, his object
being to prevent his limbs from becom-
ing numbed and cramped from remain
ing so long III II position in the
snow.
Then with the handle Of his umbrel-
Ia Dick deftly Knocked of the top of
the bottle, and succeeded in pouring
some mouthfuls of the generous cordial
between poor cabby's half-frozen lips.
The effect was magical, and after a
repetition OF the experiment the man
was able to raise his shoulders some
what, and to declare that after all he
fancied he was more stunned perhaps
than hurt. Then Dick poured a few
drops of brandy in his own hand, and
gently chafed the sufferers brow, be-
hind his ears, the nape of his neck, UNI
I'll cabby declared a generous glow per-
meated his whole frame, and he felt as
though he might presently be able to
stagger to his feet.
But what then? Dick could not fail
to ask himself despairingly, when he too
had fortified his infer a by a mouth
ful from the invaluable bottle. Anew
moments later when poor Jehu was so
fnr racf.raI 40 ~ trofCa fha rnnar no NJ
OF his body entirely, and draw himself
up into a sitting posture, Dick confid-
ed to his ear the real terrors of the stu
alton, preparatory TO their making a
united effort to struggle up the bank
in order that the injured man might
drag himself, If possible as far as the
shelter of the cab; for the severity OF
the night air was terrible. a raw cutting
wind from the east chilling the very
marrow of their bones, and the laden
snow clouds hanging low, threatening
to disgorge their fieecy treasures at any
moment.
Even should they succeed in making
their way in safety to the cab Though
Dick was more than doubtful whether
his companion would find himself able
to stand when dislodged from his pres
ent resring-place, much less capable OF
crawling up the ditch side, and round
I by the gate as Dick had done), there
would be nothing for it but to creep in
side, 3hd, wrapped in the bear-skin,
resigu themselves to spend the long in
terminable hours of the advancing
night Ia this terrible coign of vantage.
The window was smashed, so there
would be nc protection against the
severity of the elements, and If the
snow should recommence to fall with
anything of its recent fury there could
he little doubt that the overthrown
hanson would be completely buried be-
fore morning. and its hapless occupants
almost frozen TO death.
AS these reflections crossed each
mans mind-it was hardly necessary to
! translate the thoughts Of either into
| words. as simultaneously they realized
! the real terrors of the situation--they
gazed silent and awe-stricken each into
the others face, rendered additionally
weird and pallid by the sickly glow cast
by the carriage lamp supported in the
snow between them, and shedding a
Immediately surrounding the melan-
choly little group.
vas i. fancy. or could it be that q
faint echo of distant Christmas bells at
that solemn moment came waited o'el
the snowy waste, reminding those two
unfortunateS Of the homely joys-sC
near, and yet, alas! so far-from
which cruel fate had cut them of 70.
m~orselessly in SO strange and unfore.
seen q fashion?
Neither spoke the thought Just then
uppermost in his mind. but it seemed
to Dick, and not less to honest jim
| Browne. that If it should please Proyi-
| dence after all to rescue them from
| their present perilous position, and
spare them in health, strength and hap
| piness to enjoy half n hundred Christ.
| mas Ewes, yet never to their diving day
might either of the twain forget, as the
annual festival REQUIRED. the agonixed
sensations Of this moment. when each
| gazed blank.y into the others face, and
momentarily held his breath that he
might catch the far-oH echo OF those
distant village chimes, telling Of peace
and tranquil joys in which, each mar
whispered to himself, he might pos
sibly be q participation neverm0re.
Courage. cahby, ~couragei" Dicl
stoutly urged after that brief pause;
"here, take another pull from the bot
tie, and then we must really make
| struggle toward a final move. i feel nv
do yours feelY"
ssThey've not felt. m.a2a
| ou0ugh!n returned IT, Sny 80