The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-03-09

He was awakened by a piercing
scream, the voice OF man in bitter
agony, close beside him Springing -
his feet he looked hastily about him.
The rain was coming down in great
sheets; il seemed 10 him he had never
before seen it fall so heavily. he was
saturated. soaked and dripping. and
chilled TO the very bone. Again he
heard that awful cry. bat could see 10
ono. Rushing hastily forward in thu
direction from which it came he sud-
denly found his way barred bv huge
tree that, struck by the lightning, had
fallen in the path Beneath il. rs ter
rible weight lying square across his
body. lay n man. After an instant
Jared recognized him as Sam Baker, a
tranping farmland. who had been
about the village for a few weeks. and
had finally gone 20 work for sOTac one
OF che neighboring farmers he had
been blowing in the field below when
the storm came up. and had stupidity
taken refuge in the eluInp OF trees On
the hillside. Leaving his pillow in tbs
iurrow and his horse still inspaaned
To brave the storm alone
The tree under which he stool had
been struck by lightning. and he'd fall
en- upOn him IL was smoking lit,ls
where the branches forlled-Only the
dampness keeping il from burning.
''Gsc it of. get il OFF, the poor fellow
shriekeG rs he saw Jared. The boy
was old for his years and unconmonly
quick of wit, but his strength was
wholly inadequate TO move the tree.
He pOndercd an instant. amid the roars
OF the storm and the screams of thu
tortured man. and then rushed down
the hill and across the half-plowcd
field. with it, muddy burrows, 70 where
the patient. numbering. OLD white pillow
horse stood, head down and his low
set, nongrel tail turned To the storm.
70 unspan him from the piow and lead
him up the hill was but the work of
minute. The reins had been length
ened with rope. and taking this Jared
twisted it and looped it firmly about
the tree, hooking the siugleuee into
il. sam saw the idea and its dangers.
IF you drag that tree across me, hs
groaned, you'll kill re. II mast be
lifted"
Jared saw that his words were only
TOO true. Something. however, must
be done. Sans shrieks had ceased,
but he WAS still grooming in agony.
only failing strength hushirg his
cries. Down on his hands and knees
Jared got, putting his puny shoulder
against the trunk OF the tree. Had his
boys body been half as stout as his
heart he would have lifted. When ak
was ready he gave the old white horse
the word 10 go forward. The chain
tIghtened ana with strength born OF
hi, extremity tho boy raised his back.
fairly forcing himself beneath tho
tree, giving it an upward impetus as
the horse dragged IL forward He was
not able To lift, save for single Ia
slant. but that served to carry II FREQ
from Sans chest and head. and when
II fell from the mans boOy, Jared, too.
fell forward with II strange, suiTocst-
ing sense OF oppression in his chest.
After a minute lie rallied and staggered
To his feet. Sam was unconscious and
lay upon his back. the rain beating
down upon his face, and mingiiug with
the blood that flowed from a dreadful
wound in his breast II was plain,
help was no. quickly brought 1t was
Il mile 20 the village, and he felt sick
to death himself. but gathering his lit
tie strength he pulled the harness end
tugs from the horses shoulders-ths
collar was beyond his ability 10 move
tied up the reins and clambered upon
his back.
The awkward creature was unused !
to being ridden, and he started, swirl I
ing and plunging. Jared tucked one I
arm under the big collar. seized the I
reins in the other hand ana dug his T.
heels furiously into the horses sides /
a sharp lash came just then. and the 4
quIcl1ly-follOwing thunder clap added 4
to the animals terror. The big, luIn- I
bering brute sprang forward with a
lunging attempt NJ run. which fnsl- /
" settled into a laundering three /
cornercd gallop "a he tore down the I
hill. sending the damp earth up be- I
hind him in great clods from MS euor- 4
nous hoofs. At every rise Jared had .
all he could do 20 keep from going over .
the animals great chuckle- head: a. ev-
cry impact of the sho vei-lIke feet upon
the ground the breath seemed about. 4
to leave the boys body. but he clunR
zrimIy, urging his UnQsinIg steed on
Is though death followed behind One
By one the familiar landmarks were
passed on the road 10 the village.
straight down the single street lie
rode, and pulled rein IN front OF the
5Re store that was trading place, post
3fice, ciub room and general longing
stand for the whole neighborhood-
There's that young imp. the Sim.
,lex boy, on my old BEi,T shouted
Farmer Briggs a. Jared fairly threw
limsef 10 the ground. while the stil
frightened brute rushed on a2ain re-
ieved OF his rider "Drst that bOyi
1ools az that He'd OTTER have every
zone in his blamed body broke for let
in~ that boss run Of, ," and be wrath
oIly started for the door Just as Jared
uttered
Something's wrong here, cried DIR.
Barton. who was one % the rain bound
oiterers within the store, as he saw
ne boys pale. strained face what's
ID. BGb?-