The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-10-22

there was big tree almost brushing tile
window. l kicked out the window sass
and simply jumped into the tree. +
was the only thing to be done. LuckllT
l got my arm over a limb, which saG9e
with US and dropped us tothc grcu'-l.
clambered toAny feet and ran, Ns>ia
the girl still hanging absolutely Imp
and helpless over ny shoulder. 1Wen;
straight for the river with the intcutioa
of iumpingin. The heat was something
deadly. 1t had driven away tie IA
who had been filing their buckets al
the river.
Just as 1 staggered down the river
bank l saw sLiff. Some one had prob
ably rowed across the river to the fire
for the boat was not fastened. ropretl
the girl into the boat and ave it
strong push out into the curre::, t, and in
few seconds we were floating down
stream and were SAFE
"She had the canary, l suppose" said
the lightning dentist.
ooh, yes. She was in a dead faint, but
she hadn't let go of the cage. AS soon
as l recovered my breath and wet mg
clothes in two OR three places WheIl
they were on fire / splashed water IT
the girls face and she recovered CO..
seriousness, but she was so iiustered a2d
excited that she didn't know yhore-sha
was OF remember what had happened
eve could look up the river and see
the burning house. 1t made hugs
blaze and threw a bright glare across
the river. / remember the peculiar &
feet of this glare On the windows q the
houses across the river. 1t caused then
to glow as if the houses were filled wit,
live flames. The girl was so frightenc;.
that she thought all the houses were
afre.
"When I got ready to row back | dis
covered that l hadn't any oars. The
current was swift and we were dritt-
ing rapidly, SO pulled cut seat beard
and used it lis rudtser, and IL 4 1c}-
minutes / made Il landing near q house
occupied by Mr.. Wesley. Miss JaJ IS
was still so weak and nervous that s,
could hardly walk, but [ assisted her >
this house and aroused the inmates
They would hardly believe my story at
first, but they could see the burnt 3
house up the river, and they recognized
Miss Jaynes as soon as the lights were
brought.
''The woman of the house was very
kind. She cared for the young Lady
tenderly for about two hours and hat!
one of the boys drive us back to Crosby
vile. Now, in the general excitement
we had forgotten that the people j..
Crosbyville had no reason to believe
that we had escaped from the burnt: {.
house. Miss Jaynes said several times:
L suppose father is wondering where /
am but she had no idea that he and a.
the others were convinced that we had
persisted in the flames. However, you
couldn't blame them for thinking SO.
The window from which 1 had leapeJ
was well hidden by trees, and there was
no one at the river bank when we leaped
into the boat. We learned afterWar,j
that the men had pulled down the burn
ing veranda and had planted q ladde.
at the front window where we had been
seen. The blaze was so fierce that they
had been driven back.
every one supposed, of course, that
we were lost; so you can imagine what
happened when>we drove up in from t
of the ruins about seven o'clock in the
! morning. They were already searching
for our bodies. Yes, sir; they thought
, we were ghosts. AS soon as ex-
planned to them how we got away you
never heard such cheering in your life
They lifted Miss Jaynes out OF the
wagon and took her over to q ncigl.-
boring house, to which the captain hal
been taken. He had been almost wild
with grief. Those who went over to the
ing meetings that could be imagined
First he wept like a baby and then be
jumped up and laughed like a boy and
said he didn't care for the loss of his
buildings so long as his daughter was
safe. suppose his daughter must have
given him very favorable account Of
my efforts in her behalf, for presently
he came out of the house and walked up
to where I was standing and said: MIR.
Horne, you have done me the greatest
service that one man can do another.
All that have is at your command now
and forever. I once did you an inius-
tice. You have repaid me. VIII you
take the hand Of 4 man who honestly
admits himself beaten and Inundated 2
said to him: Captain, you are brave
and gallant man, but you were mis-
taken for once. Let us say no more
about the misunderstanding of the
past We shook hands, and from that
day forward we were friends. He was
man of passions and prejudices, but
If he came to know you and like you
he was the trusst friend man ever
had"
There's only one thing needed to
make that good story" suggested the
dentist. "You ought to say that you
married the captains daughter
Il am not going to sacrifice truth in
order to make fancy romance" re-
Piled "Doc."-Chicago Record.