The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-02-18

OF mile from the building. each on his
broncho and each gallopbng toward the
north.
As they mounted little swell in the
prairie the blaze lighted their faces.
From each came an exclamation: Dor
den!" "Glade!"
II thought you were with her." de.
manded the former. angrily.
II thought you were the one"
For an instant the two men glared
al each other and then the test came
Borden looked straight in the face OF
The Englishman and then at the sea Of
flame sweeping up from the south and
whose breath was hot in their faces.
We'll" he demanded, (which shall
1t be? This is the time TO prove which
is the true representative of bravery"
"Oh. it's not that sort of a question:"
pleaded the other.
1T is just that sort of a question.
There is a chance for the one who rides
into that blaze 10 come out alivc-and
only chance. II will be at the school
house i'm moment. and the race there
IS no small thing in itself, even il the
horses will take it,"
Well 60 together" after little
thought.
''Very we'll" The horses heads were
turned and the rivals went toward the
long line of leaping flames. each deter
mined to make the other weary of his
undertaking. On and on they rode,
the horses becoming wilder as each
whit of the wind brought them
stronger smell Of smoke.
Finally the Englshman began TO fall
behind. His horse was not so un-uly as
Borden's. and there seemed no reason
for his retrogrcsson.
Come on, Corvallis" called the
ranchman. and the cut was felt by the
laggard
Faster and faster rode the frontiers
man into the thick of the smoke and
was lost TO the sight of his comrade.
With head bent low and notrils shielded
In the folds of his cloak, he steered to-
ward the schoolhouse whose black form
rose out of the flames.
Finally the door was reached and
with shout he called TO the teacher.
Was she there? He remembered that
she had gone to the rear of the building
when the alarm was given. She might
have thought there was no danger in
staying in the schoolhouse.
lie leaped from the horse. Into the
building he ran and 10 the rear. What
was that--a sobbing? Leaning over a
M 10 IF curfnipc In tho oor,ar H.. 49,.
from them a bundle of humanity that
was very frightened and very thankful
to see him.
rs it you. Lizzie ?" he questioned.
"Yes-and Jimmie"
WHO is that"
"The widows little lame boy.
thought he would like the show and
brought him. He is too heavy TO carry
and we had TO stay here. What car we
lc?"
For an answer the strong man lifted
the woman in one arm and the boy in
the other and rushed to the door.
Throwing them TO his saddle he babe
them cling for their lives. The fire was
already around the yard and was eat
ing its way to the building. The in
tense heat had made the shingles smoke
and in few minutes the whole struc-
ture would be a pyramid Of blaze.
1t was no easy task to control a wild
md excited horse in the midst of a
ire and also see that two helpless
charges did not fall from the back of
the animal. But Borden with his SUI
perb mastery of horsefiesh did il, and
the gait that they took through the
wall of flame was something marvellous.
Had the riders been living a little near
ar to civilization they would have called
I "record breaker"
well. that was scorcher," re.
marked Borden, when they had come to
/ safe place Hello, who is that?' as
, solitary rider came out of the smoke
md approached them.
BLESS me. If il amt Cornwallis,"
"Woo." exclaimed the Englishman.
viping his eyes. IL couldn't find the
'choolhouse or l would have saved the
little school ma'am.'
WAS it hot?"
"Awfully so. / suppose il is too late
low to do her any good"
"Oh, don't know, CORVALLIS. She
$ here all right" and the form of Liz
lie came to the astonished eyes of tie
ate arrival.
The Englishman looked sheepish for
minute and then hit his horse with his |
rand and started off.
Say" called Borden, that little
rivalry is settled now" And then TO |
lizzie: II knew that he was not hunt. |
ng that schoolhouse very hard. You
rave him the right character-that is,
he side that got licked."
And Lizzie Dean agreed with him. So |
thoroughly was the defeat felt that the |
sutton did not even deign |
o come to the wedding-the dedication
vent of the new schoolhouse that re- |
,laced the one destroyed by the fire.
lizzie wanted il that way and Borden
vas willing to have it so.
II don't know much about it," he said,
but take it for granted that Washing
on always pleased the ladies' when he
ould"
CHARLES MoREAU HARGER.