Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-04-16
The prairie was on fire.

Great columns of black smoke
were rolling across the prairie, and
The red flames, leaping and roaring
in the gale, were rushing down to-
ward where he stood, not quarter
OF mile awayl
Several school children came run
ming down the road, and passed,
crying with fright as they ran.
Far behind them, her hat off, her
long yellow hair flying in the wind,
came the little girl who had left him
a few moments before, the roaring
flames gaining upon her.
He uttered a groan, and ran to-
ward her as fast as his weak and
tottering limbs could carry him.
Every breath of wind was now la.
den with dense clouds of smoke and
heat and black with flying cinders.
He saw her stagger as she ran
turn around and sink down in the
road, just as he reached her side.
He lifted her hurriedly in his
arms desperation giving him strength
and turned and ran with her as fast
as he could, staggering as he went.
ooh, God if / should lose my
life,' he gasped, ''help me to save
herl"
A dense cloud of smoke envelop.
ed his form; the heat grew. intense ;
great tongues OF crimson flame leap.
ed high in the air, and roared be.
hind him, and mingled their sound
with the rushing wind.
Dave Foster, the cattle-man, stood
near one of the corrals, engaged in
conversation with some cowboys who
had just ridden up.
"We've rode all day." one of the
cowboys was saying, "but can't git
sight Nv any Nv the pesky cattle
thieves"
ga suspicious character passed
here about an hour ago. answered
Foster, 'sand / wouldn't be sure but
what he may be ore Of them
Il guess hit won't be very healthy
for him if we run across him." said
on of the cowboys.
"You bet it won't sanctioned an.
other.
"Guess we'd rope him inter lit.
tie partnership with a tree" replied
the other with harsh laugh.
whats that smoke coming from?'
asked Dave, pointing toward the
school house. "a fire. fire r. he
exclaimed. MY God, boysl the
prairie is On fire and my little An.
nie-my child my child She will
be burned to death-heaven help
her y
He halt dragged one of the cow
boys from his horse as he spoke, and
springing into the saddle, dashed
away in the direction of the fire fol
lowed by half dozen boys.
"Heaven help her my child ! my
child |" moaued the father, as he
spurred on his horse.
A line OF fire was burning slowly
against the wind. Onward they
| swept toward this, their horses rear
ing wildly as they approached, and
then leaped through it, and dashed
into the black, smoking track of the
fire that was sweeping onward with
the wind.
The school house was in flames
but no one near it. They galloped
wildly about, hardly knowing What
course to take.
"Here !" called out Dave; "they
have gone for the newly patch Of
broken sod yonder. I see some one
there now.n
They all dashed off in the direc
ton of the strip of sod that lay {
little way to the north. They reach
ed the place, and found little
squad of school children, who haG
male their escape to the place.
| "Where is my child 2" the father
screamed hoarsely.
But no one knew.
"She was coming down the roac
over there, where We passed her,
answered one Of the children.
| "My God she is dead-dead !
moaned the griefstricken father, anc
| galloped back over the road he hat
| just traversed.
| On every side lay black, desolat
waste of smoking, ash-strewn prair
lie.
| Suddenly one of the cowboys ut
tered a shout, and they all hurried
to the spot.
| In little ravine by the roadsid
lay the form Of man and near him
| on a patch of hard sand, stood littl
Annie unframed.
"Thank God ! my child is alive I
exclaimed the father, leaping iron
his horse and clasping his child il
his arms. Her hair was burnt, be
face blackened with flying cinder
and ashes, but otherwise she was M
harmed.
The cowboys we're bending owe
the PROSTATE man near by.
"Poor fellow! Fin afraid he's dy
ing" said one of them In a 10,