Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-02-17

Ma hEhE the city OF Opehd- hdL-'
Wv stands to-day there was once q
trading post 20 years ago, and the coun-
try roundabout was but sparsely settled.
The winter had been unusually long
and hard. and many of the farmers
found their stock of groceries and other
provisions running low long before
the roads became passable for teams
Trips TO the post were made on foot
and horseback, and, by few who lived
along the Kaw river and were fortunate
enough TO own them. on skates.
Among these were Robert Chan
ming. a boy Of &c. and his sister Eliza,
a healthy red-cheeked girl two years
younger. The Channings had moved 10
Kansas from western New York the
summer before. and Bob and Liza"
had brought their skates along as a
matter of course. \ little before Christ
mas they had made the trip together
TO the post, dragging a hand-sled be
tween them. and returning with few
Christmas trifles the post afforded, and
such necessaries as were running low al
that time. 4 severe storm set in the
next day and continued for more than
a week. Then came a week of intense
tO4G. lb4aOH S0 " ram anu q SEACLd d
breaking up which made the roads
worse th@n ever before. The river, how
ever, stih remained frozen over and the
ice was considered safe. though some
what mushy in places along the edge.
II was just at this time that the Chan
nings found themselves entirely out of
coffee and very low on bacon, with no
other meat whatever. Bob" and Liza"
were eager to make the 15-mile trip
again, and Immediately began cleaning
and sharpening their skates for that
purpose, but Mr.. Charming shook his
head
Il don't like to have you do it," he
aid, anxiously.
why. father. the rivers safe. Just
little wet, that's all" replied Bob"
Eayly.
II think the rivers all right myself
after the hard freeze we had. Itwasn't
that I wes thinking Of
What then! Not robbers. I hope ."
NO. not human robbers. but worse,
perhaps. This hard winter has been
teIt by beasts as we'll as men. And
beasts come TO men when they're hun
gry. I thought heard a wolf howl
This morning across the prairie. I'm
not sure. but il makes me uneasy to
have you 60"
"'Oh. pshaw: I'm not afraid of a cow
irdly wolff said Bob" rather grand
". Are You, Liza ?"
Eliza was not TO be outdone.
NO; Of course not" she assented
They couldn't catch Us. anyway, and
you can take fathers pistol"
Mr.. Charming went outside and
looked cut over the prairie listening
There was no sound but the cawinC OF
some hungry crows, and the cup of
coffee he had missed that morning
weakened his resolve. Mrs. Claiming
who was a hardy New England woup
an. did not encourage his misgivings.
Half an hour later he saw his two fresh
checked children skate away with
swinging stride. the little hand sled
bobbing along behind.
1t was \ pleasant thaw morning. and
though there were pools Of water on the
ice in places the skating was not bad
Once or twice the skaters thought they
felt the frozen surface give beneath
them. and concluded that perhaps after
all there would not be many more days
of safety. They reached the post how
ever without accident. except that one
of .Iiza-s" skate straps broke and
had TO be repaired, which caused some
little delay. They ate lunch at the
store, and after loading the sled started
back about three o'clock
They felt almost Immediately that
the warm day had told on the already
softening ice Every few strokes there
was a cracking beneath their feet and
an almost imperceptible swaying move
,nent of the frozen mass. You had
hotter skate on ahead. Liza" SAID
ssRob." at last. There is too much
xreioht with both of US and the sled.
can drag il all right. and III let you
take II awhile later"
This arrangement was made with
rood results. and for several miles they
nrorressed with little cause for alarm
Then suddenly there came something
which made Bob's heart jump. II was
M movement or sound from the ice
From the bank above and not far behind
came a short bark, then prolonged
howl. followed by another and another
They were still four miles from home
The January sky had clouded thickiy
and IT was growing dusk on the river.
He had said that he was not afraid OF
x~oIves. but there was something IN
This dismal chorus and gathering night
1h.t made him bound forward and
nFartake his sister