Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-02-01
BY
F. B. TRACY.
Copyright October 1899.

Well, nalnt seen her, but l reckon
she's around here somewhere. faint
likely that she'd stay out there alone
all night"
Ned Cushman knew better. Mary
Somers did not fear to stay alone. She
rejected. time after time, the invitation
"i frirnas tn pass the evenings in town,
and Ned knew that it was almost GER
tain that she had not come to town I'M
less she had been driven in by the fire A
quick turn with his horse through the
town revealed the fact that she was not
there and that no one had seen her. She
might have driven on to the south. as
many OF the first arrivals did when they
saw the helpless condition CT the town.
But where is she?" his heart cried. II
dare not trust to fortune that she is safe.
The house is right in the path OF the fire.
Suppose that she is even now being
burned to death!'
This thought was too much for him,
and his brain reeled-just for Il moment.
Then, recovering himself he whispered a
few words to the mayor, and turned his
horse with a leap right into. the face oil
the giant tempest OF wind and fire.
hun that the flames had by this time
soon be upon the village. 1t was only q
question of very few moments. and he
knew that il his horse stumbled or he lost
his balance his chance for life would not
bn worth penny. But he tossed aside
that thought with contempt as COM
pared with his divine errand. And even
that was almost forgotten and swept
from the minds view by the sighr OF
| that fire as it drew nearer him and as he
rushed into it's embrace. No cracking
OF bunghs, no lurid lights, no grand il
Elimination OF the sky-no, none vi these.
Almost silently the tongue OF flame ran
along, hugging the earth like a snake on
his belly. There was IL peculiar kissing
sound, and, when the wind was very
strong q gentle roar. 4 forest fire is
merclful, for it warns by it's tumult and
| light. Ii often stops to exult over it's
victims and to leap aloftin Iheirsummlts
with Joy. But the prairie fire gides
| upon it's foe like tiger. and crushing it
with one blow, sweeps on to the next
one. 1t is in this way that those awful
tragedies on the plains occur, when whole
families ARE surprised aud destroyed
without chance OF fight for life.
Never had Cushman s horse made such
speed. Despite cough and snort, she
Ieappd bravelv forward wherever her
rider might command. Cushn.alI held to
the rein with Il grip Of iron, AMI though
the horse swayed to and fro; aud though
the smoke rolled blacker and blacker be-
fore him, he kept on peering toward his
goal, guided, certainly not by light, Tor
there was none. but by intuition, which
is another name for God. So long SEEM
cd the ride that he began to fear that he
had lost his way: but at last the dim out
line OF the little house began to appear
through the darkness and storm. The
IRE was already there, and as Cushman
Ieaped from his horse the flames We're
licking up the pine siding and mounting
to HE roof. The horse stood perfectly
still, though trembling and snorting.
while CuShman burst through the rude
door. On the floor OF the far room he
saw a white heap. 1t was plain that the
smoke had aroused her only to stifle.
conquer, and choke out her life when she
arose and attempted to flee. There
was no time to learn ii breath yet re-
manned i'll that precious body. Cushman
i'll Il passion OF love, seized it in his arms,
rushed again out into the blast, leapGd
on his faithful horse, and turned back
toward the town.
The fire was now on all sides OF him.
1t had beloved on ahead, and seemed
mad in it's swift leaps toward the town.
The awful smoke poured into hisnostrlls
and almost overcame him. AS he was
Yearly strangled by it's power, he
thought OF his fair burden, and threw
the gown over the face to cheat the dea-
mon OF its prey, if happily, it's victory
was not yet complete. The horse snort
ed and squealed as the fire ran up the poor
creatures legs and burned little patches
OF rough hair. Ned dared not open his
mouth to direct or encourage her; but
tn" noble animal never falternd. and her
flight to the town was straight and true
although terror was driving her on.
Several times Ned's clothes were OIL fire.
but he kick, d and shook the sparks off
never relaxing his hold on the body
which lay as ii liieless in his arms. But
as the seconds passed the strain began
to tell on him; his eyes grew heavy, his
body began to sway from side to side.
The horse plunged more and more, and
at last stumbled in a ditch, finging Ned
with his burden to the ground, stunned
and helpless.
What cheer rang out to the sky
from that lonely Dakota prairie when
the anxious watchers at Hudson saw
the gallant horse dash clear at last of
the smoke and the peril OF fire! But it
gave away to a shout from the men
aud IL shrek from the women AZ they
saw the horse stumble and fall. A doZen
men ran out to the rescue, and carried
the man and woman tenderIv into the
house Of Webster. the ''broker." whose
callous heart had been touched, and
whose pleading was so strong that his
house received in honor the man he had
! maligned
The fire just few moments before so
threatening and full of death, ran out
upon the blackened tract OF land, and
slowly painted and gasped and died.
Here and there it caught stray straw,
but it's awful work was over. The
people stood gazing at the smoke until
daybreak, partly because OF the iascina-
ton OF the rolling clouds, and partly
becanse they We're fearful that some
power might arise to revive the flames,
az no one knows when prairie fire is
really out.
1t was almost evening before Ned
IN .h,nuu opnuo1 bic ovns rn find Will