The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-08-16

Extending in long line from east
to west and driven by the fierce wind
came ribbon of fire that ate up the
dry prairie grass and was bounding
forward as if rejoicing in It's freedom.
It was a mile away-was there time
to escape?
To the barn and sheds she ran, CALI
ing Rob! Tad! Link!'
Not a voice answered. Wind in her
terror, she returned to the house,
seized a few keepsakes and again
went out of doors. Where could the
boys be?
The granary! To it she hurried and
her cry rang through the building:
"Oh, Rob! Tad. Link!"
Sleepily, Link answered from his
bed on the wool sacks, What you
want?"
In an instant his mother was by his
side, almost carrying him to the open
| air.
"Where-where are the boys?"
"Sailin' tn White Dove"
Link was almost afraid to tell lest
he should lose his promised ride, but
| the look in his mothers face decided
him.
"Where-what do you mean?"
He pointed toward the north. She
could see two small forms standing on
the low car, struggling with flap
ping cloth, evidently too large for
their strength.
"Come!" and half dragging the roly-
poly Link, she raced over the pain
toward the track. The fire line had
swung in an irregular course, and,
while it skirted the bluffs in one d.
rection and was dying out in the. short
grass of the hills behind which the men
were working, it bIazed more fiegcely
than ever to the southeast and east.
She could not find safety in any d.
rection but to the north. Behind the
frightened mother the flames leaped
gleefully.
Rob and Tad, toiling with the I'M
wieldy sail had not noticed the fire,
nor did they see their mother until
she was by their side. Then they start
ed guilty..
eve amt hurtin' any" began Rob.
but he glanced at his mothers face, and
all thought of excuses vanished.
"Come, boys, run" she gasped, look
ing along the track, wondering if the
narrow stretch of fresh earth would
save them.
She made a sta1 for the ties, still
holding to Links hand. while Rob
spoke: Lets get on the car - and
you help u.s."
"And sail it," added Tad
1t was new idea, but the quickened
wits of the woman grasped it. Lift
ing little Link to the splinter-coyered
Platform of the car, she helped Rob
with the sail. while Tad clambered
aboard.
With her assistance the heavy cross
piece and its burden of bagging was
hoisted. Then each held lower cor
ner of the cloth, while with the hot
wind, heated more intensely by the
blaze a few rods away, filled and bulged
and strained.
Rob slid to the ground and pushed
the car until it was under way. Then
to his seat Glory! The wind was
carrying them r-faster-faster!
Following slough the fire had run
ahead in places, and now blazed on
both sides of the track a mile ahead
! With pace increasing and with the
! rafting wheels drowning all attempts
at talking, they approached the fiery
trail. Mrs. Mangold hid Links curly
. head in her dress and threw her apron
over her own. But Rob and Tad bravet
, it through like soldiers, scorning pro
| lection.
: For an instant smoke blinded them
little darts of flame were here and there
The sail was in danger. Rob and Tao
lost courage and bowed their face:
close to their knees; then they rushed
| out into the clear air again, and thu
fire was behind - one tall pillar o
: smoke far away telling of their cabiI
homes destruction.
: Swifter and swifter whirled thu
wheels of the little car, tighter Gun:
the mother to Links chubby form
~ Mrs. Mangold's hair streamed loose il
:. the wind The sail rounded beauti
\ fully. and they were pushed FORWARD
Il at rate that would have been deligh
under different circumstances, ant
even then gave Rob and Tad thrill 0
4 pleasure.
- Ten miles away was the village o
Manchester.
\ As they passed the little depot tn
agent came out and waved his hand
frantically. Peering under the sail i
front of the car, sure enough the
= could see danger-the daily train fror
:. the north was coming!
n n Rob looked at his mother. She shout
- =, ed one word: Jump"
- Rob and Tad tumbled off on tn
~ fresh earth on one side, while tn
= mother, clasping Link, went off the otl
er, none being much hurt.
- The car plunged forward with litt,
- slackened speed. In vain the enginee
&c tried to stop and get away from tn
~ queer-looking thing bearing down upo
Il him.
~ A clank, a crash, a cracking of tin
y bers. and the "White Dove" lay parti
y in the ditch, partly impaled on the Ell
:" gines front. It's cruise was over.-Ch
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