The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-01-03

enlargement out OF them. And hiram
Ball, wisely, sealed his own lips also.
Phil did not miss a session of the
singing club. He seldom called for or
drove any of the girls home. If he
did, it was always somebody who 9TH
erwise would have been neglected. He
told himself that Myrtle should see he
was no weathercock. And, in truth,
II he could not have the girl OF his
choice he wanted none at all.
The winter drew toward spring.
There had been a thaw In February
which almost spoiled the sleighing, but
when it grew cold again the hard pack
ed snow froze solid and the runners
fairly hummed over the roads. The
wiseacres, too, declared that the win
ter was by no means over. There was
big storm due, and the longer 1t de-
layed the more severe it would prove
when it finally came
One Friday late in the month the
snowbanks began to pile up around
the horizon, and the farmers fastened
to get their sheep into the folds and
make all secure for the night There
was little wind, however, and the
storm grew slowly. Phil was late at
the singing club that night. 1t was
well under way when he entered, and
as he came In he brought with him
sudden cold blast of wind. The first
fakes Of the coming storm sparkled on
his bearskin coat.
''You had better close early, Mr.. EN-
cry" he whispered to the master as
| 10 Inn
to be a heavy gale"
But it is hard to break up merry
party of young people. The fine snow
sifted down about the schoolhouse and
, packed hard over the door stone. Had
! they been without they would have
heard now and then the swapping Of
, the overladen branches of the forest
I trees behind the building. The school
house stood upon the verge Of wood.
By the time the session broke up
the wind had risen and was moaning
, angrily through the forest. 1t swept
the snow dercely into their faces as
, they breasted it too. 1t was astonish-
ing how much had already fallen.
. Everybody but Phil and the master
hurried to get away. The latter lived
: at the nearest farmhouse-almost with
3 In stones throw of the school-and
Phil had q question or two In algebra
|. he wanted explained. Although the
young farmer did not attend the regu'
;. lar sessions of the school, he neverthe-
: less spent his evenings at home IL
!. studying such books as he had pre-
{ viously had no opportunity OF dipping
into.
l. "Come, Phil, you'd best hurry along
|. yourself" said Mr.. Emery, going to the
/ door and receiving the full strength Of
x the gale in his face. "Why, It's bliz
xardv'
"I'n see you home frst," said Phil
laughing. BLACK Bob is the best hors'
in a storm in the Bottoms. 1 shall &c
home all right"
t They dug out the old box sleigh ant
backed the big black out Of the hors
shed. The others were already out o
sight and hearing. Phil and the mas
ter tumbled into the sleigh, and Blacl
Bob quickly drew them through tn
fast drifting snow to the master
abode.
you'd better spend the night here
Phil" said Mr. Emery.
"Nonsensew responded the young fel
low, with laugh.
"Well, you've good horse and JUS
the sort of sleigh for the storm. Th
wind will be behind you most of tn
way too. That light cutter of Bali
will fare hard tonight"
The teachers last sentence repeate
itself over and over in Phils mind a
he drove toward home. Perhaps tina
was why he turned into the road whic
~ passed the Doctors house instead c
II taking the more direct route home.
10 Black Bob breasted the snow nobl
90 and responded to Pills verbal encou
Pc agement without his recourse to tn
at whip, and he was almost past the do
ST tors before he knew it. He could NJ
+ia see the house-the driving snow hi
N. that-but he recognized the big blac
os gum In the fence corner. Hi and My
m tie must have got along before. 4
n lleast he had not passed them on tt
OBJ road.
wv "Get up, old boyw said Phil. "They
th- keep him all night, so he's in no da
he ger. IL ue is, IL loh ahy VI OuA cNS
Mt ness"
Fifteen minutes later Black Bob su
ed denly stopped of his own accord.
gs 'Well, what's up nowY' demand'
DIV Phil in wonder. The old farm hor
as whinnied loudly, and borne to Phi
ere ears in reply family yet certainly w
Tiff the whinny Of another horse.
"By George, it's horseW cried Phi
it'll He stood up and listened. The whinl
err was repeated, and added to 1t were t
j. tones Of q human voice.
wy "It's somebody off the road" thong
err Phil. "And dollars to doughnuts i
ter that fool, Ballp'
BILE But as much as he hated Hiram
the could scarcely leave him unassisted
at such a storm as this. The road r
through an unfenced prairie 1t W
ore very easy indeed to get of the trat
op- Phil pulled Black Bob out of the 70
it'll and urged him through the drifts
the direction of the cries of distre
It'll .1O6 hO1 In,