Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-08-03

wrong, some danger for Nannette.
Putting a flask of brandy in his
pocket, he buttoned his great peajacket
closely over it. wound giant muf-
fer about his head and strapped on
pair of snowshoes. Then he took a
shovel from the shed and called
to his mother as he left the house: II
am going over to the Morse's to see
if they are all right The cold, keen
wind stung his face as he staggered
over the snow toward the little cot
tage on the mountain road. At times
the drift blinded him.
He found Mrs Morse alone and
anxious. Nannette had not come
home. She had delayed too long and
big slide of snow had cut off the
little schoolhouse from the cottage.
Mrs. Morse did not think there was
much danger now that Keene had
come. There was surely plenty of fuel
at the shchoolhouse and Nannette
would not suffer anything worse than
a lonely night and the loss of her
supper. Keene would soon get her
home now. He only stayed long
enough to warm his nearly frozen
feet and hands. did not wait to hear
Mrs. Morse out, and hurried off up the
mountain road
The schoolhouse was almost buried
in the snow; he could only see the
chimney. The chimney stood there
like small red beacon in sea of
white. Keene saw something that
made him push on faster and made his
heart sink within him. No smoke
from the chimney! Not even the curl
ing waves of heated air rose from the
chimney top. The fire was out, then?
The drift and slide had buried the
little schoolhouse. nothing but "a tun-
mel through the snow could reach Nan
nette. Keene knew well where the
door ought to be. and his shovel fairly
made the snow fly. He must have
| tunnel big enough to bring her
out Deeper and deeper he fought his
way into the hard-packed snow. Now
that his tunnel was started, the work
was harder. Every shovelful had to
be carried to the opening in the drift
SO that he might have a clear road
It seemed hours that he fought that
great battle with the drift. all alone.
Only the great strength of his forge
| hardened muscles permitted him to
work on. He called loudly to Nan
nette, but no answer came back Was
| he too late. then? He went back out
| of the tunnel to get his bearings. The
| tunnel was making straight for the
| doOr-there could be no doubt of that.
Then he went back again into the
drift and attacked the snow, working
| hurriedly and feverishly now. He no
| longer stopped to carry the snow out
| of the tunnel. His shovel struck wood,
| then came a show of red in the blank
| whiteness of the tunnel. The door at
1aStf 10 h oh a0ainSt if
Oncei Twice, Again. 1t burst open
and he found himself in the dim light
of small lamp which still burned in
the bracket on the wall. Inc room
was not cold, but the fire in the stove
| had been out for some time. He did
| not see Nannette. Had she gone, then.
| after all? Out of the stiffness came
| sound of labored breathing. Then he
remembered the little room back of
| the stove where the fuel was kept. The
| door stood ajar. A moment later he
was holding Nannette in his arms
striving to bring her back to conscious
| ness. Before she opened her eyes she
| called his name. She called him again
and again as if calling for help. Then
consciousness came back to her and
she opened her eyes and looked won
| deringly at him.
While Keene made her as cOmforta-
| BILE as he could and built blazing
| fire in the stove, she told him all about
! it, How the snowslide had shut her
| in just as she had made ready to go
home. She had not been frightened, as
she felt sure some one would come for
| her. There was plenty of fuel to keep
| the schoolroom warm and she had
enough of her lunch left to do for sup
| per. Then the fire had burned low and
| she had gone to the little room for
coal. She had tripped and fallen in
| the dark and thought she had sprained
her ankle. 1t hurt her cruelty and she
| had become frightened when she found
/ that she could not move without great
| pain. She had become terribly afraid
| in that little dark room and had cried
out many times for Keene to. come to
her. 1t seemed too terrible that she
should be there all alone. if Keene
could only know he would come to her
| rescue. Then the pain and terror had
| overcome her and she had lost all con-
| seriousness until she saw him bending
1 over her.
Keene cut the shoe front injured
| ankle and wrapped his -muff1er about
her, tying her skirts closely about her
feet. Picking Nannette up in his
! strong arms, as if she had been baby
| instead of plump young woman, he
plunged out of the door into the tun-
mel in the snow. The drift was mar
| toward No onouin0 hut he