Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1902-01-17

EikNl uuAlllitlf
W.adow aud plunged
water almost up to his arm
pits. 1t was a desperate struggle to
keep from being swept on with the
mighty current. but he pressed close
to the side of the house till he was just
opposite the post where the brave wo-
man chung. His great fear now was
that she would be blown OF before he
could reach her, and how so frail n he
ing could hold on with only one arm
(for she still held to the child was n
mystery to him. The wind was blow
ing nj 100 miles an hour. He waited n
second for the blast to pass over. then.
with great effort. crossed the veranda.
He threw one arm around the post.
the other around the nun aud tried to
lift her. but TO his utter CONSERVATION
he found he could not. Twice, thrice
he tried. but TO no avail. He saw that
she was not only conscious, but in full
possession Of all her faculties. He
could see her lips move, but no word
reached him above the dcafening roar.
He put his ear close 10 her mouth and
caught two words, ''cloak and post"
Jim comprehended the situatlOn-the
wind and water had caught her long
cloak and wide skirt and twisted them
around the post until she was lashed to
II so firmly that even big Jim could
not loose her, but his head must take
the place Of his strength. lie whipped
out his knife and while be held her
with his left arm he cut away the gar
ment. With the last stroke Of the knife
she rose. and Jim almost lost his hold.
and now another frightful blast, and
the water rose four feet. lie chung to
his post until he recovered breath. then
struck out toward the window, swim
ming with one arm and holding the
nun with the other. He found II i'm
possible TO get back 10 the window on
the south, so. with almost superhuman
effort. lie swan 10 the west side and
caught hold Of a swinging blind. They
were now somewhat sheltered from the
wind and entirely from the current. He
pressed his body against the wall and
raised the nun in his arms and placed
her on the window sill. He felt for his
hammer; but. oh. despair. II had slipped
from his pocket IN the awful struggle
for life on the veranda!
The window must be broken in. he
must get up stairs with his double bur
den. II took only time enough for the
brain TO telegraph the message to the
hand before Jim raised his huge fist
and struck the glass a mighty blow,
then another and another. until he
could get through the opening. The
blood was flowing from many a cut,
but whit was that TO n man like Jim
Martin? He got inside and found the
water was now four feet deep. He held
the nun so as to keep her head above
water. while In her turn she held the
child IN Ike manner. Then they press.
ed forward. ascending till they reach
cd the second story Noble gave a cry
or Joy and chung 10 her husband. you
are al right here. Mollle. Take care of
the little woman and child. They are
all Int dcad ! must so down stairs
and NY 10 t. Up the windows ] broke
out"
Il WIS dark. bus be could see the
topa Of houses just above the water.
Az te glzed uut az he window a terri
bic thought struck Llrl. "Wnl my
house ainnd. or Wilt. Ilkc all the rest,
De SWIFT awnyf"
Si:iiru,y TIE wind yccred round 10
the south and. sfrang rs Il may seem.
lucreaar1 u vio.vaes The water rose