Waterbury Democrat., 1902-11-29

ing drifts and filled the country roads to overflowing. At dark the storm be- gamto abate; but it was still clustering at. nine o'clock, when Dr. John Graham plunged out through the banks in his stable-yard for a good-night look at his horses.
 sGood-night, Fra nk, old lad, said he, with parting pat to she shining, out stretched neck of his pet saddle-horse. ssWe're in for a good rest tonight. No calls for us befoge' morning"
 Dr. Graham soon settled down in the comfortable sitting-room of his home, in fine hu1nor to enjoy the rare treat of an evening with his mother and sis ter. It was after II o'clock before his attention was again called to the outer world by the whistle of a passing train.
 ''That must be the evening express nearly three hours late," said the doc tor. He went to a window and peeped out between the closely-drawn cur tains.
 ssWhat is the night like now, John ?" asked his mother.
 ssIt has turned out quite fine, mother. The sky is clear, the moon is shining, and the drift seems to have nearly stopped"
 He return ed to bis chair a nd resumed his reading aloud, but was interrupted by a sharp peal from the office bell.
 70 John, you won't go out to-night!" cried his sister. Surely, you'' But he was already out of the room on his way to the office door.
 When it was opened, the snowy figure of man, with face and beard so in <crusted with frost as to be unrecog- nizable, stood before him.
 Doctor" said the man, in a shaking voice, "rny boy is sdying! Come quick!"
 "Who are you? What ails your boy ?" asked the doctor, drawing the man into the room.
 "I'm Sam Williams, of Mountain Xiv CT, two miles out of town. My boy Bob's cut his wrist-he was maxim shavin's for kindlin'. He's losin' blood awful. His mothers all alone with him. Won't you come at once, doc tor?"
 "Just as soon as I can get into my coat and boots. It'll save time if you'll saddle my horse for me while I'm get ting ready-the one in the first stall"
 Dr. Graham turned to his mother and sister, who had followed him into the office.
 ''Wha can you be thinking of, John P cried his sister. "Youtold usthe roads were entirely blocked. How can you expect to get to the Williams place, on horseback, now?''
 Williams dropped with a moan into the nearest chair. "God help HIS, she's right" he said. q forgot, too; you can't begin ito ride to my house to- night. The banks are ten feet deep in places. If it hadn't been for that train comin' along with it's snoW-plow, I'd never have got here" M
 "Then I'll go back with you by the track,'' said the doctor.
 "But you can't ride, that way; and Bob'H be gone before you get there afoot! sobbed Sam.
 Dr. Graham considered moment "Yes, I can ride the track, Sam,' he said. "It hasn't been drifting since the train came in"
 "But the culverts!" cried his sister. t'There are only two open ones in the road between here and Sam's,'' said the doctor. Neither of them is more than ten feet wide. Frank can jump them"
 'John,' said his mother, laying detaining hand on his arm and looking searehing gly into his eyes, fare you sure it isrightr to try such.a ride? May there not be trains. ont the road?"
 ''No; not after the evening express is in"
 s'Go, then, and God bless you!'' said his mother, as. she stood aside to let him pass.
 Fetch out my horse as quickly as you can, Sam" said the doctor.
 Two minutes later Dr. Graham, Ts,ounted on Frank and bending we'll forward in his saddle, dashed down g, side street toward the nearest level crossing, and striking the track, rode along it toward the Williams home stead.
 He found a thoroughly good road be- fore him, and allowed his horse to break at once into g sharp gallop. Snow, old and new, packed by snow blows and trains, thawed, frozen hard again, and frequently renewed and sofitened and hardened, had covered the sIeepers completely, so that a smooth, glittering path stretched away be- tween the rails.
 Now, then, Frank, old chap.'' said the doctor, settling himself firmly in his saddle, sget ahead as fast as you like'
 Frank, glad to be out after his long day housing, struck aneager pace. l!
 More thana mile was covered before Dr. Graham drew rein. He was close upon the first of the two culverts of which he had spoken. A short distance beyond it the road ran into a deep cut ting through which it curved, out upon the steep side of Mountain River ra- vine. He knew that for the rest of the way it would be advisa b1e to ride 1. good deal more cautiously. ];
 The culyert became plainly distin- guishable a a distance of 50 yards or more, and the doctor approached it at slow canter. Only for the last few paces he urged Frank with a low word, and a quick, well-lnderstood i movement in the saddle. The culvert l. was cleaned almost as if in a stride,