Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1902-04-18

fear to be checked. No one else was
astir, and he tore open side door,
lcaped to the entrance OF the cave,
crept through the narrow opening ana
sank down, hB face buried In his fold
ed arms.
lie was safe at last, and great JOY
OF salvation welled In his heart. For
a time he slept, waking with mind
cleared and body refreshed. He liz
tened intently, but no sound reached
him. He crawled from his refuge, but
the thought Of returning to the room
where he had suffered such mental tor
lures was hateful to him. He crossed
the yard, climbed the fence and started
toward the outskirts Of the town. The
air was OF hue strange to him, sulien-
~ luminous, and he had gone not more
than a quarter of mile when he saw
70 the south, directly opposite from
where the storm had come, menac-
Ing bank Of restless clouds. They were
ablaze with ragged fire. The boom OF
thunder rose afresh. Yes; there could
be no further question. A second
tempest was approaching. Already the
sickness Of terror was upon him, the
nausea OF cowardice, and he again fac
ed toward his refuge. the cave. But
something In the sky held him fas-
cinated, something shaped like IT,
tanic top, hung from the heavens and
spun by demon hands. Then it stop
ped moving. growing larger aud larger.
What had the landlord said that aft
ernoon? When 1t stops "bouncin'," It's
close!
lie turned and fed for his life, but
even as he ran new thought came to
him. 1t was not yet morning. None
in the sleeping town knew of the doom
racing toward their homes. He had a
pitiful vision Of shattered houses, lit
tered with mutilated bodies, women
and children caught from their slum-
bers in the crunching nav Of the cy-
clone.
| He forgot himself and : fear. He
| had passed the cyclone cellar and was
rushing through the hall Of the hotel.
"Cyclone! Cyclone! To the cave
for your lives"'
The house sprang into instant life,
but before the first startled guest
reached the main floor Andrews was
again In the street. He carried the
dinner gong, which he had seized in an
inspiration born Of anxiety. Between
each shout Of warning he drummed
mad. quivering alarms on the eloquent
brass.
He made the round of three sides Of
the square when Of sudden mighty
roaring was all about him. He paused.
bewildered and crashing thunder
bolt seemed to strike his temple, q
burning splendor blinded his eyes.
Then an invisible power struck full
against him, seized him and wrapped
him in its crushing embrace, bore him
aloft, tossed him here and there and
finally into a blackness that swallow
ed him completely.
Three days later he woke to see an
angel bending over him. No; it was
flesh and blood. after all. 1t was she
He blinked at her uncertainty.
"You are herov' She spoke softly
with shining eyes.
Then he remembered.
"Were many sayed?"
"All," she answered proudly. "Those
you saved reused the others, and only
few, who sought refuge in cellars
instead Of caves, were hurt by falling
timbers. But you suffered most. Oh
1t was noblev'
Andrews spoke with sudden vigor.
mo; l am a coward. The storms
frightened me shamefully. You can
not understand how l quivered anG
trembled like child. am not worthy
Of you. l had already hidden in The
cave that night. came out only wher
l thought all danger was over. TIL.
rest was-an accident"
He stopped. exhausted, and she ben
close to him.
Don't talk that way, dearest. 70,
are not coward, but conqueror o.
fear, and you will be my hero always