The Savannah morning news., 1902-07-20

for the lost pocket-book and turned
back toward the cave. The smokehouse
crum bled and went up like pack OF
cards in her path.
Run! Philury-Run." shouted the
men in a frenzy as they watched, ex-
pecting every instant to see her gath
cred TO the cruel bosom of the storm.
She reached the cave, another step
and she would be safe. The door open
ed joyfully to receive her. But an
instant is time enough for things to
happen. Just as the little, flying foot
was planted on the top step a great
scantling from the demolished barn
struck the door, and she fell beneath
it, plunging white and unconscious into
her fathers waiting arms.
20 God!" he whispered over and
over again, as he bent with twitching
lips above the still, limp, little form
or his first born. 20 God!'
But she was only stunned and soon
revived under the dash of cold water
from the tubs where the milk was
kept cool. She sat up weakly after u
while with a pale little smile and a
brave, "lll soon be ali right, daddy"
The old man looked at the great pur-
pie bruise on her tender temple, and
took off his battered hat.
Let us thank the Lord fer his mar
C1eS! ne Sdlu, DDWlIB lib gray JEdu
And they all knelt in the half-dark-
ness OF the cave while the lightning
fiickered through the cracks in the door
and the rain fell in a deluge outside.
When they emerged, pale and quiet
and thankful, a scene of desolation
greeted their eyes. The house was UNI
harmed, save for the unroofed veranda,
but the outhouses-barn, hencoop,
smokehouse, cattle-sheds and grana-
had
been. The stable-lots were as bare as
if swept by a gigantic broom.
OF the threshing-machine nothing
remained but the iron power wagon.
The straw carrier and feeder were
found later mired in the swamp pas
ture of Uncle Benny Wray, : whose
farm lay next in the path of the
storm monster.
The men looked in wonder at old
Skin-Flint Zeb as he walked, silent and
unmoved amidst the wreck of his en-
pire. He must have been the loser by
many hundreds-perhaps thousands
of dollars, but not nlurmur did they
hear from him.
And when over the waste of young
trees and late grain laid low between
his farm and that of Uncle Benny, two
figures came hurrying, he fastened to
meet them.
Isis Philury all right?" gasped
young Ben.
'sYes-we're all safe" answered the
old man in trembling voice.
"Will We jes' step over ter ar barn
yard an look at somethin'? asked I'm
Gle Benny in a .subdued tone, but his
eyes twinkled under their bushy white
brows.
9TH cyclone seems ter hev skipped
you uns," old Zeb, being human, was
moved to reply, upon looking into their
smiling faces-but he went And the
curious threshers followed.
Past the dismantled remains of a
grain rick only a short half-hour be-
fore rich with golden harvest stepping
over fences laid fiat they went, and
turning the corner Of a wrecked barn,
they heard low moo of distress COM
ing apparently from the clearing sky.
ON looking up, they saw, perched
knee deep in timothy hay, on the high
ledge Of half-cut rick-Old Red.
Old Zeb squinted uD at horns low
ering over the edge of the stack, far
above his head, and actually began to
grin.
Sure We didn't put 'er thar yerse'f.
Ben. les ter fool me7" he asked, wheel
ing with sudden suspicion upon the
young man.
Nary a bit NV IT," put in Uncle
Benny jovially. 9TH cyclone jes'
planted 'er thar-saw 'er light mysef.
rum q. crack in ar cave door wher l
wuz a-watch!n' ter see f tn bosses
wus stampedin'."
"wull, boys, said Skin-Fiint Zeb
slowly turning to the gaping crown
I've alters been a man o my word
guess VEN all say yes ter that any
however ef be a leetie near"
They all with one accord answered:
You bet" They had still wildly in