Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1902-02-01
Fiercely rose the ak.


snapped in two like twigs. and their
rough. brown hands dragged men and
matrons and maidens from the wreck.
nor paused for thanks or praise
Swiftly, surely swept the fire on
ward; sharper, heavier, faster fell the
strokes of axes, glistening in the light.
But at last the heat became SO fierce.
SO intense, that even the bravest was
driven back and forced to listen, help
less and aghast, to the pleadings and
the groans of those they could not
help.
And so they huddled on the sands.
the rescued and the rescuers. weeping.
sobbing, praying, plying, but-help-
less.
And above the flames wild roar;
above the groaning of the dying. a
woman's piercing cry rang out upon
the night.
God. Save me; oh, some one save
met
Above the leads of those who hud-
died round about and through the
darkness, over the sage brush and the
cactus. the cry sped on it's way until
at last it fell into the ears of one who
lay prone upon the sand-one who had
lain for hours, pain within his heart
his mind oblivious to all surroundings.
He raised his head and listened and
in his eyes the vacant stare gave place
to the light of reason.
Again the voice came to him: Cod
Save me; some one save mel"
He sprang to his feet and, with a
cry of Nina. Nina" he sped like a
coyote towards the red glare that
seemed reckoning to him through the
darkness.
With the woman's name still upon
his lips. he sprang into the midst of
those huddled upon the sand and seiz-
ing an axe, 1eaped desperately into the
burning wreck.
Fiercely rose and fell his axe; the
/ flames Tapped his feet and climbing up
and up, fed hungrily upon his gar
ments and his eyebrows and his hair
But still he worked; still his axe rose
| and fell; still the name of Nina
| came from his parching lips.
! And then, with his. flesh blistering
| in the fire.. with his muscles quivering
from the red-hot kisses of the flames.
| he reached weman's hand and
dragged her from the reach of the de-
| vouring element.
| Tenderly he lifted her and laid her
| on the sand, then he reeled and sank
upon the ground. quivering mass OF
| scorched humanity.
With the dawn a relief train came
and among those on board was tall
young man who went eagerly from
cabin to cabin. where the injured lay
searching for one he loved.
And the woman for whom he
searched was sitting beside a rude
bunk. on which a man lay dying. The
man had hold of her hand and wa.
drinking in the light of the woman
eyes.
Il am glad you were not badly In
jured. Nina" he whispered ther
pressed his lips tightly together t.
stifie sob of pain
| The woman smiled family and .ais
her hand upon his pillow. pityingly.
Il thought I-hated-you." he fal
tered. after -ause- But God-Nina
| don't-I DON'T can't-T-love-'
Hush the woman said. firmly, blu
kindly lowering her eyes before hi
gaze. He watched her in silence. an,
when she raised her face again to his
he said. with painful effort:
|. L was to blaneNina-I thought
thought yon didn't care for me But
you did-didn't you-Nina?"
: His eyes were fixed upon her with
wild intensity. and she trembled.
Eyes. John. 1 did care for YOU" sh
I'safd. quite low And the man smile
) and closed his eyes
r: Then it was that the tail young ma
: came softly into the cabin and sa,
j | the woman weeping beside the still
II white face Of the dead
!, He spoke her name and e1eem {
sMANAA ii M 1 .AAAaa MA .s4 IA .sa .a .a