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

elk feet at a jump. Jim was hurled
against the side wall and then back
He kept himself aloat while he tried TO
get his bearings. He then struck out
for the stnirs. Three or four strokes.
aud he reached the top one, for the wa
ter was now within one foot OF the
second floor. lie was obliged to sit
down for q moment In order to regain
his breath. The cries Of the children
and the sobs OF the women mingled,
while outside the sounds were like the
demoniacal cries Of triumphant hends
and the walling Of lost souls. All real
lied now tnat the end was near. Moth
ing that man was able to construct
could stand the fearful wind and wa
ter. Jim worked like a hero. tore or
the doors and dashed after another
to them. Mollle, with many others.
sum; down in mute despair. The white
faced nun worked, too, at binding fast
to doors and blinds the terrified people.
At last she took the child in her arms.
Her eyes wore a determined expression,
and her mouth was set firm. Il prom
lsed her mother to defend her with my
life, and | must keep my promise"
The wind was now blowing at least
100 miles an hour. Now another ter
rife blast, the house s%huddered, creak.
cd. rose from its foundation like n gi-
gantic bird. Thump, thump, against
the great chimney in the center. then
the tlmbcrs yielded, and Jim Martins
house rushed AWAY bearing with II its
human freight. Jim found himself
struggling In the water. 'Mollie. Mol
lie" he called. but no reply reached his
ear. She, with many others, had gone
beyond the reach Of human voice.
He threw out his hand and caught AZ
the flying debris and succeeded in lay
ing hold of q small log.
Bruised and cut almost beyond recog
milton, with the wind heating the ain
against him until he was almost fro
zen. he struggled for his life. He was
rushed on like a fast flying train, block
after block.
Just as he felt lie must soon land or
drop into the water something struck
the end of his log and hurled 1t From
his grasp. with the instinct Of a drown
ing man. he caught at the object. II
'roved to be the roof of a small build
d, and clinging to it was a woman
ing a child. The black veil was
he small arms bare. ard only the
land over the forehead left to
n that II was the little nun
life he had once saved.
her fast falling strength she
up the little girl to him. He
ehed his band toward her, but she
waved him back. AS he caught the
child In his arms the nun saw 1t was
safe, a smile broke over her face, her
fingers slipped from the roof. and she
was swept away on the rushing tide.
The next day, when the searching
parties found the body of a nun, they
wore so sweet u smile. But how could
they know she had kept her promise
and defended the child with her life?
Jim was an unusually strong. muscu-
lar man. Alone he might have saved
himself, even after the hours of des-
perate struggle, but with the child he
had very little chance.
Now, as the wind ragged and howled,
he thought he heard. borne on Its
breath. Drop the baby" He was so
terrified by the unholy thought that he
pressed it closer to his side. mo! No!
She defended 1t with her life; ] will do
no less than a wOmani'
And so 1t happened. when the body
Of a man, holding close in his arms the
form Of a dead child. was piled on the
dray with scores of others, then car
ried to the wharf. placed on the barge
and taken out to the channel. there to
rest until the sea gives up its dead.
that a bystander remarked, mo doubt
but that big fellow lost his life trying
to save the baby."-BOhemian.