Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-10-21


summer. Then he happened to be
hunting horses in that neighbornood
and was suddenly overcome with a
! burning thirst which he thought
might be alleviated by a dipper OF wa
ter from the schoolma ANS bucket. He
was not supposed to know that 1t was
her claim, and then there wasn't one
chance in q million that she would be
there; so he absent-mindedly spurred
his horse thru the limpid water of Elk
head and took the canyon trail.
After all, he did not go up to the
house. The reason for that was that as
he gained the crest of the hill he saw q
little figure, which his keen eyes made
out to be the schoolma'am. running
rapidly toward the head of the canyon.
At the same time puff of hot wind
brought to his nostrils the smell of
smoke. Then he understood that the
grass was on fire and that the little
schoolma'am was running to save her
hay 1andA He chuckled to himself and
pressed his big roweled spurs to his
pony's side.
The little schoolma'am heard the
sound of hoofs behind her and, stop
ping turned white face and terror
widened eyes to Sowash as he rode up.
"oh!" she cried. 1.-The fire! The
fire! What shall do?"
What was you calculating 20 do?'
drawled Sowash, with easy insolence.
BLOW 1t OUT
She seemed to forget her fright in her
anger. and, turning from: him without
a word, began to run on. Sowash
laughed and rode by her and on to the
long lone of little, Pickering flames that,
driven by the light breeze. licked UP the
Gead grass matted at the roots of the
waving green and left blackened will
derness behind. A hundred yards from
the line he leaped from the saddle and
rapidly loosened the cinches and threw
ii on the ground: then Jerking off the
saddle blanket. he spread that into a
! convenient form and, trailing it behind
him over the fringe of the fire. made for
the place where it was burning most
fiercely. Here he had to stop and beat
the fire into subsection, and when this
seemed accomplished to rush to an
other point and fight there. 1t was in
his favor that the wind was not blowing
strongly; also the canyon here was mar
row--a mere pass. where the grass
ceased at the foot of barren slopes on
either hand. So there seemed to be
some hope. But that was always sup
posing that he could WELD his blanket
ly. In spite Of all he could do the fire
gained.
AS he paused for moment. gasp
ing with breath Of pungent smoke he
felt touch on his arm. It was the lit
tie schoolma'am, and now her eyes
were shining with a look that made
Milt's heart thump.
Its no use" she said. "Stop now;
you've done all you can. Do stop
Sowash laughed. A moment ago he
might have given up. But now. He
shook off the clasp of her hand on his
arm. not urgently, and. throwing the
blanket down, performed demoniacal
dance along it's length. When he raised
I it the fire was stamped out. Toward
the hill another outbreak claimed his
attention, and he rushed at 1t and at
tackled it furiously. Subduing it. he
, turned back and then he saw something
that made him waste some valuable
seconds of time in blank amazement
The little school ma'am had slipped off
her skirt and was fogging the fire
with that garment with magnificent
vigor and effectiveness.
Sowash repressed with difficulty an
impulse to whoop.
1t was work of time even then, but
n
Sowash leading the pony they went
back to the house together.
II don't know what to say to thank
YOU" said the little schoolma am, in a
blushing fervor OF gratitude.
Don't say nothing" returned So
wash, smiling down at her. II want
to say that you're all right"
And IL was rude to you when we
first met" she pursued. Il have been
sorry since-very sorry, indeed. I
didn't know how 1t was that
That come without my coat?" said
Milt. well, don't say nothing about
that, either. l guess we are even now"
The blush deepened, -,altho she had
resumed the skirt.
well, we are friends at last" she
said. holding out her hand.
Ailt took 1t in his and held it, 1.-The
best kind he said, and there was so
much friendliness in his look that
either by reason of the embarrassment
it caused her or because she felt that
he had been holding it long enough, the
little schoolma'am withdrew her hand
from his warm clasp.
In spite of this, Sowash was reason
ably sure that there was no occasion
for him to be iscouraged.-Chicag
Daily News.