Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-16

worked. begrimed and sweaty, at the
threshing, stopping for a short incoming
only long enough to gooble and shovel IN
the big. toothsome dinner which PhiIury
had Iabored so hard to prepare for them.
Many a dull farm lads eye frightened as
II followed the slender, graceful figure OF
skinfint zeb's daughter in her fresh pink
lawn and white apron. hastily dcnned
while the men were washing their dusty
faces IN the tin basin out under the box
alder.
In the middle Of the afternoon the driver
suddenly whoaed and stopped the horses.
In answer to old zeb's inquiring glance
from his post as b~andcutter. he shouted,
pointing with his whip to the southwest.
where lay a low bank Of greenish-gray
cloud.
'LoOk-sthari Cyclones comin' surs's
you're borng"
Cyclone yer granny" pshawed the old
man. wiplng the dust from HIS wrinkled
face--'syer jes' a-wantin' a rest, 81 Thomp-
kins-g'long with tn t~hrashin'y' he
shouted, and the men obeyed, though with
apprehensive glances toward the south
west and the sky overhead. fast covering
with flying gray scud.
"Whee-oo-oom-n,T once more sang tho
grain-eating monster. tiIl zen minutes
later II broke on In a strangfed wheeze. as
the driver leaped down from the platform
and hastily unlocked his own team from
the circle Of horses.
Eye en- thrash yerself inter tn Jaws
o. death ter save q few cents, oil Skin
ninti' he shouted denantly at the old
farmer. and broke for cover. "Bu I'm
a-goin' ter the cave. See therl''
Looming up above the horizon was a ter
rible shape. more dreaded BY the prairie
dweiIers than the plague. : huge Kreenish-
black funnel-form cloud. hanging point
Town like . great balloon partly over
turned. and with clawiike anchors dragging
the earth beneath. leaving death and DESC
iation IN its wake.
The stining air Vas deadly still; not a
leaf stirred, not q bird peeped; the doves
had aowu 70 the barn caves and were
watching the oncomlng storm with fear In
their gentle eyes. The silver Innings OF the
poplar leaves grinned, wrong side cut. like
a menace Of disaster.
The colts and COWS out In the pastures
Btanpeded. believing and noighlng for
shelter. as the wind broke with . dull roar
shout tho now frightened laborers. Aban-
dOning the squealins horsss. maddenea and
snoring With terror. the men made a Wild
rush for the cyclone cave.
old zeb ran shouting to the house, whose
quiet occupants we're unaware OF the danger.
hat menaced them.
"Philuryl" he yelled. tearing through the
house. shutting doors and windows.
Cyclones comin'-quiek. git yer mother
up an III carry Naph-hurry. fer Gods
sakel"
The girl started up from the oven door.
where she was trying the cake with Z
broom straw, and turned white. But she
was prairie bred me used to this terrible
storm fright. After one fearful glance out
Of the south window she hastily shut on
the stove hampers and drafts 70 prevent
nre disaster, II possible; then. running up
stairs 70 her mothers room, she threw =
shawl about the inyalid's thin shoulders.
and half supporting. half carrying Der, ned
TO the cave, whose slantlne trap door the
threshefs held open for them.
An instant later old zeb came stumbling
down the cave steps. carrying the sick lad
ana followed By 2 mnflsd roar from the
steaithy. ioW-crouchlng Storm Beast with
the ~name-dartine eyes.
Gosh Jam ~" gasped Flint. az he laid
the boy down on the cement floor and felt
=ss@s- - ~ A=e=ss sesh sIe l>es .he4
pocketbook on III Wayl Az Il he'd over .
thousan dollars In iti' He walled, bis
voice drowned In the Increasing uproar
outside.
Rhnury pushed spsn the doos . srask