The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-04-08
rom the inner doorway and was blown

from the inner doorway and was blown
out
"Helen! Helen!" came Minnie's voice
anxiously. SIS that you? We were
coming to look for you. Did you get
wet?'
Mr.. Willetts threw his weight against
the door and managed to close it. Then
Minnie found her friends hand and
led her through the dark hall to the
parlor, where the judge sat placidly
reading by student lamp.
Lige chuckled as they left the Htch-
en-. 81 guess you didn't try too hard
to shut that door, Harkless," he said,
and then when they came into the
lighted room, "Why, where is Hank
less?" he asked Didn't he come with
us from the kitchenf'
"No," answered Helen family. "He's
gone" She sank upon the sofa and
put her hand over her eyes as if to
shade them from too sudden light
Gomez The judge dropped his book
and sat staring across the table at the
girl "Gone! WhenY
don't know. Before the storm COM
menced."
'"Ohw The old gentleman appeared
to be treasured "Probabfy he had
work to do and wanted to get in before
the rain.''
But Lige Willetts was turning pale
(which way did he go2 He didn't
<A,yr,a md fhn Nr1%
there till the storm broke"
"He went by the orchard gate. When
be got to the road he turned that way"
She pointed to the west.
"He must have been craZy!' exclaim-
ed the judge. "What possessed the fell
low?'
81. couldn't stop him. I didn't know
how" She looked at her three COM
panions, slowly and with growing ter
ror, from one face to another. Min
MES eyes were wide, and she had I'M
consciously grasped Lige's arm. The
young man was staring straight before
him. The Judge got up and walked
nervously back and forth. Helen rose
to her feet and went toward the old
man, her hands pressed to her bosom.
"Ah," she cried out, 81 had forgotten
that! You don't think they-you don't
think he''-
81 know what think" Lige broke
in. 81 think I'd ought to be hanged for
letting him out of my sight. Maybe it's
all right. Maybe he turned and started
right back for town-and got the.-
But l had no business to leave him.
and If l can I'll catch up with him
yet" He went to the front door and.
opening it, let in tornado of wind and
food of water that beat him back.
Sheets Of rain blew in horizontally in
spite of the porch beyond.
Briscoe followed him. Don't be a
fool, Lige," he said. You hardly ex-
pect to go out in that" Lige shook his
head. 1t needed them both to get the
door closed. The young man leaned
his back against it and passed his
sleeve across his wet brow. Il hadn't
ought to have left him."
Don't scare the girls" whispered
the other; then in a louder tone: "All
Pm afraid of is that he'll get blown to
pieces or catch his death of cold. That's
all there is to worry about. They
wouldn't try it again so soon after last
night. I'm not bothering about that;
not at all. That needn't worry any
body"
"But this morning.
"Pshaw! He's likely home and dry
by this time. ALI foolishness. Don't
be an old woman"
The two men re-entered the room
and found Helen clinging to Minnie's
hand on the sofa. She looked up at
them quickly.
"Do you think-do you-what do
you
Her voice shook so that she could not
go ON.
Ito be Continued)