The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-27
Our Daily Sport Story

iouSe. rdVpairh sWOre again and knocked on the door, No answer. He tried the door. It was locked
 Another despairing look at the ap- preaching fire sent him to the door again in hurry. He placed his broad shoulder against 1t and gave a heave It shook but held. He tried again; the door fell in and he fell over it. Miss Whitworth was not in sight. He ran through the rooms below, and not finding her there ran upstairs. In a room on the second floor he found her, sitting in a chair. She was crying.
 There is no time for talk" ex- claimed Fairbairn. I'll explain after wards" With that he took her in his arms, in spite of a slight struggle. He ran down the stairs and out of the door. and placing the girl on the horse thrust the reins in her hands and hit the horse a blow on the haunch with the flat of his hand. The nag. already alarmed by the fire, started with leap and bolted down the Soad. She had gone but few feet when the girl though with much difficulty, brought her around and came back.
 What are you going to dor she asked
 For Gods sake go! There is not a mo-
  for the fire was in the slough grass. coming for them at race-horse speed. and the wind blew hot In their faces. Sparks were beginning to fly about them.
 Not without you," she said, calmly
 But the horse cannot carry two!' he said. in an agony of impatience. Please go! It is your only chance"
 Not unless you come too." she in sisted. The horse shook with terror and the girl kept her back with diffi- culty4 You are wasting time"
 Never mind me- but go! WhX are you so obstinate?" he cried. hardly knowing what he said.
 Because T.. Come"
 Hc turned the horses head down the road and leaped up behind the girl. Even with the double burden the lit tie pony ran rapidly but 1t went no faster than the fire. which had been gaining on them frightfully as they talked. It was more than half way over the slough. and the heat about them was intense. The flying sparks set fire to the grass in many places. and their faces were often stung by the embers that filled the air. The whole world seemed ablaze.
 On they fled, the smoke rolling about then so they could scarcely see the road ahead of them. The girl took one look over her shoulder, then moaned and buried her face in her hands.
 If you had only let me stay" he said. She shook her head. but said nothing. The horse was laboring nightly but the strain was terrific. and her pace began to wane slightly when they had gone about four miles.
 Seven miles from the farm was a river. It was small, but its high banks and cool waters were Fairhairn's goal. When he turned again from the main road he had only a mile to 20, but the horse was travelling painfully and as its pace grew less and its noble efforts more feeble the fire slowly gained up- on them. Behind them laughing with glee, inexorably came the fire, short- ening the interval between 1t and its prey steadily Now 1t was barely 100 yards behind and when Fairbairn felt its hot breath growing hotter he ut- tered q prayer and dug his spurs deep CT into the poor pony's Hanks. The animal gave a moan and struggled to respond. For a moment its speed mended. and Fairbeirn almost began to feel hopeful. Then 1t began to fail more than ever. and he clutched the girl to him. almost in despair.
 Now the fire was fifty yards behind. The horse was losing ground. and the heat was becoming unbearable. Then his heart leaped as row of willows showed faintly through the smoke clouds ahead. The river was near. and once they there they were safe. But not yet. The horse stumbled and re- gained It's feet. Stumbled, up again: stumbled, up again; and then, still nightly against the weak ness that was finally overpowering its poor frame. 1t slowed up. sank to its knees rolled over and died.
 Fairbairn was up in second. The girl had tainted. He grasped her in his arms again tossed her to his shoul- der and ran. Gods, how he ran! Ev- cry muscle in his body was strained in the last effort to reach the goal But faster came the fire. Now 1t was just behind. Now 1t shot past far to the right, as though 1t would head them off in its fendish cunning. Its roar sounded a new alarm in Fairbairn's ears, and he summoned up every last shred of strength for one final effort.
 His tired muscles responded ana .Ie shot on. But the fire was at his heels. He felt his coat take fire. and then he saw that the girls skirt was ablaze. He put thls fire out with his bare hand, but the flames were all about him. The smoke was stifiing, and he could not see his own length ahead. He could not tell how far he was from he river, but he could tell that If he did not reach 1t soon the end was at hand
 Then he shot blindly over steep bank. and the cool. grateful waters Of the river bubbled in his ears as the couple sank into it.
 The water brought the girl to her senses and she was able to help her self The fire roarei over their heads for short time then leaped the river and was gone.
 They emerged. dripping. from the river, looked over the black, smoking waste shuddered. breathed Q prayer of