The San Francisco call., 1905-06-25

- OR hundred miles around every man, woman
and child knew about the dreaded Wind
= Cave of Doomed Valley. Its name was whis-
pered to children as soon as they could understand
and they were taught TO always keep far from its
black. forbidding entrance. When Tom Maverick
was q email boy he asked his mother why all men
feared this cave
Its a dreadful place! Whoever approaches it is
sucked into Its depths by strong wind that no man
can resist. Even horses and cattle drawn down
into :" replied his mother.
But has nobody ever tried to find out what does
II Z" demanded the boy.
Certainly not! Who would be fool enough to
want TO venture into such placer said Mrs Nave
rick. TOO many have perished there already Your
poor father, only year after you were born,
lost thus 10 believe. He vanished suddenly and
completely, and from that day to this has
been heard from"
"'Some day I must see this cave" declared Tom.
His mother shuddered.
keep away from it! 1t is a fatal spot"
"But The wind doesn't blow into it always, they
tell me" said Tom after pause. ct can't always
be so pcrilous.'
"Ah. That's the worst of it, For long periods
all is quiet and apparently safe. said his mother.
'fbut when people have almost forgotten all about
the dreadful spot and men come to dwell near il
and lav out farms raise cattle, send children 70
school and thimk all is secure, suddenly the awful
wind starts up and sweeps everything cattle,
all-into the caves black mouth, never to be seen
sgaini"
NIts very curious." asserted the boy. I'D like to
know the cause of It all"
His mother, knowing that her in
quisitive child, soon after this sent him to far
distant city to school, where he learned many
things but in spite of his mothers caution. he be-
came, as ne grew older, only the more determined
TO explore the Wind Cave. His uncle Elmer, per
haps was the cause Of this determination, for he
told Tom all about his lost father Toms mother
rarely referred to his loss, but Uncle Elmer
full OF it.
Mr. Maverick at time when nearly every per-
n the region about the fatal cave had been
swept away had taken large farm and proceeded
10 cultivate the land; but being by profession a
sailor he had ado.t ted a singular but safe device to
prevent himself from being carried away into the
depths Of the when the wind blew. This
nothing but anchor attached to a long rope, and
each Of his oxen and his horses also thus pro
vided with the result that he farmed along for
years although often enough both he and his cattle
lifted into The air. and had not his anchor held
firm they would have been swept away. By and By
the wind ceased to blow, and for some years Nave
rick farmed IN peace until last he neglected TO
use has anchors. and then one day he was caught
up along with his plow and was lost forever
Mrs. Maverick hastily rugged up the anchors
again and managed to save her COWS and a horse,
after which she titled small part of the farm un-
til Tom grew large enough to go to the city, and
then, when he had gone, she felt easier. Several
times, during his short lifetime, the dread wind
had made itself felt and hundreds of men, horses
and cows, as well as chickens, dogs cats and the
like vanished instantly from their dwelling places
sucked into the black opening; and it was during
such period that Tom, after living in the city for
several years, suddenly appeared in red automo-
bile at the gate of his mothers farm. She ran out
to see what wanted, and loi there was her boy:
sfIve come home at last, motheri' shouted Tom
as he sprang out "Im tired of the city, and I'm
going to live with you now"
Mrs. Maverick, holding fast to the doorknob, for
the wind was blowing gale toward the distant
cave, cried:
ooh am so glad. But Tom, be careful; the
wind is rising Can't you feel It's fearful power"
starter automobiei" said Tom. "Its such a wind
maker itself that don't mind slight bseeze like
thisf"