Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-24

added, emphatically: Il won't have such a
destructive animal around any longer"
'The flour is out, John," said his wife. III
you want hot biscuit for your supper you had
better send some down."
IN send bag home by Paul before dim
ner, was the reply. Il can't get In barrel
to-day. The clerk is too busy. This fine
weather is bringing all the farmers into town.
1t IS the finest weather so close to Christmas
we've ever had"
1T is almost as balmy as SPRING
Yes, and it looks like a regular January
thaw. Paul, You had better come along to
the store with me. There's lots OF business
to-day"
The boy brushed away his tears, slowly got
up from the floor and drew on his overeoat-
Bruce shook himself and prepared to follow
his young master.
oh, l don't mean you! You stay here, :"
growled Mr.. Wilkins with a seowl, and the
dog sneaked back behind the chair and stretch
ed himself out again.
1t was indeed a beautiful morning. The
warm rays of the sun were melting the snow,
and gentle breeze blew from the south. The
store was not over a quarter of mile from
their house, and Mr.. Wilkins and hls son
walked up the road and turned into the main
street in which the store was located
Look, father. that funny cloud, said
Paul, he pointed to dark patch IN the
northwest.
"Yes. | saw it little while ago. 1t doesn't
amount to anything, / guess
Paul's thoughts were 50 bound UP in Bruce
and ne was kept so busy about the store
that he forgot all about the cloud, and it was
sometime afterwards that he heard his father
remark to the clerk:
Il wonder what makes it so dark"
1t is curious replied the latter, jumping
over the counter and looking out of the door
''Why" he exclaimed ''the Sky is black!''
Just then a customer came in.
You might as well shut up shop and go
hac tn 9af o-i
fast as l can. Give me five pounds Of sugar,
quicki There Is the biggest blizzard you ever
saw coming
The gentle wind had ceased, and in its place
was perfect and Ominous calm. 1t was very
'Yes, it does look like blizzard" re-
marked his father; but l reckon there is
no hurry. Luckily. 1 have got my eoalbin
There was still considerable work to be
done about the store, and another two hours
passed before all were startled by a furious !
gust Of wind which shook the whole build |
Paul again ran TO the door and opened it. /
\ tremendous gale was blowing from the /
northwest. and a cloud of snow blew in he !
fore its icy breath. The ground was white
with it.
Gracious. 1t Is on US, sure enougbl, ex-
claimed Mr.. Wilkins. Il had no idea it was
storming so. We must be getting out of this
lie went behind the counter Tor a small bag /
Of flour, and then into back room for an
Did overcoat than hung there.
You can close UP the store as soon as
7ou like he said to the clerk Here. PauI
throw this over your shoulders and come
long
The blizzard had come with a rush. The
thermometer had fallen in an hour away down
below zero. The snow was as fine as sand
md the furious gale drove the minute narfi,
les of ice with binding force until thew emf
ike sharp needles. Had there been a cIond.
3urst the snow could not have come down
aster. 1t was so fine. and thick that il was
impossible to see rod away. 1t already COW
,red the ground to a considerable depth and
vas drifting heavily"
Paul had not gone dozen rods before he
ound himself almost unable to breathe He
lad drawn the icy particles into his lungs. and
vas actually suffocating in the open air
He tried to cry cut, but eould only tnr ~