The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-02-07

SAFER than the mans tmpat1ence. More
than once lightnings fash revealed a
black hole in front or to one side, with
jagged, precipitous slopes rising or
falling beyond, but always under the
horses careful feet was firm footing,
sometimes a narrow shelf scarcely wild
er than was necessary for them to pass,
sometimes a declivity so steep that
the animals launches almost touched
the rock as he picked his way down.
But the progress was slow, slow
criminally slow it seemed to the impa-
tent doctor, who wanted to be at his
work.
Presently from brief glimpses obtain
ed in the Hastings he realized they
were swerving far out of their course,
and he caught up the reins with
quick, determined grasp.
Obediently the horse turned back to-
ward the straight line, but few min
utes later when another flash came, he
was heading In the old direction. Again
he was turned, sharply, and again he
went on in straight course for few
steps, only to swerve once more to his
chosen way in the inky blaekness
which followed the Hastings.
Again and again did DR.. Tom swing
him to the direct line, with increasing
impotence and harshness, and just as
often did the horse swerve promptly
to his own course With the rain and
wind beating in his face, stumbling
over rough ground and sometimes
among trees where the branches al
most swept him from the saddle, Dr.
Tom could only judge the course by
the lightning In the darkness the
horse had his own way, and In the
darkness the horse persisted in choos-
ing the one which DR.. Tom believed to
be wrong. But apparently there was
no help for it, and at last, defeated,
he allowed the reins once more to hang
/ loosely upon the horses neck.
Gradually above the roaring Of the
storm there had been rising another
sound peculiar, menacing in its per
sistency and suddenly ineligible Dr.
Tom drew quick breath. and his
hand went to the hoF. e's neck in ca
ressing apology. The branch which
had been easily forded on the way up
had become a raging torrent with the
gathering of the heavy rainfall and
was now tearing down the mountain
unloosening rocks and uprooting trees
in its wild course. Had they stumbled
into its mad waters in the darkness
there would have been little chance of
emerging alive. And the horses al
ing his way toward the bridge at the
ferry road, the only way to get beyond
the branch and river and so home
An hour went by, and the sleeper
slopes were left behind. They were
coming to more level country that
could be crossed with greater speed
DR.. Tom was mentally counting up the
miles and the hours it would take to
traverse them when he saw a light
twinkling just ahead. Apparently it
was a man with lantern going in the
same direction and running as well as
he was able to in the darkness. DR..
Tom urged his horse forward
"HelloI' he shouted cheerily as he
drew near. What are you doing out
! in night like thisf Better go back to
your bedw
In the storms roar the voice sounded
hoarse and unnatural. The man put
his hand to his ear inquiringly and
waited for the horse to approach. DR..
Tom could see the figure dimly by the
lanterns light, but was himself almost
invisible.
Coin for-a-doctorr" the man
yelled as the horse came opposite. "My
daughters hurt an must have help at
once. Are you printed toward the ferry
bridge?"
yes"
WELL" with what sounded like a