The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1905-07-21
fast mat the afr was ike one moving,

his ears, and seemed to fill his eyes
even beneath the protecting lids
which he kept closed. Blindly the
slight, boyish figure fought Its way
through the fearful storm.
It seemed to Beth that she waited
hours, kneeling on the floor close To
the kitchen door, the end Of the rope
in her hand. Again and again she
opened the door, only to be met by
the wild storm Of wind and snow
When Jack finally staggered against
the door, having made the return trip
with much greater facility, by fasten'
ing his end of the rope to the gate
of the corral, the relief was so great
that the overweight nerves OF the
girl gave way, and she tainted. A
dash Of cold water brought her to.
Jack had reached the barn In safety.
but found no trace of Black Joe and
his rider. But he had q plan which
he eagerly proceeded to unfold.
There's small straw stack at the
east end Of the corral" he said. 1T
has a rack built around 1T to keep the
stock from scattering 1t, you remem-
Der, and the rack is Of green willow
saplings nailed firm. II you can help
me make line enough to reach that
stack shall have to grope and
grovel like a mole to do it will try
to set it aflre. II Uncle VIII and Joe
are anywhere close they will see 1t
and make for it."
"But the storm-the snow!" object
ed Beth, aghast at the daring project.
"You could not light it, brother; it
would not burn if you did. It must
be one mass of snow by this time"
1T can be done," insisted her broth
er, stoutly ANYWAY, it's worth try
ing, and it's the only hope. See, Beth,
l will take this little covered tin pail,
half fill it with ashes, and then put in
some live Goals from the stove. l will
take bottle of coal oil in my pocket.
We must hurry! No time to lose"
This time two stout sheets were
torn up for line, which Jack coiled
around his waist. He tied the end
of his first cable to a post by the door
and taking the bucket of Goals plunged
forth once more.
Another slow half hour went by.
Beth watched the south kitchen win
dow for the first CLEAN Of Jacks bea-
con fire. Despair clutched at her heart
as the moments crept along. Had she
lost brother as well as uncle? Half
frantic with suspense, her wild eyes
stared hopelessly forth at the white
blur OF the storm. At length her pa
tience was rewarded A slow glow
grew in the southeast, deepened.
mounted and fought with the spirit of
the storm. Plainly visible from the
a mass of dull red through
the sitting snow, it held it's own
against the warning elements. And,
shortly afterward, the kitchen door
was thrown wide once more and two
snow covered figures instead of one
,umbled within. Uncle Will had got
safe home at last!
His story was that he had left town
lust before the storm broke and had
reversed perhaps half the distance
when he lost his bearings. For near
y three hours he and his horse had
wandered about in circle, how wide
lie could not tell. Half frozen with
old and all but exhausted with the
'uffetings of wind and snow, he had,
IS forlorn hope, given his horse
rec rein. Suddenly a dull light an
feared, scarce a rod distant. He
urned toward it, fearing the house
night be on fire, and discovered his
ephew and the burning stack.
Il had a time getting that stack to
urn," said the boy. 1T was a mass
I snow, Of course, just like a huge
rift. I managed to scrape some off
he side opposite the wind and bur-
owed hole in the straw. did It by
ceiling, for couldn't see wink. The
intern was no good. Then I uncorked
ne oil, poured it into the hole, and
ropped the fire in on it. It blazed
my face before could dodge, but I |
as snow clad and it didn't hurt. In
moment the whole thing was on fire
nd the wind was scattering 1t so I |
as afraid the barn would go, but I |
less there was too much snow for
lat. I'd have felt foolish If the barn
ad burned" said Jack.
"Oh, barns!" cried Beth, scornfully.
Who cares for barns! I'd burn a
ozen barns for lanterns to guide I'm
Q Will home" She had helped him
I with his overcoat and opened the
zen door of the kitchen stove for
m to warm his half frozen feet.
ncle Will laughed.
well, chicken, suppose you think
could build another, now that the
ortgage is paid off. But I'm glad we
mt have to, for the father of a
omising family Of youngsters has
of expenses"
The cows were in the stock Den.
eth, believing with cold and fright. I
n hAv III H. - L. =