Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1905-02-24
from 3,
SPARK r S''''

On a hnzy, warm breezed Indian
summer day a huntsman trod through
the thiekIy grown brush that borlered
the country road. Once or twice he
stopped and looked about in apprecia-
ton OF the day and the beauty OF the
country. Then he lighted n cigar, toss
ing the match aside before Il was ex-
tinguishcd. BY the time he had van
ishei from view the half spent match
had accomplished n riyulet Of FIRE that
ran merrlly through the brush which
skirted the woods.
Mabel Wallace. coming down thesold
sawmlll road, saw the crackling FIRE
and hnstened her pace. She noted the
quickenlng breeze blowing toward the
woods and the stretch of dry, parched
grass and brush that interviewed. She
knew that II the flames were not extin-
guished at once the whole piece OF
woods would 60. She caught up a stout
stick as she ran. and when she reached
the farther end Of the running fire she
began a vigorous beating.
"Say, teacher, I'll help you" squeaked
a piping voice, which she recognized as
DtADMEAnH " AnE Dnl III AnG AAHA nGNA~
er class, next to the foot.
Johnny, u down to the irst white
house beyond the woods and tell them
TO send help. They have a telephone.
Ask them to notify all the neighbors,"
she directed between beats.
Johnny was reluctant to leave n bon
Ore Of such proportions us his was as
sumlng. but he detected the teacher"
in her tones and concluded to obey.
That's the stuffl' she next heard
and looked up to meet the approval of
the farmer at whose house she boarded.
He procured a stick and made m eff
fectlve onslaught upon the flames.
Presently they were REINFORCED by a
passerby, and after q time the fire was
extlngulshed.
"You best go home and rest a spell"
~counseled her landlord. you look oil
bet up and tuckered out"
ut was pretty warm work" she &C
~knowledged. arranging her hair. which
the breeze and her exertlons had tum-
bled about her face.
"Well, l tel you what, you Just
saved thc&a woods. all right. The own
er ought to make you a nice present"
Mabel laughed.
who Is the ownerT" she asked care
lessly.
"Hls name is Max Thornton. Hes
a young city swell. l heard say"
She had inserted the last hairpir
md now started for home with burned
face and bllstered hands.
Meanwhile Johnny, returning from
the white house. beard a shot ring on
In the woods.
TN git him to come md help teach
err" he thought as he scurried through
the cool woods after the man behind
the gun.
Say. the woods Is pretty near Oh
fire. It's mos crep' mp on emp
The man laughed good ~naturedly.
do you think / am In any dangerr
''The woods is! Teacher sent ms fol
help. She is beating 1t out with g
stick"
"All right Come along" And the
man made for the road in long strides
the boy keeping pace by a quick trot
explaining with many elaboratiOns the
particulars OF the fire.
MY! Teacher was Jest moro thar
layin' on 20 II with n stick. l never
s'posed she could hit out like thatg'
Hasn't she laid 1t on to you yetr
laughed the hunter.
NAV. She amt teched n on u
yit. l bet the boys would behave 1
they'd seen her beat that fire"
The hunter was occupied for a mo
ment with conjuring the image Of
teacher hittin' the FIRE"
"say, young mnn, has your tencbe
got red hair, and does she wea
glassesT"
Eyes. How did yer known he ask
ed ouriously. -
81 just felt It,"
When the hunter came up to tn
men. he said to the farmer.
II came to help put out a fire, but
see you have done good work" gain
at the ~blackened ground.
I'VE only got here to the tail end o
IT," explained the farmer. '"The schoOI
teacher got here first, and she fit it lik
a tiger. Guess sOme OF you hunter
set II OF nre."
The hunter laughed and walked or
remembering the match, but he Eel
no computations. "A man has tn
right TO set FIRE to his own II he want
TO-" he thought. Suppose IL wOul
be only decent in me to go and than
the schoOlmA'Am. Wonder how / en-
make her a substantial token Of graf
tude without ofensef'
"Here, boyF' he turned and called
Johnny, who fingered neal the ruin
"Do you want to earn a quarterl"
You bet yer boOtsF'
'sThen take me to your teacher. II II
not too far"
"Its Jest down the next road a way
and mebby she's stopped In at Il
schOOl'us down the lane"
"On a snturdnyT' he asked skel
tically.
Eyes. She writes her letters therei
They relapsed into silence. john
making plans for the Investment
his quarter and the man absorbed
thoughts OF a bitter. cynical trend.
few months before he had been Il
happy, accepted lover OF a benutlf