Charlevoix county herald., 1905-04-29
,st that the air was like one moving,

stumbled into huge drifts, fell and
rose, only to fall again and yet again,
while the wind stung his face, nipped
his ears, and seemed to I'LL his eyes,
even beneath the protecting lids
which he kept closed. Blindly the
slight, boyish figure fought its way
through the fearful storm.
1t 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 plan which
he eagerly proceeded to unfold.
There's a small straw stack at the
east end Of the corral" he said. ut
has a rack built around it to keep the
stock from scattering it, 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 afire. If Uncle Will and Joe
are anywhere close they will see it
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"
ut can be DONE" insisted her broth
er, stoutly ANYWAY, it's worth try
ing, and it's the only hope. See, Beth,
| | 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 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
thence was rewarded A slow glow
grew in the southeast, deepened.
mounted and fought with the spirit of
the storm. Plainly visible from the
window, mass of dull red through
the sitting snow, it held its own
shortly afterward, the kitchen door
was thrown wide once more and two
snow covered figures instead of one
tumbled within. Uncle Will had got
safe home at last!
His story was that he had left town
just before the storm broke and had
traversed perhaps half the distance
when he lost his bearings. For near
ly three hours he and his horse had
wandered about in a circle, how wide
he could not tell. Half frozen with
cold and all but exhausted with the
buffetings of wind and snow, he had
as forlorn hope, given his horse
free rein. Suddenly a dull light ap
peared, scarce a rod distant He
turned toward it, fearing the house
might be on fire, and discovered his
nephew and the burning stack.
IL had time getting that stack to
burn" said the boy. 1T was a mass
of snow, Of course, just like huge
drift. / managed TO scrape some of
rowed hole in the straw. l did it by
feeling, for l couldn't see wink. The
lantern was no good. Then I uncorked
the oil, poured it into the hole, and
dropped the fire in on it. 1t blazed
in my face before ! could dodge, but
was snow clad and it didn't hurt. In
a moment the whole thing was on fire
was afraid the barn would go, but ]
guess there was 100 much snow for
that. I'd have felt foolish if the barn
had burned" said Jack.
"Oh, barns!" cried Beth, scornfully
who cares for barns! I'd burn a
dozen barns for lanterns to guide Un.
Gle Will home" She had helped him
off with his overcoat and opened the
oven door Of the kitchen stove for
him to warm his half frozen feet
Uncle Will laughed.
well, chicken, suppose you think
we could build another, now that the
mortgage is paid of. But I'm glad we
don't have to, for the father of a
promising family of youngsters has a
lot of expenses"
"The cows were in the stock pen,
Beth, believing with cold and fright. I
Thorn all into fba horr owl 4L.1-