Charlevoix county herald., 1905-04-29
When Wits Won
A True Story Of ti.e Great Western
Blizzard

The little clock on the mantel had
chimed the hour of four, when Beth
Day became suddenly aware OF
strange, distant roar. which grew
momentarily louder. She passed into
the kitchen and opened the outer door.
All day the skies had been
threatening, with sullen, gray
colored clouds banked in the west, in
one angry somber-looking mass. The
wind had risen-it was rising more
and more; it moaued around the cor
ners Of the house, blending with that
distant muffied roar. the source of
which Beth could not understand.
AS she stood in the kitchen door
way, Drawing the keen air, her brother
Jack came flying up the south drive.
His head was bent, his warm cap pow
dered thick with snow flakes. AS he
reached the door he drew one arm
around his sisters waist, pulled her
into the kitchen, and slammed the
door, setting his back against it. At
that very moment the force of the
storm broke upon them. The house
shook in the blast; the air was dense
with whirling snow. Through the
windows the terrified eyes of the
children saw nothing except one swirl
ing blur of white. The door was
wrenched back by the terrific wind;
all Jacks young strength could hardly
close it again and turn the key in the
shaking lock and slip the bolt.
"a close shave, Beth" he said, his
voice a trifle unsteady. II ran every
step of the way from school-a good
half mile-and just made it. Where
would l have been If the storm had
struck five minutes sooner? Look,
Beth, look! There is nothing-noth-
ing but drifting snow in all the world
outside. Everything is swallowed up.
Not even the well-curb is to be seen"
Beth wrung her hands in sudden,
acute distress.
Uncle Will went to town to pay off
the mortgage" she said wildly. "He
rode Black Joe. He has been gone
two hours. Oh, Jack, what If he start
ed home again in the teeth of the
storm? That lonely stretch of road
across the prairie! He will be LOST"
Tears of alright stopped further
speech. Jacks bright young face
clouded with anxiety. He was only IA,
but he felt all mans responsibility
resting on his slight shoulders as he
peered forth into the storm.
did he have to go?"
ooh, yes! 1t was the last day of
grace, and the money for the corn
was paid into the bank yesterday
afternoon. The farm is safe now,
safe for you and me, if anything hap
pens to him, Uncle Will said as he
rode away"
Tears stood in her eyes and her
voice choked with sobs. She was only
sixteen. For the last year she and
her orphan brother had learned to
love their big, bluff, bachelor Uncle
Will who had offered them home on
his Nebraska farm. Beth was the
housekeeper and her uncle's confidant
in business matters.
"Oh, what is to be done, Jack?" she
cried again. How can Uncle Will
how could anybody-reach us in this
storm? He will lose his bearings
completely. He might wander round
and round within a few feet of the
door and never find it," sobbed the
girl.
"A horse surely ought to find his
way home" said Jack, anxiously, as
he again took his station at the south
window of the kitchen. "Black Joe is
old, but he is smart. If Uncle Will
gives him his own way he ought to
find the stable. Beth, is there a rope
about the house-a long one? might
try to get as far as the stable and see
If they are there, and throw down
some feed for the stock. The poor
cattle will never get home. They will
suffer tonight, I'm afraid"
There is the clothesline," said his
sister. "But fear it's too short. We
can try it after supper. You must
have some hot coffee If you are going
out into the storm. l am afraid you
cannot stand on your feet against this
wind"
But when the supper had been eaten
they got the clothesline and length
ened 1t with stout strips Of denim
from some old overalls. Jack tied one
end around his waist, and taking a
lighted lantern, went bravely forth
into the storm.
The great barn and the stock sheds
stood south OF the house, nearly a
quarter OF mile. Jack had To fight
the wind all the way. He CROPPED his
way along the side of the fence, and
then by means of line of small &C.
dars, until he reached the gate of the
corral. Not an inch of the way was
visible. for II had grown rapidly dark.
and the snow was falling SO thick and