The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1905-07-21
When Wits Won
A True Story Of sls> Great Western
Blizzard

| The little clock on the mantel had
chimed the hour of four, when Beth
Day became suddenly aware of q
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 muftled 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 fakes. As he
reached the door he drew one arm
around his sisters waist, pulled her
into the kitchen, and slammed the
door, setting hts 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 whfrling 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 trifie unsteady. II ran every
step of the way from school-a good
half mile-and just made it. Where
would | 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 We 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 a mans responsibility
resting on his slight shoulders as he
peered forth into the storm.
did he have to go?"
"Oh, 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
VIII 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
md round within a few feet of the
loor and never find it," sobbed the
girl.
"A horse surely ought to find his
way home" said Jack, anxiously. AZ
he again took his station at the south
window of the kitchen. "Black Joe ia
I'D, but he is smart. If Uncle Will
lives him his own way he ought to
ind the stable. Beth, is there a rome
bout the house-a long one? might
ry to get as far as the stable and see
they are there, and throw down
ONE feed for the stock. The poor
attic will never get home. They will
uffer tonight I'm afraid"
There Is the clothesline," said his
lister. But fear it's too short We
an try it after supper. You must
ave some hot coffee if you are going
ut into the storm. | am afraid YOU
annot stand on your feet against this
ind"
But when the supper had been eaten
hey got the clothesline and length.
ned it with stout strips of denim
rom some old overalls. Jack tied one
nd around his waist, and taking a
GIFTED lantern, went bravely forth
ito the storm.
The great barn and the stock sheds
TODD south of the house, nearly a
uarter of mile. Jack had to fight
le wind all the way. He CROPPED his
ay along the side Of the fence, and
len by means of line of small ce.
ars, until he reached the gate of the
1rral. Not an inch of the way was
sible, for it had grown rapidly dark.
nd the snow was falling so thick and