The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-09-23
Our Daily Sbcrt Story

and when her father made known to her his plan to send her to San Antonio she did not deTnur. Perhaps the fact that Mir. Gregory had told her only 8 few days before that he would spend several weeks of the fall in that city had something to do with her acqui- essence without offering protest. The day that Mir. Johnson and Katie left the ranch home to drive to the railroad station several miles away was seething hot. There had been no rain for weeks. The grass on the range was parched and curled. The buekboard Jolted over the stony road and at times 1t seemed that Katie's trunk. which was strapped on behind, travel The top of the knoll that run along the edge of the valley was reached and Mir. Johnson stopped his horse under the shade of q scrub oak by the roadside to give the animal a moments rest. The road led down into the valley, end in the distanee could be seen the Gregory home with is ir- rigated fields, making deiightful-ap~ bearing oasis in a vefitabie desert. It was an attractive picture and old man Johnson could not keep his eyes off of the place as he sat there in the buck board with Katie at his side. He mo- tiesd the little cyclone hole or near the little shack where Mir Gregory lived alone, and his bronzed lips ctirled In contempt at the thought of such a foolish piece of work.
 The air suddenly grew still. Not a leaf of the tree stirred. Mir. Johnson chirruped to the horse and the animal raised it's head and threw 1t around | in a spirit uneasiness, snifflng the air ns it did so A mocking bird that had been singing overhead stopped It's warbling.
 Then there came a few whiffs of air as hot as though it had come directly from some blast furnace. Suddenly, | In the distance was heard low rum bling, which quickly grew into pro- nounced rear. The eyes of Katie and her father looked in the direction from which the strange sounds came. Far away, they saw q small, spiral-shaped cloud, which seemed to be hitting the | earth at short intervals, then rising in It's fury and moving towards them at a terrific speed. It was strange sight to Mir. johnson. but 1t did not need a second look to tell him that 1t was a cyclone. His only thought was that he must save his daughter. The roar fn- created. Could they dodge the path of the aerial monster? There was no es- cape.
 'Tt's a race for life," Katie said. plac-
 
 shoulders. MT. Gregory's cyclone cell lar Is wonder; get to 1t and we are saved from destruction" .... The old ranch horse did some fast running for the next quarter of a mile. The Gregory place was reached and MT. Johnson tore through the open gateway around the shack to the cyclone pit. The door of the hole was open. Tn an- other instant Mir. Johnson had alighted and with strong erms Katie was lifted out and half thrown into the place of refuge.
 'I'il stay out here" he said to her as he closed the door.
 NO, you'll not" said a voice at his side You will be killed here; you get into that hole-there's room for both of you"
 MT. Gregory raised the door of the hole and motioned to Mir. Johnson to get into it. The latter refused. and the next instant he was in the strong grasp of Mir. Gregory's arms and was upset into the hole and the door closed upon him and his daughter.
 With the roar of a thousand cannon the cyclone passed over the spot When MT. Johnson raised the door the first object he saw was the body of Mir. Gregory lying near the mouth of the opening, held down by a heavy scant- ling.
 Up at the big ranch house next day whsn the injured man opened his eyes from his long period of unconscious ness. Mir. Johnson held out his hand and grasping that of MT. Gregory gave 1t a warm shake.
 I'm having the boys build one of them cyclone cellars out here" he said with a. meaning smile.
 Did Miss Katie catch the train?" asked Mir Gregory. with a feeble though amused look.
 Train? No; her trunk was blown ten miles from here, I reckon"