The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-09
| Copyright, 1908, by Joseph b. Bowlcs)
i ..Thn (illlCl hnRnfl tn cnll him NNICI'lOS-

| Tho Gulch began to call him "McClos-
n ,,hs Nd" IN the days Of his babyhooa;;
the rlckcty steps on tn" front porch and
roll down them and. tho hii which served
as q front on yard for Mcclosky's shanty.
and took to forbiddennu n Wna nn in tie
Gulch, tho Kids genius for dropping in
tribiited sagcly by. the community to IN
occult power, usually credited with abct-
ting tendencies OF promising daredevity.
1t was In the autumn OF the Kids eighth
year that his frequent absences from nome
began to lengtlien from day into night.
following the morning meal at daylight,
lie would disappear from sight with u sud
dcllness suggestive OF nccromancy-..returil-
day, and yielding no account OF his ABB
s ..1l1, even under the goad of McClosky's
willow whip.
sbty Of Slides S SaGan 70 a b. 'i noot Ss
In tho Gulch. The last one had occurred
previous o., to the coming of the McCloskys:
horror r,s,.., of that year made It seem but
Sie1stsrday-and whose recital of its in
cldents made vivid it's fame.
No certain danger was apprchended
and before then nearly all OF the. families
of them. survivors of the last slide had
moved M their belongings into the tunnels
GS t deserted ela h1 or into cellars dug
:. McClosky had decided to move his fam
ny, but sudden .sn,g freezn ;, spell
that the change had been postponed.
Leaving the baby with Terence. Mrs.
McClosky, one bright morning, her basket
of aGhs on stated f brs a dewh the
sGulch.
It was good to be outside the s,ury
atmosphere of her home, and Mrs. Nc
Closky drew In the crisp air with crate
FIJI lnhniufinuc
), Poor Terence. It's him wish could
l be he REL. s., she mused and i Jimmy
G Sjm only ioa be tru st With the baby IT'S
the Kid, Invisible Just then. somewhere
behind her In the creek bed, which, as
Ratfh, NJ, TO the town, he preferred TO the
ITS no comfort he'll ever be in the way
o helpin' Terence" she muttered to her.
self, detectedly. ITS like the run o. life
an him--wRoic. There's nothn' bad in
MS heart, though, If he is bit stubborn
drst j., many any, wan that lays low at
Wild. ' e''us VIZ % wan ''''"' I s'a''s
They reached the foot of the Gulch.
and an, Mrs. MGClosky turned suddenly on
nerves; yez are. wild yer slidin and jump
20 s ad sore Whilst It Just
q the Rid YR s,ensd app r 1Rse 10 the
iatler account or his grievances.
His recital of his various prosecutions
occupied the time until his mother APP
pearcd. painting from exertion and some
unusual excitement.
Get the things wrapped as soon as
yez kin move, Miles" she ordered the boy
fetch the chder down here 20 s for f the ns sna
livery wan Is sayin that II the sun kapes
shnln' all day like this there'll be danger
o the snow loosenin'-and whatever Me-
o no,Ssr may Dc III not stay in the shanty
OF excited voices sounded outside. The
door was thrown open and the elder
Stricky entered. followed by n dozen
persons.
Leave things for me to straightcn,i
here. Miles, an you go and tell your
mother to get the children in the cellar
The SHOWS commenced TO crack at the
head of the Gulch. Mol don't believe
there's any danger here" he replied TO
a woman,,s anxious question but there's
amt any more snow on the slopes now
than there was at the time of the last
slide, and then I stood on the platform
outside. there and watched it all Mrs.
catching sight for the first time of her
white face. II hope the rest of Nou's as
safe-for If the slide comes every house
in the Gulch'll CO."
She turned with a choking sound-and
Strckiy suddenly grasped the frantic wo-
They carried her into the cellar at the
rear Of the house, where Strickiy's wife
and children had already taken shelter.
up there. boys" he said, I'll go with any
OF you that's wilin' for the risk
On the opposite hillside men and women