Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-24
THE HOUSE OF THE
BLACK RING.
BY FRED LEWIS PATTEE.
by BenryH
BY FRED LEWIS PATTEE.

place again on the log. For an hour he
gazed fxedly into the flames. Another
hour, and he had not changed his position
except to pile on fuel.
Then he heard low growl over the ridge
and sat up with a start. Another shower
was coming up. The lightning, At first
mere spurts Of light across the west.
cleaned red and sinister through the
smoke. The wind plunged over the ridges
IN Wild panic. believing and shrieking. 1t
zen upon the rickety old mill and wrenched
II with violence till it groaned and ratified
and roared. The thunder grew louder with
every peal; the lightning fiickered and
streamed balefully Young Jim seemed OBJ
iiyious of It, He heaped the wood ever
and anon upon his fire and continued his
steady contempla ton of the flames Then
some subtle magnetism drew up his glance
and there she was In the doorway looking
him full in the eyes.
I'm not just sure that the mills safe I'm
all this wind" She came up to the fire. SO
near to him that he could have touched
her. There seemed to be a wistfui note I'm
her voice.
''Oh. it's stood worse blows than this. In
the winter, when the leaves are off, the
Winds sweep down these valleys fearfully."
1t ii put out our fire. won't it?"
Shouldn't wonder; but we can have one
inside. Let it go. Believe I'll get in some
slabs while L have a chance He fell to
the work with energy. Aren't you afraid
OF thunder" he called out cheerily II
hope not, for this is going to be an old
RATHER, ten times worse than the other"
Moo; I'm not afraid" There was the
slightest note of doubt In the tone. No
wonder; the surroundings were indeed
strange and fearsome-the shuddering old
mill, the intense darkness. the fire, lighting
everything weirdly, and the nearing crash
and below of the storm.
This will cool off the Run won't it."
she asked almost eagerly.
sure. Wen get out in the morning all
right. He was flying back and forth be-
tween the slab ptie and the mill.
Il hope We can" she echoed with sus-
picion of usefulness. But can't help?"
'Oh, no; I've got enough. Better come
in now. Hear the rain come down the val
ley there! Glorious, amt It? / just love a
night gust like ths!''
The storm was indeed breaking upon
them in full force. The thunder with crash
after crash, broke over their very heads;
then it beloved and roared and tumbled
from ride TO ridge. The continuous volley
with its rip and roar was deafening The
lightning, almost blood red from the smoke
shook its fingers in their very faces. The
rain came, not in drops, but in sheets. II
roared on the mill roof as If hurled from
a steamer hose. 1t hurtled down the wind
In water wrath, hing wild floods as from
buckets. There seemed nothing in the whole
landscape save water and binding CLEANS
ana crashing noise. The fire by the brook
struggled fitfully for time and then
Kissed out. The stream began to rise by
leaps and bounds until 1t almost by
the door.
leaked only here and there. and they kept
dry Jim had a roaring fire in the stove
which made the little room really cozy and
homeiike. He chopped at the slabs and
fed them into the flames, while she sat on
bench and watched him. His confidence
and CHEEKY good fellowship were conta-
gious. What a glorious, self-reliant fellow
he was. The thunder and lightning were
nothing to be nervous about; he laughed
at them. And. somehow, despite the wild
ness and the crash without, she did not feel
frightened even i'll at ease.
At length the storm began to subside
The thunder rolled off into the east: the
lightning came in sheets rather than In
binding bolts. the rain began to slacke,i.
In an hour 1t was all over.
did you sleep any?'' he asked, suddenly.
II had just got to sleep when it began to
thunder"
well. it's all over now You must get
some more sleep; It's a long time before
morning. Say. I'm going inside the mill
there; II you want anything. pound on the
Before she could answer he was gone
She lay down again in the bunk. drew up
the lap-roDe. and the next thing she was
conscious of was the sound of voices out
side. It was broad daylight.
so, you're at the bottom of this. heigh?
Where is RoseT' 1t was her fathers voice,
angry and threatening.
Shes In the mill. Rose sprang out In
stantIy.
I'm all right. pap she cried.
This Is pretty trick She could see at
a glance that he was angry through and
beca, hunting these mountains All night
you up here with that scamp"
why. father, he 4
not word II he's up here. then It's on
account OF YOU know that. He's sncaked
up here after You. and got you in ahead of
that fire on purpose 70 show Oh. haan't