The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1906-08-31

N>ANS' nAO"AiS an liC tliuS Thai UllL-
yards invariably burst from clear sky
and on the most spring-like of days.
MIR. Benson said yesterday was 4
weather breeder" Teddy answered. try
ing to push refractory stick into the
stove.
Whats that:"
lie dropped the stove lid, and stood
listening. In minute the sound came
again faint note, like a bell pulled
unevenly.
Its the telegraph" Teddy exclaim-
ed.
And sure enough 1t was.
Standing close to the kitchen door,
they heard it plainly-one, two, three
one, two, three
"Oh, it's father!" Teddy shouted. "He
must have got lost, and is trying to let
us know"
He threw open the door, and would
have rushed out into the storm, had
not his mother held him back.
You'll get lost, too, Teddy she ex-
claimed, in alarm. you can't see
where to co.
IF l only had something to hold
fast to. Oh, know
He ran back, and had on his coat,
cap and mitters, before Mrs. Redmond
had managed to shut the door, which
the wind held open. Something hard in
the pocket of his coat struck his arm.
1t was ball Of Irvine the agent had
given him.
He tied one end Of it around his
waist and gave his mother the ball,
while he explained the solution Of the
telegraph" which had flashed through
his active little brain.
Don't you see, mother? Fathers got
lost down by the barnyard fence, and
can't see which way to go. It's the only
place he could get hold of the wire.
I'll follow 1t down, and I'll be sure to
find him. You hold the ball and keep
letting it out real slow. Then, when
we come back, we've only got to follow
the string home"
In spite of her fear that something
would happen to Teddy, Mr.. Redmond
saw that it was the only way to guide
the lost party to shelter.
Taking lighted lantern, Teddy set
out, feeling his way along the fence,
every now and then giving little reas-
surfing jerks to the string which his
mother held through the crack of the
door,
He could not see beyond his out
stretched hand; If he had been able to-.
he would have seen the objects of his
search, only a short distance away,
close to the very fence he was guiding
himself by.
Mr.. Redmond, with Teddy's uncle
and aunt and Fred had started from
Broken Bow Immediately after the ar
rival Of the train, which was an hour
late. They were within two miles Of
home when the storm struck them, and
in few minutes nothing could be
seen Of the familiar TRAIL
After driving blindly for a while, Mr..
Redmond slowed his horse down to a
| walk and let the reins loose, hoping
that they would find their way home
alone. This they did until blinded and
confused by the storm, they stopped
and refused to 60 any farther. >.
Guess I'll try leading Them" Mr.
Redmond said, with the vaguest idea
as to where he was going to lead them.
He climbed out of the wagon and
reached the horses heads A step for
ward and he came suddenly against q
wire fence.
Cheer up, folks" he called out.
Here's a fence, so we must be near
some place"
A string tied apparently from one
post to the next, touched his hand.
"Why, we're right close home, and
this is Ted's telegraph. Wonder If 1
could made him hear?"
He pulled it vigorously several times
I'D follow it to the house, If only
knew which way the house u.s." he med
| itated; but, just as like as not, I'll
fetch up over In the South Eighty.
Well. l have to risk it, we can't stand
this much longer"
Feeling his way back to the wagon
he explained matters to the half frozen
occupants and returned to the fence
Deciding to follow 1t to the right, he
had hardly taken a step in that direc-
ton when faint light pierced through
the binding snow from the left and Il
bundled-up little figure caught hold Of
| him.
"Oh, father, where are the folks?
How did get here? Oh, I'm tied to a
string!" Teddy burst out, incoherently,
while Mr.. Redmond, between surprise
and the cold, which was fast overcom-
ing him, could hardly speak.
Discovering that the horses stood
within ten feet of the barnyard gate,
they hastily embarrassed them and
| turned them into the yard, where they
could find shelter under the wagon
shed. Then Teddy-who was still tied
to his faithful undertaking the lead
they started for the house, Indian file,
holding fast to each others clothes.
Il declare to goodness, Meranda,"
was all Mrs. Redmond could say, as she
| drew the half-froZen party, like a