Churchill standard. (Fallon, Nev) 1903-1908, 1906-06-16
BY.H WALTER BURR.

we come ter the Burnin' Hills. Peers as
though could feel the heat right now.
1nefe! Look yOnderi'
They were now on an eminence ommand
ing a good view of the lower hills. and as
they looked down into the darkness they
could see distinctly long lines of GLOWING
req, streaking the earth like the trails Of
merry serpents. The rednesS pulsated like
a thing of life. and as it did so the very
ground about seemed to heave up and down.
1nen suddenly all was darkness again.
Yer, see,' she continued, Il may be a
coward, an all thet. Mebbe so. 1t may a
bin all a ghost story, too. But there it is,
an We got ter cross tibet place.
The brave young mar was getting really
scared. He had never before been out in
the mountains in the night time, and the
awful stiffness, broken now and then by
country, awed and frightened him. His
teeth were fairly chattering.
"I-l-wish we had started back sooner -
it was so bad" i"'"
Y might a had a purity good idea. (" she
answered; but 1t amt a-goin' to do no
GOOD ter git scared now. Come along
By. this time they were nearing the
dreaded place. Suddenly, as she reached
Forward her foot to take a step, she realized
roofing as soon as 1t should. A sudden and
warmth came upward, and in
another instant the faint glow was seen.
showing her a chasm. with the further
prlhk some three feet away. Leapinga across
sne called to her companion, Mind yer
eyer They had changed places-she was
now ,!w the master n sI and he the slave.
place: Just then he took the fatal step,
and felt himself falling. But the girl was
quick. Suddenly reaching out her. arm. she
grasped him by the hand and fairly drag
ged him across the chasm.
We'll, l neyer!' he exclaimed in fright.
,,Ihats something awful. don't you know.
l say are there many more like that2'
eome on an, quit yer %talkin'," was the
h say, 1wo-bits, 1t isn't safe, is itf'
he called after her,
II ain't %afeard,',' she answered.; 'If you
are. why stay where you are, or go back
an find the highest peak"
Blast the little imp" he muttered. ~
ieoRd If shes going to go away and
would serve me right, for | suppose it's all
my own fault, But really, l had no idea
there was any truth in what she said"
leave 7iei me- =, TH" sI6pn;. Don't run away and
MS throat something very like a sob.
+; LOOK out there he heard her call: and
IN the darkness he saw her some five feet
yer II fail In, sure. Its wide. l tell yer,
ar We'll, what will dor. he asked.
l can't stay here all night
"Mebbe yer could jump across. did
Dut m only a coward" She was becoming
sarcastic, but not without purpose. The
ehlId was beginning to see that the young
man would need every incentive she could
oner to get him to put forth his best cf-
lorts. She had no doubt of her own ability
10 clear all the chasms, but she was quite
sure that her companion was not aceus-
toned to such tricks. Now, he stood like
a scared child on the opposite side of the
ditch. If the situation had not been so
serious, 1t would have been comical.
We'll, yer comin'?' she asked, inn
patiently.
He stepped back for a run, but when he
came to the edge again he stopped short
and looked ~ruefully at the red glow beneath
him. He held out his hand and drew it
back suddenly. as he felt the intense heat.
Then what little courage he possessed for
sock him, and he began To whimper.
II just cant make it. Two-bits. Whatever
shall | do?'
Wall" drawled the matter-of- fact girl,
Il s'pose | could go ahead an git some of
the fellers from town ter come ont an help
yer across. They'll make no end of fun OF
yer, though"
Blast the fun he cried. Hurry up
and get me out of this. most anyway"
"An right. Stay where you are, and I'll
be back after II WHILE and she bounded
away like a deer, leaving George Casey
sitting there In the night alone.
Minutes dragged like hours, and the dark
ness seemed TO grow thicker every moment.
except when 1t was penetrated by that un-
eanny glow from down below. Then, as he