The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1906-04-14

side There ain't any more snow on
The slopes now than there was at the
line Of the last slide and then ! stood
IN the platform outside there and
watched 1t all Mrs. MoClosky I'm
glal you're here" he said catching
sight for the first time Of her white
face Il hope the rest Of yous as safe
for II the slide comes every house In
the Gulch'u GO"
She turned with a choking sound
and Strlckly suddenly grasped the fran
tic woman as she rushed to the door
and tainted.
They carried her into the cellar at
tire rear Of the houss, where Strickly's
wife and children had ALREADY taken
shalter
"If it's any use TO try for the chill
tren up there. boys" he said, TN go
with any of you that's within for the
risk
ON the opposite h4llAde men and
women were hU1ying toward the
usuusA uf the kYWer tunnel, thetY arms
their assssAed shsUtfes.
Those crowtffns INTO Sulckly's Store
were chiefly men. and as the nswrom-
srs Appeared and wgye tod Of the rag
edy pending on the white hiuStde.
ruauy of Them started nor The door with
generous impulse. But they were I'M
perxtively dissualbsd, and il Nee led,
indeed. but a momsnt thought To on
vince them
Then it's NrCfoal1y's Kid that's
gone al LAM" snad Tfrnuthy Ryan
with genuine sorrow.
His luck's With him. yet said
Srickly. quietly. Hes safe IL the
cellar with his mother" An expressive
look went around.
The boys born an raised for Moth
tn but to challenge an chate the
devil" Grogan said, his untimely grin
shared by the others.
You're wEung there, said new
conner "Its the Kid | saw not tin
minutes ago, scamprin' up the GuIch
like mad called To him-but he nlVer
turned; an | durs'nt call louder, for
sometimes a whispers enou&h to start
the SNOW.
They stared at him, dOubung-but
hasty search confirmed his stateuant
The Kid had disappeared. The ex-
cited thrOng poured out uf the store 10
the platform, and started mp the ousch.
Straining their eyes against the blind
kta ll.xh anna ii figure
appear On the road above far bend
Of the hill II WAS the Kid, making his
way with hasty strides toward the
home shanty A groan went up from
the group.
Not one u the crowd stirred. They
stood fesEtul. LeSt a sound or gestare
disturb tine shroudsd masses piled 10
the topmOst crest behind McClosky's
house.
yan-5 minutes passed
TITS a longer time comm than tbs
tass-" Riley whtsIsred-and stopped
suddenly. II was coming now. The
nlen dpow bsAIh instincuvely toward the
door. but stood there, fascinated by Ne
spectacle.
From the edge of the hills above the
0ulch fell sound as Of the collapse
OF heavy walls Then from the top
most cTests a thick. white spray shot
upWaA There was roar as of mighty
waters bursting a dam, and down the
steep slopes a INDUSTRIOUS, believing,
topping STOW flood swept 10 the bot
tom ID The hLk. alhng the SnSoh high
tor a rnendred yards with its orsnnbling
white Where it had passed, stood bare
and bleak the long hidden stretches Of
hill shorn clean of loose rocks and
trees-and habttatims.
Tan ninai.s iatsa a crowd of men
with ropes. picks and sho~e2s started
I up the Gulch. and as they reared the
spot below the stretch of hills whore
had stood McCiosky's house, another
line issued from the upper tunnel
The two squads set to work breath
Sssly tenderly-he~5t a blow from a
pick or shovel mar an upturned face.
The kld-there we're nothing but low
ing thoughts of him now Ii was hard
to think of him white and still under
the drifts.
Fifteen, 20 minutes they toiled in
steady silence. Then Grogan, near the
upper end of the line. set up /. yen.
The resi- turned with dread expectancy
and stased-dased
Coming down the slope. his eyes re-