The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-02-07

the neck OF the wheeler; then, stand
ing with one foot on the swinging sin
gletree, he gave a tremendous leap
and sprang to the back OF the mad
dened leader. He drew himself along
over the foaming creatures shoulder
and, reaching forward, succeeded in
freeing the bit from It's clinched teeth.
then. talking softly and gently patting
its neck, gradually quieted the poor
animal. which now. responding to the
saving Of the reins, came to stand
still halfway down the mountain side.
The man sprang to the ground, as
did the driver, and together they mend
ed the trace and looked over the entire
harness. The horses, steaming and
trembling, were now docile as lambs.
"Youll have no further trouble to-
night" said the man to the driver.
"These poor brutes are pretty thor
oughly exhausted"
Smoking Jehoshaphat. but that was
a close shaver said the driver. WED
all been In kingdom come If II hadn't
been for you"
"Oh. not as bad as that, ] guess"
answered the man and, turning to the
horse who had caused all the trouble,
"You would have come TO your senses
In time, wouldn't you, old boy" The
horse answered by rubbing his head
against the mans shoulder.
The giant walked back and climbed
into the coach as though nothing un-
usual had occurred, but the driver as
he mounted TO his seat and gathered
up the reins muttered: THAT dod-
gasted horse never Civ In like that to
anybody in his life before. That fell
ler's n reg'lar char1ner, like the one In
the show at Frisco"
And as the stage ratified on no would
say every few minutes, "A reg'lar
charmer, that's wot he is"
They made fairly good time thereaft-
er and Just at dawn pulled up before
AS the girl, very pale, stepped to the
ground she held out her hand to the
silver haired giant, saying:
IL want to thank you. / saw what
you did, and II was that which fright
ened me most. You saved our lives.
/ shall never forget 1t. Goodby," and
she disappeared into the hotel.
He saw her several times after that
mt the Peterson ranch just below his
mine. He learned that she was the
new governess for the Peterson chill
dren, but was always busy when he
called at their ranch. And how often
II seemed necessary to see Peterson
lately, even though he never had more
than moments talk with her.
One day terrible storm came up,
and II ralned increasingly, which kept
the giant busy strengthening tho reser-
voirs. The next morning he was awak-
ened by the roar OF rushing water.
Dressing hurriedly and putting on his
high rubber boots, he was soon down
Mt the point of the hill where he could
see that Peterson's ranch was entire
ly submerged, the house seeming to
stand In the center OF lake, with
the water gradually rising past the
window sils. He hurried down the
hill and waded through the three feet
OF water to the house. He climbed
through n window, and there on the
stairs sat the girl
"rhrow something warm over your
head and shoulders and come down."
he called.
The girl unhestatlngly complied. He
opened the door with great difficulty;
then mounting the stairs halfway he
gathered her I'm his arms and without
"by your leave strodc out of the
door through the water to the hills.
"Thc storm Is abatlng, and the wa
ter Will soon reccde, but you could not
remain there. My foreman's wife will
make you comfortable"
How small and light she was! He
could carry her SO forever! And how
disgustingly narrow the flooded valley
seemed! Reluctantly he placed her on
the rising ground.
where were the PetersonsT he
asked.
"They went to visit relatives on the
X-Bar ranch. Oh, they left the hired
man with me! He had just gone, as
you came, TO see what he could get In
the way of boat or balloon"
Then still In laughing tone, though
her eyes filed, she said, 1T seems TO
bo your business to come TO my res
cue"
Wont you give me the job for
life?' he asked eagerly. IL believe |
could prevent disaster touching you,
even n food"
And. looking up into his strong,
powerful face, she answered, II be-
lleve you could" as she put both hands
In his.
Frank Inconsistency.