The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-05-20

fore q wild hurricane.
There seemed not one chance in a
thousand for h fugitives.
CHAPTER x.
THE MILL DOWN FOMAING
VALLEY.
After a moment they found hem
selves by the brook in a place where a
deep pool was overhung by a limestone
ledge. Rose. struggling with h fran
tic horse, saw nothing. She was crash
hind Sim. with only one impulse. He,
too. a but one impulse; he would
reach the rocks n ave her, IL he had
to tear her hand from the bridl and
bear her through the fla,nes in his
arms. She shouldn't perish; she
mustn't perish. He would fight for her
till he died.
As his eye fell upon the pool in the
brook he stopped short. If they could
stand In the water to their necks, there
might be a chance. He had heard Of
such escapes. Then something about
the ledge caught his eye.
W. can make IT yet. / know where
his ak still flying like a steel maui.
w can make it-Pomp and ALL" he
shouted over his shoulder exultantly.
Come on!"
And she came on, though the horse
reared and plunged. lifting her from
her feet again and again, and swing
ing her about In the cruel tangle. tear
ing her clothes and hands and hair.
But n clung fast and kept ever close
behind JIM, who was slashing and
IN battle. Ten rods more n they
came to the brook again, but at right
angles to its former course.
.Foaming Valley stream" he shouted
Foaming Valley, and it's high time"
ne was right; 1t was high time.
Swept on by h gale. the flames were
leaptng like wolves from bush to bush.
Y scurrying in the dead leaves not
two rods behind. A minute more and
the roaring cauldron would nave been
all about them. but they had reached
now the mouth OF the little valley at
an angle from the flame swept funnel.
here we are In a regular turnpike!"
ne shouted. 1T cam catch us now.
It'll run slow up this valley.
Ihey were on the little dinkey road
which years before had taken the lum-
Der dow to the Cherry Run trail. It
was plain sailing now. But the panic
still on them. the scurried ahead like
rabbits. ~
The valley grew narrower. A mat
OF cherry sprouts. all in full blossom.
n OF raspberry and blackberry tan
g !rN pound IN the road on either side.
e"N y M LYe iron
rails were thick with rust; n there
were places where floods had quilted
widely into the roadbed. The smoke
became less n less dense until it was
possible to see several rods in advance.
The wind was blowing toward the Are
and sweeping it in the opposite direc-
ton. The valley grew ut
length the ridge sides. steep and rag
geo. q mere mass OF torn stone. drew
into q sharp " with the dinkey road
raised on trestle work at one side.
They passed through with Difficulty.
We're all right now he announced
cheertly.. The fire might back up as
jump through"
Yes. ~ we're in a trap" She was
looking about her critically.
u don't think there is any outlet to
This valley" he a slowly. I'VE could
couldn't. ! know where we are now.
We We're up this way fishing last sum
mer. and caught q 12-inch trout
under the rock at the entrance down
there. That's why I knew where we
were the minute I saw It,"
"That was q close call. Mr.. Farthinr
ar awfully close call" She was
ookin down at him with solemn eyes.
4 don't think we had over q minutes
margin" .-'1 :
1T did look close there ono time
didn't it?-at least for Pomp?"
"Yes. and for us, too" She drew a
long breath. We'll, never mind: I'VE
Tot out" She was not a girl to dwell
on morbid things. Il was not her wav
to shudder and live over and over the
past danger. w
But we are not u OF the woods.
Y yet" h ven on. looking IN
q tho steep ridges on both sides. rye
heard OF this valley; IT'S fathers: but
could only get Pomp over that ridge. /
know q path all right. 'Spose we could
Get him over?"
Nc; I don't; The only way I see is
to cav him here 2 day OF two and
"Harki What's that7-the Are 7'
She turned her head and listened in
tently. She was still sitting on the
morse. which recovered from its fright.
Wa cropping the bushes contentediy.
sIhat's hunder Hear It? I've beer
looking for q thunder gust all day and
I'm afraid It IL be q hard one. It's been
20 hot"
Fathers got an old mill up here a
milo or so" h spoke with sudden de-
cision. Come. les try for 1t. Come
sAll right"
Again they started up the dinkey
road. he striding stoutly ahead. There
was something strong M masterful
M se!f-reliant about this young man
p watched him-his broad shoulder.
his nrm get neck, his easy muscular
swing; II Ia always good to sec q man.
They reached b mill just az the arst
large drops began to patter on the
II was q xamshackle old struc-
ture. 2 mere roof to shelter the engine
and the saving apparatus. A treat
tansle OF cherry trees and brush hem
locks had sprung up about Il, and.
M1nglng with the rhodOdendron by the
teseAm, concealed It until was right