Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-05-21
p Y.
THE MILL DOWN FOMAING
VALLEY.


After a moment they found them
selves by the brook in a place where a
deep pool was overhung by a limestone
ledge. Rose, struggling with the fran
tic horse, saw nothing. She was crash
ing through the brush just a step be-
hind Jim, with only one impulse. He,
too. had but one impulse; he would
reach the rocks and save her, If he had
to tear her hand from the bride and
bear her through the flames 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.
This way" he yelled, suddenly.
I'VE can make it yet. 1 know where
we are He turned sharply to the left,
his ak still flying like a steel maui.
We 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 she chung fast and kept ever close
~ Jllii' WIN WAS SldSllIlA anu
stamping n smashing like a Viking
in battle. Ten rods more and they
came to the brook again. but at right
angles to its former course.
"Foaming Valley stream" he shouted
Justify. We're out OF it; we're in
Foaming Valley, and it's high time"
He was right; il was high time.
Swept on by the gale, the flames were
leaping like wolves from bush to bush,
and scurrying in the dead leaves not
two rods behind. A minute more and
the roaring cauldron would have 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!"
he shouted. 1T can't catch us now.
It'll u slow up his valley.
They We're on the little dinkey road
which years before had taken the lum-
Der down TO the Cherry Run trail. 1t
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,
and of raspberry and blackberry tam
gle, bound in the road on either side.
The ties had begun to decay; the iron
rails were thick with rust; and there
were places where floods had quilted
widely into the roadbed. The smoke
became less and less dense until 1t was
possible TO see several rod in advance.
The wind was blowing toward the fire
and sweeping il in the opposite direc-
ton. The valley grew narrower: at
length the ridge sides. steep and rag
ged, a mere mass OF torn stone, drew
into a sharp V with the dinkey road
raised on trestle work at one side.
They passed through with difficulty.
We're all right now" he announced
cheerily. THE fire might back UP as
far as the Narrows here, but II can't
jump through
Yes, but we're in a trap" She was
looking about her critically.
II don't think there is any outlet to
this valley" he said slowly. I'VE could
get over the right there, but Pomp
couldn't. I know where we are now.
We were up this way fishing last sum
mer. and l caught a 12-inch trout
under the rock at the entrance down
there. That's why / knew where we
were the minute I saw it,
That was a close call. Mr.. Farthing
-an awfully close CALL" She was
looking down at him with solemn eyes
Il don't think we had over a minutes
margin
1T did look close there one time
didn't it?-at least for Pomp?"
Yes. and for US, too" She drew a
long breath. Well, never mind: w
got out She was not a girl to dwell
on morbid things. IL was not her way
to shudder and live over and over the
past danger.
But we are not out of the Woods
though. yet" she went on, looking vi
at the steep ridges on both sides. Nv,
heard OF this valley: it's fathers: bu
I don't know much about IL. III w,
could only get Pomp over that ridge.
know a path all right. 'Spose we coult
get him over"
mo: I don't. The only way / see Il
TO leave him here a day or two ant
climb out ourselves"
'Hark. What's tnat?-the fire :?
She turned her head and listened in
tently. She was still sitting on tn
horse. which recovered from it's fright
was cropping the bushes ~contentedly.
That's thunder. Hear II? I've bee
looking for "A thunder gust all day an,
Pm afraid IL II be "a hard one, it's bee
50 hot
Fathers got AN old mill up here
mile or So" she spoke with sudden de
cision. Come, les try for It. Com
on"
"Ail right"
Again they started up the dinke
road. he striding stoutly ahead. Their
was something strong and mastery
| and selftreliant abo this young ma
that appealed TO her. Unconsclousl
she watched him-his road shoulder.
his firm set neck, his easy muscula
swing; II Is always good to see a mar
They reached the mill Just as the frs
large drops began to patter on tn
leaves liz was a ramshackle old struc
ture, a mere roo TO shelter the engin
and the saving apparatus. A gres
tangle OF cherry trees and brush hem
Y locks had sprung up about It. an,
minglinx with the r~hododendron by IN
\ stream. concealed IL until one vas -igi