The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-05-27
X-Continued

~ '3C' N.' 49,
lister through the smoke. n wind
plunged over the ridges in wild panic,
believing and shireking. 1t fell upon
the rickety old mill and W%renched 1t
with violence till it groaned and ratified
and roared. The thunder grew louder
with every peal; the lightning hickered
and streamed balcfully. Young Jim
seemed ~ohlivious of 1T. He heaped the
wood ever and anon upon his fire, and
continued his steady contemplation Of
the flames. Then some subtle magre-
tsm drew up his glance and thece she
was in the doorway, looking him fun
In the eyes.
I'm no just sure that the mills
safe in all this wind" She came up
to the fire, so near to him that he could
have touched her. There seemed to
be a WiStful note in her voice.
oh. it's stood worse blows than this.
In the winter. when the leaves are off,
tho winds sweep down these valleys
fearfully."
Ut III put out u fire, won't it?"
Shouldn't wonder; but we can have
one inside. Let 1t go. Believe I'll get
in some slabs while ! nave a chance"
He fell to the work with energy.
aren't you afraid of thunder?" he
called out cheerily. II hope not, for
this is going to be an old RATHER. 10
times worse than the other"
moo, I'm not afraid" There was
the slightest note of doubt in the tone.
No wonder; the surroundings We're in
deed strange and fearsome-the shud-
dering old mill; the intense darkness;
the fire. lighting everything weirdly:
and The nearing crash and below of
the storm.
This will cool off the Run, won't
it," she asked almost eagerly.
Sure. We'll get out iE the morn
ing all right He was flying back and
forth between the slab pile and the
mill.
II hope we can" she echoed with a
suspicion of usefulness. But can't 1
help?"
"Oh. no; Two got enough. Better
come in now. Hear the ain come down
the valley there! Glorious, amt 1T? l
Just love a night gust like this"
The storm was indeed breaking upon
them in full force. The thunder, with
crash after crash, broke over their
very heads; then it beloved and
roared and tumbled from ridge to ridge.
The continuous volley with it's rip and
roar was deafening. The lightning. all
most blood red from the smoke. shook
Its fingers in their very faces. The
a came. not in drops but in sheets.
It roared on the mill roof as if hurled
from a steamer hose. 1t hurtled down
tho wind in watery wrath, dashing wild
floods as from buckets. There seemed
nothing in the whole landscape save
"olSi iSl O1lIIilS 5lCiuiS dIlu U SI-
ing noises. The fire by the brook
struggled ftfu!ly for a time and then
Missed out. The stream began to rise
by leaps and bounds until it was al
most by the door.
The mill roof had been we'll made:
1t leaked only here n there. and they
kept dry. Jim had a roaring fire in
the stove, which made the little room
really cozy and homelike. He chopped
at the slabs n fed them into the
flames, while she sat on a bench and
watched him. His confidence and
CHEEKY good fellowship We're contag-
ious. What a glorious, self reliant fell
low he was! The thunder and light
ming were nothing to be nervous about;
he laughed at them. And, somehow.
despite the wildness and the crash
without, she did not feel frightened
or even i'll at ease.
At length the storm began to sub
side. The thunder rolled off into
the east; the lightning came in
sheets rather than in binding bolts;
the rain began to siacken. In an hour
1t was all over.
denly.
Il had just got to sleep when it be-
a to thunder"
We'll. it's all over now. You must
get some more sleep; it's a long time
before morning. Say. Tn going inside
ShS iiil lileEe. II you want alyCllnS,
pound on the boards. food night"
Before she could answer he was gone.
She lay down again in the bunk. drew
up the lap robe and the next thing
she was conscious of was the sound
OF voices outside. 1t was broad day
light.
$50, you're az the bottom of this.
heigh? Where is Rose?" 1t was her
fathers voice, angry and threatening.
Shes in the MILL Rose sprang out
instantly.
I'm all right. pap" she cried.
"This is a pretty trick" She could
Alb and I've been hunting these noun
tains all night long. and your mothers
almost wild, and you up here with hi
scamp"
Why, father he"
II don't want to hear a word about
it--not a word. If he's up here. then it's
on account Of you. l know that. He's
sneaked up here after YOU, and got
o in ahead of tina fire on purpose
to show Off. I hain't a doubt he set it
himself. I'm going to look into this
pret-t-t-ty close. young man. Now, you
start. Clear out Of here this minute.
a a my daughter home alone"
His anger almost choked him. Young
Jim shouldered his ak without a word
n turned to start.
Want MI. farthlnE. Here. father
Not another word. II
Father, I'm going to speak" There
was a flash in her eyes and a ring
In her voice that silenced the man.
"Mr. Farthing was here in the noun
tains to look after his wood lot. He
met me wholly by accident In the vail
ley down here. If he hadn't l think
I would nave beer burned; for !
wouldn't have left Pomp until it was
Zoo late. He knew the way into this
valley. and we came just in time. And
there was no way out last night. You
know that. You've got no right to
speak as you did"
Wen go home" he said gruffy
Come along with me-"
Not till thank Mr.. Farthing." She
went impulsively to where the young
ma was standing and took his hand
II ant to thank o for what you
have done, Mr.. Farthing. l owe you
everything
"Oh. it's nothing" he said with az
fected carelessness, but there was q
look on his face that even the squire
noticed.
Come along. Rose.' he said with ar
angry snap.
Good bye. Mr.. Farthing." She
turned and waved her hand at him
g%irlishly.
Goodbye" he echoed. then he
plunged over the ridge toward the Wild