The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-05-20
P x.
THE MILL DOWN FoMAING
@ VALLEY

THE MILL DOWN FoMAING
VALLEY.
After q 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 q step be-
hind Jim, with only one impulse. He,
too, had but one impulse; he would
reach the rocks and save her, II he had
to e 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
AS his y fell upon the pool in the
brook he stopped short. If they could
stand in he water to their necks, there
might be a chance. He a heard Of
such escapes. Then something about
the ledge caught his y Z.
we can make 1t yet. / know where
we are" He turned sharply to the left,
his ak still flying like a steel maui.
w a make it-Pomp and all" he
shouted over his shoulder ~exultantly.
Come on!"
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
behind Jim, who was slashing and
stamping and 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; 1t was high time.
Swept on by the gale, the flames were
InQ MIN n lflra yyn1xfaa frnxn hr,~1 80 A..@H
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 turnpikel"
he shouted. 1T can't catch US now.
It'll run slow up this valley.
They were 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 tan
gle, bound in the oad on either side.
The ties had begun to decay; the iron
rails were thick with rust: and there
were places where floods had quilted
49, So ~ Ooo1S Ea - AIS LlfO
became less and less dense until II was
possible to see several rods in advance.
The wind was blowing toward the fire
and sweeping 1t 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 " with the dinkey ROAD
raised OF trestle work at one side.
They passed through with difficulty.
Were all right now" he announced
cheertly. "The fire might osck up as
far as n Narrows here, but it can't
Jump through"
Yes, but we're in a trap" She was
looking about her critically.
Il don't think there Is any outlet to
this valley" he said slowly. I'VE could
get owe the right there, but Pomp
couldn't. I know where we are now,
We were 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 / saw It,"
THAT was a close call. Mr.. Farthine
Ian awfully close call" She was
looking down at him with solemn eyes
Il don't think we had over a minutes
margin"
ut did look close there one time
didn't it?-at least for Pomp7'
Yes, and for us, too" She drew q
long breath. We'll, never mind; WI
got out" She was not a girl to dwell
on morbid things, It was not her way
to shudder n I've over and over the
past danger.
"But we are not out Of the woods
though. yet" she went on, looking ur
at the steep ridges on both sides. I've
heard of this valley; it's fathers: but
l don't know much about It. II we
could only get Pomp over that ridge,
know q path all right. 'Spose we could
get him oyer7"
mo; j don't. The only way I see i.
to leave him here a day or two anc
climb out ourselves"
"Harkl What's that?-the fire p
She turned her head and listened In
tently. h was still sitting on the
horse, which recovered from its fright
vas cropping the bushes contentediy.
That's thunder. Hear IT? I've beer
looking for a thunder gust all day anC
In afraid 1t II be a hard one. It's beer
80 hot"
Fathers got an old mill up here
mile or So" she spoke with sudden de
cision. Come, les try for 1t. Com,
n .
"All right"
Again they started UP the dinke,
road, he striding stoutly ahead. Their,
was something strong and masterfu
and self-reliant about this young mai
| that appealed to her. Unconsciousl,
she watched him-his broad shoulders
his firm set neck, his easy muscula
swing; Il ir alweys good to see a man
They reached the mill just as the firs
large drops began to patter on tn,
! leaves. IL was a ramshackle old struc
ture, q mere roof to shelter the engin,
and the saving apparatus. A grea
I tangie of cherry trees n brush hem
I locks nad sprung up about II, and
/, mingling with the rhododendron by TIL
, stream, concealed II until n was RICH