The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-05-27
CHAPTER x-con,inued.

across the west CLEANED red and sim
lister through the smoke. The wind
plunged over he ridges in wild panic,
believing and shireking. 1T fell upon
the rickety old mill and wrenched IL
with violence till 1T groaned and ratified
and roared. The thunder grew louder
with every peal. the lightning flickered
and streamcd balefu!ly. Young Jim
seemed oblivious of 1T. He heaped the
wood eve and non upon his fire, and
continued his steady contemplation of
the flames. Then some subtle lnagne-
tism drew up his glance and there she
was In the doorway, looking him fun
in the eyes.
I'm not just sure that the mills
safe i'm 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 iii her voice.
ooh, it's stood worse blows than this.
In the winter, when the leaves are off.
the winds sweep down these valleys
fearfuily."
1T II put out our fire, Won't it?'
Shouldn't wonder; but we can nave
ono inside. Let it go. Believe I'll get
in some slabs while have a chance"
He fell to the work with energy.
Aren't o afraid of t~hunder?" 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 trans 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 in 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 l
help?"
"Oh. no: I've got enough. Better
come in now. Hear the rain come down
the valley there! Glorious. amt 1t? /
Just love a night gust like this"
The storm vas indeed breaking upon
them in full force. The thunder. With
very heads; then 1T 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
rain came, not in drops but in sheets.
1t roared on the mill roof as If hurled
from a steamer hose. 1t hurtled down
the wind in watery wrath, dashing wild
floods as from buckets. There seemed
nothing in the whole landscape W.
water and binding CLEANS and crash
ing noises. The fire by the brook
struggled ftfully for a time and then
Missed out. The stream began to rise
by leaps and bounds until 1t was al
most by the door.
The mill roof had been well 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 coy and homelike. He chopped
at the slabs and 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 wildncss and the crash
without. she did not feel frightened
or yer 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 slacken. In an hour
1t was all over.
denly.
81 had just got to sleep when it be-
a to thunder"
Well, it's all over now. You must
get some more sleep; It's a long time
before morning. Say. I'm going inside
the mill there. If you want anything.
pound on the boards Good 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 vas the sound
Of voices outside. 1t was broad day
light.
so. you're a. the bottom of this.
hetgh? Where is Rose?" 1t was her
fathers voice, mgr and threatening.
She's in the mill" Rose sprang out
Instantly.
I'm all right, pap" she cried.
This is a pretty trick She could
see at a glance that he was angry,
through and through. Here Amos and
Alb and I've been hunting these noun
tatns all night long. and your mothers
almost wild. and you up here with thai
ann
why, father he"
II don't van to hear a word about
it-not a word. If he's up here. then it's
sneaked up here after you, and got
you in ahead OF that fire on purpos
to show off. I hain't a doubt he set il
himself. I'm going to look into this
pret-t-t-ty Close, young man. Now, yol
start. Clear out of here this minute
! can take my daughter home alone.
His anger almost choked him. YOUNG
Jim shouldered his ak without a wore
and turned to start.
Wa Mr.. Farthing. Here. father
Not another word. Il"
Father. I'm going to speak" Their,
was a fash in her eyes and a rims
In her voice that silenced the man
mir. I'arthing was here in the noun.
tains to look after his wood lot. H,
met me wholly by accident In the val
ley down here. If he hadn't l hin
I would nave been burned: for
wouldn't have left Pomp until 1T wa
Zoo late. He knew the way into thi
valley, and We came just in time. An
there was no way out last night. Yo,
know that. You've got no right t
speak as you did"
wen go home" he SAT- grufhy
sCome along with me-"
Not till I thank Mr.. Farthing." Sh
went inlpulsively to where the youn
man was standing and took his hand
II want to thank you for what yo,
have done. Mr.. Farthing. 1 owe yo'
everything"
"Oh. it's nothing" he said with af
fected carelessness. but there was
look on his face that even the SPUR
noticed.
Come along. Rose he aid with a
angry snap.
Good bye. Mr.. Farthing." sh
turned and waved her hand at hir
girlishly.
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