Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1910-08-19
The Way Out

az no rcspOnae. Rising on one elbow
ie woman in the bed shifted the at
i,ospheie affrightedly. A tiny wreath
rf smoke curled through the doorway
ana drifted visibly through the win
dow screen.
Dropping back on her pillows she
covered misorably beneath the bed
olo,hes. wringing her hands impo-
tently. Nancy Oh. Nancy" she
shrieked In long drawn cadence. "the
houses afire an I shall be burnt up
sure in my bed. why don't you
tome?"
But no Nancy came Nothing but
cheerful sounds from the summer un-
def~orld answered her frantic ap-
peels and for moment she lay
tc-ae e. listening. Then. when another
blue spiral, and yet another. wavered
sracefaily before the doorway. and
frc somewhere ne.r the kitchen
ste e a cracking sound became audi
BIZ. she raised herself again still
ls eniug
OF know, she began, quavering
". sAas aoin't col. step for nigh
Hvo years. and vet" her voice rose
ans lily. yet you 90 out an leave me
an let the house ketch efre while
you're gone Nancy. Nancy = say''
Her voice died in a prolonged walt
but as before only echo replied. Fear
fully she noted that the open door
way was half obscured by smoke. She
could not die here. alone, roasted
alive In her bed. No, and she would
not. A little OF the determination
that had shone In her eyes before the
shock came that had made her n help
less burden to Nancy lighted her
eyes. she drew one loot UP carefully
and pushed It out between the bed
cloths. The other followed. and with
the unaccustomed sensation Of the
bare floor against the soles Of her
feet came renewed courage.
Holding by the easements she
edged cautiously to the kitchen door.
Some clean clothes left to air had
toppled over on to the red hot stove
md a miniature conaagration started.
Her eyes smarted from the smo',e,
little darting tongues of dame terrified
her into forgetfulness OF her sfflic,ion
remembrance Only OF the dire noces-
sity for immediate escape. Save for
those cracking fan es the house was
deadly still Unsteadily she CROPPED
her way through the sitting black
ness that filed the kitchen. and at
last felt the COOKING breezes from the
outer door fan her cheeks. She lean
ed against the easement moment
dizzily. Then, carriage came into
view around an adjacent turn of the
road.
"Hi. herel" she waved her hands
wildly. stop. can't ye? Firel Fire!"
The carrying quality of her voice
proved eficacious for the man pulled
the reins taut and sprang to the
ground.
wal. l swami" He paused an in
slant before the open doorway the
excited woman swaying to the case
ment. III 1t amt Miss Haynes." He
gssped with amazement How on
earth did you git here? An" he
glanced sheepishly around. "Whar's
Nancyf"
Il don't know. called an called
an she didn't come" She grasped him
by the sleeve. pushing him to the IN
terror of the kitchen. See there,
she urgd him excltedly. put It out,
can't your
Course" he returned stoicslly and
went to work A few minutes tussle
with the chain pur p and couple OF
buckets metamorpbOsed the clean
kitchen into a dampened, blackened
abode, and when that was accomplish
Cd he turned again to the woman who
was leaning weakly against the door.
Now" be demanded. ourtly. -whar's
NAncyf"
II dunno" the reply came wonder
ingly. "shs was ironin' an / guess"
hesitatingly. Il must have been asleep.
an when woke up she was gone"
Suddenly terror dawned in her eyes.
"You'd better go an look for her.
Ezra" she said. tremulonsly "meb.
be she went into the barn log eggs IN
p'raps she's tainted. She hasn't telt
real well lately"
mo wonder" He disappeared
around the corner OF the house. pres
emily reappearing with very limp
and pale but happy looking Nancy
"Yes, she did" he said briefly in re-
ply to an inquiring glance. '"She was
out there on the door. clean gone.
An now" He steadied Nancy with
one strong arm while he talked face
70 face with her mother in the door
way. For these many years. Miss
Haynes. you've laid there In the bed
an Nancy's done all the work for
this house. You thought you couldn't
git up. No, ! ann blamin' you" In
reply to a quick gesture. bat Nancy.
she wouldn't marry me because you
needed her. You Won't be needin' her
much longer-soon you git little
stronger. an then" he paused i'm
pressiyely, Nancy an mes goin' to
Gft married, SOS she can rest lit
tie"
Nancy looked up ~ her mother ap-
pealingly. Hes wanted me so long.
Ma" she pleaded. "sn' wanted to
please you both. But" she sighed a
little. there didn't seem to be no way
out Of IT,"
The woman IN the doorway looked
down at the pair on the doOrstone
and sudden realization OF all her self
deception had cost them came 70 her.
Il guess" abe said slowly. the hre's
made a way. an" after a moment's
deliberation. "you might as well take
it."-MISs = T. PRATT.