Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-06-21
The Argus Daily Short Story
A Fire in the Woods.-By Clarissa Mackie.
Copyrighted. by Associated Literary PresA

win be ruined. Let US hurry, Ralph.
In spite of your joking L am sure you
are going to help in a time of need like
this"
without further parley Ralph helped
Beth over the fence and into wood
land path, through which they hurried
at a greater speed than the young man
fancied. Given this time and oppor-
tunity, he felt that the April woods
were an ideal spot in which TO ask
Beth the momenttssis question that had
been lowering on his lips for weeks.
He was quite sure of her answer, for
she had shown her preference for him
during the past winter. and his clever
ness and wit had quite thrown Ben
Wyatt into the shade-raw, country
pumpkin that Ben was!
Ralph's lips curled in a little smile
of contempt as he thought of the rival
who had quietly withdrawn from the
contest tor Beth Miles favor when the
rivalry became the subject of open
comment.
The smoke grew thicker. and the air
was filed with flying cinders that fell
in crisp fakes on their heads. In the
of men. the cracking of burning trees
and underbrush and the barking of
dogs.
Where the three roads crossed was
to be the battle-ground. II the fire
crossed Deep Hollow road the little
gathering of negro cabins was doomed.
The fire was coming toward them now.
and they could see the forms of men
through the smoke. Strange. fantastic
forms they were. frantically beating
back the encroaching flames or shovel
ing Ioosened soil on the creeping fire
that ate along the ground.
The group of cabins was untouched.
but in grave danger. The unfortunate
occupants were removing their poor
bits of furniture. and two ramshackle
carts were being filed with the goods.
Old Uncle Peter Green occupied
chair of state in one cart. A lettering
chair it seemed owing to the uneasy
antics of the frightened mule in the
shafts. Weeping and praying and la
menting. they moved dolorously down
the road along which Beth had just
come.
Go down to the farm. Judy" she
said TO the dominant spirit of the
group. "Rebecca will take care Of you
till the danger is over"
Out of the thick of smoke a man
turned and recognized her; saw her
standing there in her pink cotton dress
dazed by the smoke. Beside her was
Ralph Clinton leaning on an idle SHOW
ell. whistlinc softly as he watched the
battle with the approaching flames.
Ben Wyatt Ieaped into the road and
confronted them. Clad in blue flannel
shirt and corduroy trousers. hatless.
his sun Drowned face and arms black
with SCOT and CRIME. he presented a
sorry contrast to Ralph Clinton. But
somehow Beth's glance caught his
steady gaze and fingered there for a
brief instant. and she saw nothing to
Gespise in Ben Wyatt, homely farmer
that he outwardly was
Get back there. Clintonr' command
ed Ben angrily. Take Beth away
from here Can't you see it's no place
for woman?"
mind your own business. Wyatt"
retorted Ralph. Get to work there on
your,fools jobr'
There was no time for further argu-
i LG LIGAi. W uO StL uliSs Jul
In a wide semicircle. were drawing
closer together. They had started a
back fire. and there was danger when
the two fires met that the sudden leap
of flames might ignite the vegetation
on the bluff. If it did the woods were |
doomed. But the farmers fought |
valiantly. and little by little the flames |
were beaten back from the crossroads |
until they smoldered down and left |
charred and blackened desolation
wherever their blasting fingers had |
touched
Tired and exhausted. the fire fighters |
lay painting in the sand of the roads
1t was Beth who sent a lurking pick
aninny to call the fugitives home to
the cabins. and it was she who found
a pail and dipper in Judy Browns
kitchen and went TO the bubbling
spring for water to refresh the tired
men. Before it came Ben Wyatt's
turn to drink from the Upper she slip
ped away down the road toward home
AS she passed him Ralph Clinton arose
and followed her.
See here. Beth" he said disagree
ably. I'D like 10 know what I've done
to deserve such treatment at yaur
hands"