Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1910-02-10

before a sudden glare Of lightning.
But he was now too desperate in his
fear to be checked. No one else was
astir, and he tore open side door.
leaped to the entrance Of the cave.
crept through the narrow opening and
sank down, his face buried in his
folded arms.
He was safe ut last, and great JOY
of salvation welled in his heart. For
time he slept, waking with mind
cleared and body refreshed. He lis
tened intently. but no sound reached
him. He crawled from his refuge. but
the thought of returning to the room
where he had suffered such mental
tortures was hateful to him. He cross
ed the yard, climbed the fence and
started toward the outskirts of the
town. The air was of hue strange
to him, sullenly luminous. and he
had gone not more than a quarter of
a mile when he saw to the south, di-
rectly opposite from where the storm
had come, a menacing bank of restless
clouds. They were ablaze with ragged
fire. The boom Of thunder rose afresh.
Yes; there could be no further ques-
tion-a second tempest was approach
ing. Already the sickness Of terror
was upon him, the nausea of coward
ice, and he again faced toward his
refuge. the cave! But something in
the sky held him fascinated. some
thing shaped like titanic top, hung
from the heavens and spun by demon
hands. Then it stopped moving, grow
ing larger and larger.
What had the landlord said that
afternoon? When it stops "bouncin' B"
it's close!
He turned and fed for his life. but
even as he ran new thought came to
him. 1t was not yet morning. None
in the sleeping town knew of the doom
racing toward their homes. He had
pitiful vision Of shattered houses. lit
tered with mutilated bodies. women
and children caught from their SUM-
bers in the crunching' nav Of the
cyclone.
He forgot himself and-fear. He
had passed the cyclone cellar and was
rushing through the hall Of the hotel.
"Cyclone! Cyclone! To the cave for
your lives!"
The house sprang into instant life.
but before the first startled guest
reached the main floor Andrews was
again in the street. He carried the
dinner gong. which he had seized in
an inspiration born Of anxiety. Be-
tween each shout Of warning he drum
med mad. quivering alarms on the
eloquent brass.
He made the round Of three sides Of
the square when of a sudden mighty
roaring was all about him. He paus-
ed. bewildered, and Il crashing thun-
derbolt seemed to strike his temple: a
burning splendor blinded his eyes.
Then an invisible power struck full
against him. seized him and wrapped
him in it's crushing embrace. bore him
aloft. tossed him here and there and
finally into blackness that swallow
ed him completely.
Three days later lie woke to see an
angel bending over him. No; 1t was
flesh and blood. after all. 1t was she.
He blinked at her uncertainty.
You are a hero" She spoke softly.
with shining eyes.
Then he remembered.
"Were many saved!"
AL" she answered proudly. "Those
you saved reused the Others and only
a few. who sought refuge in cellars
instead of caves. were hurt by falling
timbers. But you suffered most. Oh.
it was noble"'
Andrews spoke with sudden vigor
mo: l am coward. The storms
frightened me shamefully. You can
not understand how l quivered and
trembled like a child. l am not worthy
of you. l had already hidden in the
cave that night. came out only when
l thought all danger was over The
rest was-an accident"
He stopped, exhausted, and she bent
close to him.
Don't talk that way, dearest. You
are not coward. but conqueror of
fear, and you will be my hero always"