The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-03-24

behind a swiftly Jogging horse, was
Arthur Brant. He was headed for the
county seat, 22 miles away.
She had nourished a secret hope
that Peter Snyder He'd that Brant
would not seize their land. But Peter
whom she dlstrusted despite his plaus
ible tongue had told the truth. Brant
cared more for their land than for
their-for her.-regard. Her lips trem
bled pitlfully as she turned from the
window.
The storm came apace. There was a
wind that few with the speed Of a bull
let II tore the snow into needlo.like
atoms and hurled the singing parti-
cles reslstlessly before It. Great drifts
formed. The little window disappeared
behind a thick film of frost. Outside
It was impossible to see a length
ahead. A genuine Dakota blizzard
was hammering the great northwest.
A score Of times during the day an
unconfessed anxiety drew the girl to
the window. There, melting a hole
in the frost with her breath, she peered
into the storm. II was a bad day even
for an enemy 70 be out She found
herself late in the afternoon praying
that Brant would stay in Carlin till the
storm abatOd. He had a hired man to
do the chores being unmarried, they
kept bach halr together He did
not need to hurry back. And yet
Another ,ruitloss look at the blank
white wall Of flying snow.
At eight o'clock there came a muf.
fed knock. Hilda hurried to the door
and threw it open, to recoil In amaze
ment, for the mild. patient head of a
horse projected into the cabin. Il
was Brant's horse.
With an exclamation she waded
through the SNOW to the cutter There
was e huddled, fur-clad heap in the
bottom of the vehicle.
AS her cry brought the others out
barehead0d into the storm, a shape
detached itself from the rushing white
gloom-Frank Oleson, Brants hired
man. The Swede had been searching,
afoot, for his master.
He bane freezing!" he cried, and
fell upon Brant like a bear, cutting,
shaking and worrying him back from
the verge of the dreaded sleep whics
has no waking.
Brant reused reluctantly and lookeu
about him, at the faithful Oleson, az
the Pentons, scarcely less concerned,
at the cabin beyond, warm and light
and coy. His face changed as at an
unpleasant memory.
Take me home, Frank" he said,
in tone that brooked no disobe
dience.
And for the second time within a
week Hilda Penton cried herself ia
sleep. The last vestige of hope waI
gone. He had bid in their land.
That is why he would not trespass on
their hospitality.
1t was three days before little jim
could go to the postoflce, two miles
away. He came back with a letter.
an official looking article from the
county seat, and a budget Of news
that kept him jumping up and down
in excitement.
The envelope was addressed to her
father, but Hilda tore It open, caught
the sense at a glance, and dropped
weakly into a chair.
"Mother-father!" she gasped; ITS
all right. We won't lose our farm.
Mr.. Brant has loaned us the money"
Mr.. and Mrs. Penton, grazing heads
bent together, laboriously gathered
that James Penton, by his agent, Ar.
thur Brant, had paid the sum
of S142.79, being the full amount. due
for back taxes and penalties on the
southeast one-quarter Of section.
Oh, 1t was all there, to the last letter
and figure Of the description!
Meanwhile, little Jim, by the ex-
pedient of whooping at regular in.
at last attracted the familys
attention.
Listen to me, listen to mel" he
yelled. "Lemme tell you about the
fight over to Carlin Tuesday, Bill
Samuelson, he saw it,"
"Hey?" said his father, raising his
eyes at last from the magic paper.
"A fght-who?"
Arthur Brand and Peter Snyder"
3hattered little Jim. THAT mean old
Pete was there to get our land, and
he had a check all made out. But
Mr.. Brant came in and said he was
your agent, pa, an had the money
'eady. An Pete called him liar,
md Mr.. Brant told him he was a
ax-title shark, SO Pete struck at
lin.
And then they fought and knocked
,ver chairs, an the clerk climbed up
INTO the desk, and Mr.. Brant blacked
1etes eyes and bloodied his nose
An
Little Jim stopped, the breath
queezed out of his body. For his sis
err. her eyes shining like twin stars,
vas hugging him to her breast and
aughing and crying at the same
ime.
"Jim," she said, you go and tell
arthur to come over here. I-we-we
want to thank him, and beg his par
on"
"'Tain't ne'ssary," replied Jim.
griggling free. Il asked him myself.
IN he said he'd come"
His View.
Teacher Willie, what is heavenly
.ndu2