The Harrison times., 1911-04-08

that Peter Snyder lied; that Brant
would not seize their land. But Peter,
whom she distrusted 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 pitifully as she turned from the
window.
The storm came apace, There was a
wind that flew with the speed Of bull
let. 1t tore the snow into needle-like
atoms and hurled the singing parti'
cles resistlessly before it. Great drifts
formed. The little window disappeared
behind thick film of frost. Outside
1t was impossible to see 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. 1t was bad day even
for an enemy to be out. She found
herself late In the afternoon praying
that Brant would stay in Carlin till the
storm abated. He had hired man TO
do the chores being unmarried, thCy
kept bach hall" together. He did
not need to hurry back, And yet
Another fruitless look at the blank
white wall of flying snow.
At eight o'clock there came muf
fed knock Hilda hurried to the door
and threw 1t open, to recoil In amaze
ment, for the mild, patient head of a
horse projected into the cabin. 1t
was Brants horse.
With an exclamation she waded
through the snow to the cutter. There
was huddled, fur-clad heap in the
bottom Of the vehicle
AS her cry brought the others out
bareheaded into the storm, a shape
detached itself from the rushing white
gloom-Frank Oleson, Brant's 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 which
has no waking.
Brant reused reluctantly and looked
about him, at the faithful Oleson, at
the Pentons, scarcely less concerned,
at the cabin beyond, warm and light
and cozy. His face changed as at an
unpleasant memory.
Take me home, Frank" he said,
in tone that brooked no disobe,
dience. ...-- .r.s.s,4
And for the second time within a
week Hilda Penton cried herself to
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 postofilce, two miles
away. He came back with 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 1t open, caught
the sense at glance, and dropped
weakly into a chair.
'Mother--father!" she gasped; "lt's
all right We won't lose our farm.
Mr. Brant has loaned us the money"
Mr.. and Mrs. Penton, graying heads
bent together, laboriously gathered
that James Penton, by his agent, Ar.
thur Brant, had paid the sum
Of $14279, 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.
tervals, at last attracted the familys
attention.
Listen to me, listen to me!" 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 fight-who?'
Arthur Brand and Peter Snyder,
chattered 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
ready. An Pete called him liar
and Mr.. Brant told him he was q
tax.title shark, so Pete struck at
him.
"And then they fought and knocked
over chairs, an the clerk climbed w
onto the desk, and Mr.. Brant blacked
Petes eyes and bloodied his nose
An
Little Jim stopped, the breath
squeezed out Of his body For his sis.
ter her eyes shining like twin stars,
was hugging him to her breast and
laughing and crying at the same
time.
"Jm," she said, you go and tell
Arthur to come over here. We've
want to thank him. and beg his par
don"
NFgaf H.