El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-11-15

i L.
- far ahead. He started the
engine and leapt into the car.
"Only a mile to sheIterl" he ex-
/ claimed; II think we can do 1t. Where
are the storm aprons7'
eve forgot them" she said
7 forgot them, you mean Ho4a
fast; it's q rough ROAD!
The red car leapt forward.
Never had he witnessed any thing IKE
the vividness of that lightning. Win
a crash which sounded as II the goqs
had shattered the vaults OF 80
heavens, g bolt streamed INTO a uoe
not a hundred yards aneau' "A AuSS
iiT7b was torn off and fell across the
roadway. 1t was impossible TO stop!
aDucS. and hold fast to meF ne
yelled, and with lurch ana leap
lilS ~. % nee ace was frfghtful They were
going down hill with Iuu speed on
me trees swayed with the first gust
of the tempest, ana ne 4elL SPIT u
I'll The crash Of the thunder, the roar
of the wind through the tree tops, the
drumming Of the exhaust, anu me
cIatter Of the swaying car beat on
their ears, but he did not touch the
lever to abate the speed OF phelr
flight
stone culvert spanning the bed OF
creek whose waters, years before, had
been diverted to a reservoir mile or
so 10 the west. Save at rare intervals
the bed Of this creek was dry Here
was a place Of shelter.
A quarter Of a mile ahead was q
gray wall OF rain. and dimly through
it he saw huge trees mount IN the
air and twist and gyrate ike leaVes
caught up in an air eddy.
It was q race for the culvert with
the odds in favor Of the tornado. Smith
held his speed until the last second
and then damned on the brakes as
they rushed down the rocky road
leading 20 the old ford. He stopped
almost on the edge OF the dry bed Of
the creek, with the embankment to
their left.
Miss Harding Ieapt to the ground
and stood dazed for an instant. Smith
stumbled as he jumped, but was on his
feet like a flash. The arch Of the
cUlvert was only a few away, but had
they not been protected BY the en-
bankment they would have been beaten
down and killed ere they reached its
Gravel and pebbles from the road
way above were dashed into their
faces BY the advance blast OF the tor
nado. Grasping her by the arm he
dragged or carried her, he knew not
which, to the yawning but welcome
opening Of the old stone archway so
fortunately near
They were tossed back and forth IN
this tunnel, resistless suction pulling
them first towards one entrance and
then towards the other. only to be
hurled back BY buffeting blows.
A tree was dashed across the west
opening, one twisted limb projecting
well into the culvert. They could not
distinguish the crashes Of thunder from
sthose Of the hurting trees, or from
the demoniac roar Of the tornado.
They cannot say how long this lasted
but there came a moment Of appalling
silence. The tornado had passed! With
this strange calm the darkness lifted
slightly and they knew that the crisis
was over.
mel the rapidly rising water swirling
at their feet. He became aware that
he was supporting her with his arm
and that her head was resting on his
shoulder. Though the tornado had
passed, the storm still ragged fierceIy,
but its din seemed silence compared
with what had preceded it
"Are-are you hurt?" she faltered
gently trying to release herself Are
we going to be drowned"
7 don't know don't think So"
he faltered, bracing himself against
the rising waters and clasping her
closer, as if in fear the flood and
tempest would drag her from him.
1T would be just my luck, for I want
to tell you something. l."
A crash Of thunder reverberated
through the walls Of their prison.
! want to tell you that I love
you" he declared ere its echoes had
died away. 7 love you, 1 love you,
and unless I tell you now may never
get another chance. have been try
ing to tell you this for more than
a month, and If we never get out Of
here I want you to know that I love
you! DO you love me, dariing?"
II don't know think do"
she replied hesitatingly, a slight sus-
piciOn Of laughter in her voice But
Jack, the water is awful1y deep and
wet. Is there any danger?"
Not the leastl" He declared Joy
fully. do you think I would let you
die in this Odd culvert? I am the
happiest man in the world It is
growing lighter. Here's a ledge on
which you can stand"
a few yards away was a narrow
OF the creek, and he helped her to
obtain a footing on II, although at
one tine she slipped beneath the
waters and was all but carried away
by its force.
We can stand another foot and a
half rise" he said Are you all right
up there darling2'
Even as he spoke the water rose