The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-08

~ ACK Burden and Fred Towns had
 arranged at school to make their S Christmas plans jointly, and Jack "A ? was to go to Fred's home-an adjoining farm a mile distant-thai evening to talk things over. It was what Jacks father called a heavy night, thick sleet blowing and cover ing the ground with carpet of slip psry ice. But "heavy nights held nc fear for Jack. He loved all sorts of weather, and never missed having a social time with some of his young neighbors on account of anything sc commonplace as a bit of bad weather So after supper he got into his big warm overcoat and muffler and set oul towards the Towns farm.
 He had to climb a steep hill which dipped into a gully on the other side ard from the gully mounted to long stretch of level land covered with tim Der. But a good road ran all the Way and Jack knew every foot of the ground for ten miles around.
 Be careful of your footing, son. Mir. Burden had admonished Jack as he left home. Its as slippery out lODiBnl dS dii eel anu lht ltdSL HIS step might cause you a bad sprain or even broken leg. So be cautious. my boy"
 All right. Dad, thank you" Jack had replied. But you know, Dad, ' he added. Pm as sure-footed as a rabbit. I'm at home on the ice" And then he had set off down the path to the road. his father holding lamp In the door to guide him.
 After gaining the main road, Jack went along sprightly for some time, whistling merrily. He had never seen the weather quite so bad before dur ing the first part of December II was threatening a regular blizzard. and if the sleet continued, the roads would soon be impossible except for pedestrians.
 "Pshaw!" calculated Jack, as a fierce gust of wind brought an extra amount of sharp sleet in his face, cut ting it like glass particles. Its per fectly mean this weather had to come on, just at this time of year. Fred and 1 are anxious to arrange a sur prise party for Jessie Cline. And we wanted it for this week. Gee! And wanted to take Jessie out for a drive in my new cutter She doesn't know I've got it yet I wanted to surprise her"
 So on he went. talking mentally, when of a sudden he found himself laboriously climbing the slippery hill It was worse than walking on highly polished glass, Jack imagined. He made several slips, going back a dozen steps CT more. But soon he managed to reach the top of the hill. Then the descent began, and it was worse than the climb. Jack threw his weight on his toes, which seemed determined 10 run from under him like skates.
 "Well, Daddy was right about this kind of a night" he murmured. But I'll make it-"
 He did not finish the sentence, for his feet went from under him and he rolled, in the most twisted-up fashion one could imagine, to the bottom of the gully. Nor did he find a soft bed there. He dropped forcibly into a nest of rough rocks which had been thrown thefe to prevent the side of the public road from washing away into the gully.
 After scrambling to his feet Tack felt of his limbs to see if they were yet in place, and finding himself in- tact, he began to climb out of the ravine. But he kept slipping back so constantly that progress seemed i'm possible. He would manage to get some steps up, when To. back he would go much more rapidly than he had ascended.
 At last Jack sat down and began 10 wonder how he would get out of his ice- walled prison. The wind was be- cnming fercer and the sleet thicker.