Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1913-09-19

where are the other horses. Jour
own little Bessy" he demanded
sharply.
"GOne-stolen," she murmured hope
lessly. aud he wore harshly.
Hester went into the kitchen to pre-
pare the evening meal. Now and then
SHE paused before the open door to
look %searchingly into the dusk that
was creeping fast over the land. The
smoke was growing thicker. and she
noticed with a start Of terror that the
sky was obscured.
Something brushed Hester's face.
She caught Il IN her hand and fonnd Il
vas a charred cfnder.
She darted into the house and light
Cd a lamp.
The fire has come, father" she said
calmly. II win get the wagon ready
and back It 10 the door. / think / can
transfer you from the couch to the
wagon"
~Vsry we'll, dear. Wheel me to the
door and give me two canes. Have
you got your mothers ~picture7"
Safe, father, and all your papers
and plans and books and clothes. Per-
haps the house will be spared after all.
These adobe walls ought not to burn"
"Ah" he cried sharply and pointed
away to the southwest where a long,
lurd line was creeping across the
width OF the prairie. Henderson's
place was 10 the east Of t. Perhaps
his men would start q back FIRE and
head Il OF.
Back IRE, Hester" he ordered, and
the girl few b a place beyond the cor
raj where earlier In the day Dick Hen
derson had plowed q wide edrrOw oe
fresh earth around the homestead
She touched a match to the tinder
dry grass on the far side OF the fur
row. 1t blazed up and ran in licking
leaps up and down the edge Of the
fresh earth; then II reached out red
tongues Of fame, and a broad blanket
Of fire went out to meet that other red
IRE from the southwest
Back she went to the house and tried
70 LIT her father to the wagon. Once
twice. she exerted all her strength, but
he was a heavy man, and now bis
weight was inert. leave me hero
AAA h0s G0AAe no ueAkc4-
'Neverr' she said ecOrnfuily. pausing
fog breath
In that instant a bunch Of cattle nan
snort1ng past the house and startled
the restless Bsn1y to action. Without
warning he dashed away to safety.
dragging the loaded ago IN his
wake, leaving Hester and her father to
the fate OF the red wind behind.
Testers face went down into her
palma "Oh, fatherg' she cried pitt
fully. but his gaze was bent upon her
teDderly.
1T will come out all right dAugh-
ter" be said graveIy. Hang wet
sheets to the windows and doors
Close the doors and we win take our
chances here"
Nearer the two lines Of FIRE crept-
When they met there was a leaping
wall Of fame thirty feet high, and the
dreaded happened. A flying cinder
drifted across the furrOw and ignited
the dry grass OF the corral. There was
a lurid fare OF light, and the chickens
In the houses Bquawked noisily.
In a few moments the wooden doors
and window fmmes would be ablazei
and the contents Of the house would
follow. Hester was thankful that the.
nrtesian well had been piped to the
kitchen. She few to It and pumped
pail after pail Of water and had them,
} In readiness She hlled wash boilers
and tubs and gave her father a long
handled dippef 30 that he might help.
Then It was that there came q thun-
: der Of horses hoOfs outside and mems
voices shouting. Hester flung open the
door, and Dick Henderson staggered
In you are herer' he cried breath
: IesSIy. II hoped you had goneF'
Hester explained.
Get on DIpsie, Hester, and ride for
., Jour life. / will bring your father. and
Q the boys win fight the fire."
! without a word Hester obeyOd the
] young man. Dick Henderson had al
ways been a good neighbor, and he
! had not failed them In their greatest
q need.
9 Then Dick lifted Mr.. Moore in his
B strong arms and carried him out to
. where a mar offered a horse and help
r ed the two on its back. Then away
they went before the rcd wind that
d Indian Annie predicted.
Miles away In a little canyon Hester
found refuge beside the sagacious
+ Benjy. who had arrived there safely
o with his load Later. when Dick Hen
p dsrBon came with his unconscious bur
den. the two worked together 70 make
Il the injured man comfortable.
you have done % much for me-
J. SAID Hester gratefully when he told
T. her that that the fire had broken az
n Dixon's gang and that the stolen eatth
Ind been driven to q safe place. whii'
y the rustlers had escaped over the Dor
l. der.
" Because I love you. Hester" h
blurted out suddenly, and then, over
d come by his shyness, he hurried AVA
70 fho month Of tha canVou To View IN.