The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-09-24

to his lese-majestie, pointing at a
black cloud rolling over the top OF the
range It'll be a cloudburst sure.
Well have to git out O. here an in
hurry too. Oh, Mrs. Maitland"
By this time Kirkby was on his
feet, the storm had stolen upon him
sleeping and unaware. The conf1gura-
ton Of the canon had completely hid
its approach. At best the three In
the camp could not have discovered 1t
until It was high in the heavens Now
the clouds were already approaching
the MONDAY sun. Kirkby was alive to
the situation at once. He had the rare
ability of men of action Of awakening
with all his faculties at instant COM
mand. He did not have to rub his
eyes and wonder where he was, and
speculate as to what was to be done.
The moment that his eyes, following
Pete's outstretched arm, discovered
the black mass Of clouds he ran to-
ward Mrs. Maitland and standing on
no ceremony he shook her vigorously
by the shoulder.
We'll have to run for our lives,
ma'am," he said brieny. pete, drive
the stock up on the hills, fur as you
kin, the bosses pertikler, they'll be
more to us an them burros must take
keer Of themselves"
Pete needed no urging. He was of
like shot in the direction of the i'm
provised corral He loosed the horses
from their pickets and started them
up the steep trail that led down from
the hogback to the camp by the wa.
ter's edge. He also tried to start the
burros he had just rounded up In the
same direction. Some Of them would
60 and some Of them would not. He
had his hands full in an instant.
Meanwhile Kirkby did not llnger BY
the side Of Mrs. Maitland. With in
credible agility for so old a man he
ran over to the tent where the stores
were kept and began picking out such
articles OF provision as he could
easiest carry.
Come over here, Mrs. Maitland"
he cried. We'll have to carry up on
the hill somethin' to keep US from
starvin' till we get back to town. We
hadn't orter camped in this yere
pocket noways, but who'd ever expect
ed anything like this now?'
What do you fear?" asked the
woman, joining him as she spoke and
waiting for his directions
Looks to me like a cloudburst."
was the answer Greeks pretty full
now, an If she does break everything
below yere II 60 to hell on run"
It was evidence Of his perturbation
and anxiety that he used such Ian
guage, which, however, In the emer
gency did not seem unwarranted even
to the refined ear OF Mrs. Maitland.
rs it possible?" she exclaimed.
faint only possible, It's sartin.
Now, ma am" he hastily bundled up Q
lot Of miscellaneous provisions in
small piece Of canvass, tied 1t up and
handed it to her "Thatll be for you"
Immediately after he made up a much
larger bundle In another tent fly,
adding, "An' this ia mine"
"Oh, let us hurry" cried Mrs. Matt
land, as peal Of thunder. low, NUT
tered, menacing, burst forth from the
flying clouds, now obscuring the sun.
and rolled over the camp
We've got time enough yit," an
swered Kirkhy, coolly calculating
their chances Best git yer slicker
on, you'll need it in few minutes"
Mrs. Maitland ran to her own tent
and soon came out with sou'wester
and yellow oilskins completely cover
Ing her. Kirkby meantime had don.
ned his own old battered, soiled rain
clothes and had grabbed up Pete's.
ri brought the children's coats
along said Mrs. Maitland, extending
three others.
Good said Kirkby Nov Wen
take our packs an"
do you think there is any danger
to Roberto
He'll gii nothin worse n a wet.
tin" returned the old man confident
~. IT we'd pitched the tents up on
the hog back, that's all we'd been in
for"
IT have to leave the tents and all
the things said Mrs. Maitland.
you can stay with them,' answered
Kirkby, dryly, but If what l think g
goin' to happen comes of, you won't
have no need of nothin' no more
Great God, here she comes"
AS he spoke there was a sudden,
swift downpour of rain. not in drops.
Sut in torrent. Catching up his own
pack and motioning the woman to do
likewise with her load, Kirkby caught
her by the hand, and half led, half
dragged her up the steep trail from
the brook to the ridge which bordered
the side Of the canon. The canon was
much wider here than further up and
there was much more room and much
more space for the water to spread.
Yet they had to hurry for their lives
as 1t was. They had gone up scarcely
Z hundred feet when the disgorge-
ment Of the heavens took place. The
water fell with such force, directness
and continuousness that 1t almost
beat them down. Il ran over the trail