Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-08-20

/ "Gone-stolen, she murmured hope
4 iessly, and he swore harshly.
Hester went into the kitchen to pre-
pare the evening meal. Now and then
she paused before the open door 10
look searchlngly 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,
khe caught 1t In her hand and found it
was charred cinder.
She darted into the house and light
ed lamp.
The fire has come. father" she said
calmly. Il will get the wagon ready
and back 1t to the door. think | can
transfer you from the couch to the
wagon"
Very WELL. dear. Wheel me to the
| door and give me two canes. Have
you got your mothers pictureY'
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"
AIR he cried sharply and pointed
away to the southwest. where a long.
iurid line was creeping across the
width OF the prairie. Henderson's
place was to the east of it Perhaps
bis men would start a back fire and
head 1t of.
| Back fire. Hester" be ordered, and
the girl few to place beyond the cor
raj where earlier In the day Dick Hen
derson had plowed a wide furrow Of
fresh earth around the homestead.
| She touched match to the finder
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 It reached out red
tongues Of fame, and broad blanket
OF fire went out to meet that other red
fire from the southwest
Back she went to the house and tried
to lift her father to the wagon. Once,
twice, she exerted all her strength, but
he was a heavy man. and now his
weight was inert Leave me here
and go. dear" he begged.
Never she said scornfully. pausing
for breath
In that instant a bunch of cattle ran
snorting past the house and startled
the RESTLESS Benny to action. Without
warning he dashed away TO safety,
| dragging the loaded wagon In his
wake, leaving Hester and her father to
the fate OF the red wind behind.
Hester's face went down into her
palms "oh, fatherr' she cried pitt
fully. but his gaze was bent upon her
tenderly.
ut viii come out all right. daugh-
ter" he said gravely. Hang wet
sheets to the windows and doors.
( Close the doors and we will take our
chances here"
Nearer the two lines of FIRE crept
| When they met there was q 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
Il lurid Gare OF light. and the chickens
In the houses squawked noisily
| In few moments the wooden doors
/ and window frames would be ablaze
/ and the contents of the house would
I follow. Hester was thankful that the
artesian well had been piped to the
/ kitchen. She flew to Ii and pumped
! pail after pail of water and had them
! In readiness. She filed wash boilers
and tubs and gave her father long
handled dipper so that he might help
Then II was that there came n thun-
der OF horses hoofs outside and mems
! voices shouting. Hester flung open the
/ door. and Dick Henderson staggered
/ in You are here!" he cried breath
lessly. II hoped you had gone!"
| Hester explained.
! Get on Dipsie. Hester. and ride for
! your life. VIII bring your father. and
! the boys will fight the fire"
| without a word Hester obeyed the
/ young man. Dick Henderson had al
| ways been good neighbor. and he
| had not failed them In their greatest
| need
Then Dick lifted Mr. Moore in his
strong arms and carried him out to
where a man offered a horse and help
ed the two on its back. Then away
they went before the red wind that
! Indian Annie predicted.
Miles away in little canyon Hester
found refuge beside the sagacious
Benny. who had arrived there safely
with his load. Later. when Dick Hen
derson came with his unconscious bur
den, the two worked together to make
the injured man comfortable.
You have done so much for me-"
said Hester gratefully when he told
her that that the fire had broken up
Dixon's gang and that the stolen cattle
had been driven to safe place, while
the rustlers had escaped over the Dor
der.
Because | love you, Hester" he
blurted out suddenly. and then. over
come by his shyness. he hurried away