Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1914-07-24
WORK OF THE STORM
BY DON LA GRANGE.

cember there had been no winter
weather. The water in the ponds and
bitches had scarcely frozen over, In
deed. the highways were dry and
dusty, and the Oldest inhabltant" said
that the bluebirds we're as numerous
In the country as In June.
At three o'clock the COWS were out
in the green pastures. At six q gale
from the north was raging and the
snow driving in binding sheets that
man or animal could not face.
OF course, Mr.. Rayburn and his wife
has selected that very afternoon to
drive over to the town Of Hepburn,
II miles distant, to see about some
business that should have been attend
ed to a month before, and that could
be attended to any time within the
next month without loss to anyone.
They we're two miles on their way
home when the storm-wolf struck them
and ran them into a farmhouse for the
night. They were only two Of hun
dreds that had to seek strange shelter
that night.
And back at the manor house as
darkness shut down and the blizzard
grew stronger, was a cook who flung
her arms about and wept, and Miss
Bird Rayburn who scolded:
Yes, it's a blizzard, and father and
mother can't possibly get home to-
night and maybe not tomorrow, but
what of it?"
Il was reading that where there was
blizzard there was always half a
dozen murders with it," persisted the
cock.
Fanny, you'd tire COW with your
fears and your winning was the
sharp admonition. You go back to the
kitchen and make a big pot Of coffee
and keep it hot Have things ready
so that you can get a quick lunch. It's
likely that some one will ask US for
shelter within the next hour"
Miss Bird was no heroine. She was
blufing herself and blufing the cook.
1t was a fact that she was frightened.
There was not another house within
half mile. The telephone had gone
dead"
The first move was to see that every
door and window was secure, and then
the sentinel sat down to wait After
half an hour or so she began to wonder
whether she had really locked the out
side doors of the vestibule. Of course
she had. Perhaps not. It would take
only minute to make sure, but she
did not move. There came what she
thought was a shout or a cry for help
from the highway. Was it a cry or the
wall of the gale?
What Miss Bird did was to 90 to one
Of the front windows and raise the
shade and let the light shine forth into
the storm for beacon. Five minutes
after she had taken her seat again the
front door opened and a man of snow
staggered into the room. She had not
locked the doors after all.
The unbidden guest staggered about
until he could clutch the back of a
chair for support. The snow had piled
on him inches thick, and his battle
with the storm had exhausted him. II
was a full minute before he spoke, and
then a nervous laugh preceded his
words:
IN two or three minutes | shall be
able to ask you to excuse this intru
sion"
The girl was holding a revolver in
her hand. She kept her eyes on him
but made no reply.
Sorry to bring this snowbank into
the house, but was that done up thai
had to crawl from the gate to the
house"
Still no answer.
IF your father is here l beg the
privilege Of introducing myself. Mr.
Deering, my father, is in public life!'
The railroad magnate?" querieC
Miss Bird.
THE newspapers refer to him a.
such. l myself am generally spokeI
of as Ted Deering, the son Of hi
father"
Neither of my parents is at homt
and it is doubtful if they get herr
through this storm. l shall accep
you as Mr.. Ted Deering, however, ant
there is hot coffee awaiting you. haC
the cook prepare for just such al
emergency"
And you'll lay aside the revolver?
81 am not afraid"
Miss Bird and Mr.. Deering wer
good Samaritans that long, ferc
night. Two wayfarers we're admitted
thawed out and put to bed, and the,
would have done the same by other
had the storm drifted them that way.
When Mr.. and Mrs. Rayburn f1nall
reached home there was a good deal O
talk about billiards, but it was mid
summer before Miss Birds fathe
closed a conversation by observing:
Why, if you and Bird love eac
other. I see no reason to object, but