The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-03-03
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
BEFORE The FLAMES
BY JUNE GALIAN.

I Helena Storrs stared resentfully
+ died to a black spot in the distance.
When it had quite disappeared from
sight and the black smoke had drifted
away into the sagebrush, she turned
and surveyed her surroundings
] The station agent was watching her
curiously from the open doorway. She
was worth looking at, too, this beauti-
full daughter of John Henry Storrs, the
financier; she was very lovely in her
plain blue cloth travelling gown and
chic little hat, with the late afternoon
sun turning her hair to red and gold
and warming the rose and ivory tints
of her complexion.
The station agent jumped when
Helena suddenly fixed her lovely gray
eyes on him.
rs there a garage near by?" she
asked. pleasantly.
The station agent scratched his
head. Lord, miss. there amt motor
car short Of Cheyenne, l guess"
Miss Storrs looked displeased
What desolate spot!" she ex-
claimed. Can you tell me when the
next train is due?"
There amt another one till morn
Ing, miss. This one wouldn't have
stopped only there was something
wrong with her engine. They ought
not to have let you off the train at
ALL"
Il threatened to report them If they
did not" said Helen, haughtily. What
am l to do?" she asked
The answer to her question came in
an unexpected way. There was the
sound of wagon wheels and the clatter
of hoofs and around the bend of the
trail there whirled light blackboard
driven by man in a broad-brimmed
hat. He handled the fiery black
horses skillfully and brought the
wagon wheels to standstill without
an inch to spare beside the station
platform.
Hi, there, Jonesey," he sang Justify,
got an express package for me?"
Wait a minute, Jerry-it's inside"
The agent hustled indoors. Presently
he came out with a package, which
he placed in the back of the wagon.
Then he conversed in low tones with
the driver. Helena surmised that they
might be talking about her and she
felt uncomfortably at a disadvantage
She stepped from the platform,
went around the side Of the station
and, without glance at the men,
turned into the dusty trail that led to
Duggold-ten miles away
She had walked perhaps half mile
when there came the clatter of hoofs
behind her. She did not turn around.
AS the sound grew nearer she stepped
aside into the sagebrush and kept on
at quicker pace
Mingled with the hoofs were wagon
wheels; they passed her and then
stopped, sending up a choking cloud
of dust.
Il beg your pardon said a pleas
ant voice, "but would you not like to
ride to Duggold?"
Thank you, no." she said, stifly; 81
prefer to walk"
1T is a tough walk" said the stran-
ger little insistently, Helen thought;
especially if you are not acquainted
with the region. You may meet all
sorts of people-the grass is afire at
Fox creek and 1t is coming this way"
Helena looked around and saw COM
ing from the east a cloud of gray
smohe. Birds were flying before the
wind and little charred shreds of grass
drifted past
''FTre?" asked Helena do you
mean that they are permitting the fire
to get beyond control?"
The man laughed shortly "The fire
had been beyond control from the be-
ginning. There Is little hope that it
will stop at the trail. | did not know
it had gained such Roadway or II
will try backire! Step back, please
over thereon the other side of the
trail" he said.
Helena obeyed, meekly following as
he drove the horses several hundred
yards into the sagebrush on the safe
side of the trail.
Stay close to the wagon-its your
only way to escape" He bent to
touch a match to the grass on the
eastern edge of the trail
A long line of red flames trickled up
and down, fighting against the wind.
The man ran to and fro, beating it
back where it threatened to ignite the
grass on the further side of the trail.
At last the flames gathered Roadway
another cloud Of
to meet the BACKED cloud coming from
the east.
Helena felt the intense heat and I'M
der the mans direction she drove the
frightened horses still further to safe
ty If Helena had not been a fearless
horsewoman the terrified animals
might have broken from her restrain
ing hands.
You've done nobly," smiled her
companion, when he rejoined her at
last Nov, if you will watch, you
will see the backfire meet the fire
from the east and there will be
struggle for supremacy-andt they will
eat each other up!"
So absorbed did Helena and her
companion become in watching the
battle of the two walls of flames that
they we're regardless of their own dan
ger until suddenly a choking cloud of
smoke enclosed them and there was
the dull heat of approaching flames.
"Done!" cried the man. angrily,
snatching up the reins. Well have
a run for it, after all 1t was idiocy
on my part not to watch for sneak
ing jump across the trail further down
well, we've got to run for it." he
painted, leaning forward to lash the
animals into a run.
1t was a never-to-be-forgotten ride
across the fre-swept sagebrush. The
wagon leaped from side to side and
Helena was obliged to cling desperate
ly to the strong arm of her compan
ion to keep from falling out At last
one of the horses lurched forward
and fell with a shrill scream of an
guish The other horse was dragged
down with him and kicked frantically
against the tangled traces.
Gopher hole!" muttered the man.
jumping out and lifting Helena down.
He went forward. bent over the
fallen animals. and called back a word
of warning to Helena.
An instant later a shot rang out.
there was brief struggle, and the in
jured horse lay quiet The stranger
released the other animal from the
traces, helped it to it's feet, and then
called to Helena
Its our only chance-can you stay
on a horse?"
Try mel" cried Helena. In an in
slant he had tossed blanket across