Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-12-10

he ran to the next.
He saw as he ran that one OF the
men, working like . fury to fell the
sapiings. was Murphy. who had greet.
ed his pompous "Dillingworth" with
such grinning irony in the old days.
He had moments vague wonder at
this odd stripe of humanity that could
hold such prejudice. fight with Hamp-
den's men in savage enmity, to join
their ranks later with happy irrespon-
sibility at the call Of gold, ana was
still willing to turn back to Tight with
him on deaths brink. because he had
returned their taunt Of East and West.
One BY one, In silence. in . tension
that drew the skin tight ON their faces,
they saw the last remaining monarchs
fall, the kindling saplings laid on
earth, the trench, much narrower and
shallower, creep upward to the ridge.
Against time, against heat that
scorched their bare arms and tortured
their starting eyeballs, against Q sti-
fling atmosphere that drove them
nearer and nearer to the earth for
breath. they drew the last blade, sent
the last big pine crashing toward the
north.
The ridge was clear in the increas-
ing glow.
"Now!" cried sandry with the tri-
umph of general on victorious
field. now for the ridge and Overt"
But even as he dropped his saw and
h To not \
came through the rolling smoke with
the calm of finality.
"Ain't no over It's a ninety.foot
drop on to hard rock beyond that
ridge"
sandry stopped in bis tracks. his
head cleared as II with whiff of salt
air by that call.
The men had closed in with the In
stinct of their kind to be together in
danger, as IL so the danger were les.
sened.
But the fastener was undaunted.
"Then we'll take to the East Belt"
he cried, "even though it is crown
fire and coming fast, think our trench
will hold IT.
With all confidence he turned to the
south Instinctively the men had
drawn in behind him. The neck OF the
East Belt was wavering wall OF
name. He wniried and glanced back
along the fall and the trench. Long
streamers of flame we're licking across
it. The half-looked.for had happened.
The little bunch of fighters were
hemmed in. ringed around by fire.
Death faced them on every side.
Then. as the owner sent searching
look to every quarter, he sprang for
ward.
"Here!" he cried, ''here! Into it!
Every man Of you, In, l say!"
At the crest of the sheer ridge an
old, abandoned tunnel gaped in the
gloom, . dim haven of refuge. Its
mouth was overhung by vines. its re-
cess mysterious In the blackness. San.
dry sprang to its edge and turned back
for the men to pass, They stood,
small. silent bunch, gazing In wordless
CONSERVATION at the red canopy.
Now how In hell did it get across
the FAM" said Collins hoarsely. @ 80
But one BY one they stopped and
entered the small black hole in the
earth. It ran backward into the ridge.
scarce the height Of . tall man. its
floor uneven with the heaps Of earth
fallen rom the roof since some long
forgotten prospector had carved It
out.
Here for . moment they. breathed
more easily. standing close together.
q sweating, painting, waiting mass OF
humanity. sandry stood at the mouth,
the last to enter. He looked out in
.hushed amaze at the unclaimed mad.
ness of the burning world. The great
fire had reached its zenith. 1t came
booming and roaring to the fall and
the trench. Its sound was indescrib-
able. The heat grew until the flesh on
Sandry's arms and face rose in bis
ters. A sheet Of fame shot sheer
across the tunnels mouth. Smoke
rolled into it and here and there q
gasping breath ended in moan.
There was no air to breathe. Like
trapped animals the men jumped here
and there, feeling for an opening, q
crevice to crawl into. away from the
agony Of heat and suffocation. And
then they lost control Of themselves.
my God" cried Murphy shrilly. r
cant stand ut! Let me out an III
die an get ut over!" 81
He came cropping to the entrance,
facing the Increasing heat. His face
was madman's, his mouth open, his
fingers crooked like talons. But at the
mouth. that was as the gate Of hell, he
met the Fastener, straight figure
against the light beyond.
NO." said Sandry sternly. "go back
and lie down."
"What?" he shrieked. what? You
damned Johnny! You tenderfoot!
I'll" And he flung himself forward.
A smooth. black muzxIe came forth and
pushed its brazens menace into his
face. b 81 .9ss 81 , :4ss
''Ill shoot the first man that at.
5tempts to pass me-" said Sandry
hoarsely. ~, &, Il.
RavinE and cursing, he hacked away.
More than one Of the fourteen
begged 70 be allowed to pass, and one
OF the lumber1acks from Sacramento
muttered deliriously Of calling his
blum. But the awful moments dsagGed
j BY and Sandry stood ct the entrance.
The flames passed all measureldeptaoi
light and heat. He lost sight OF the
fl9nfAa NJ hts f<.et IA Polt himsolf 30