Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-12-10
1T or 1Q0l EzEAD AND cOf1aqNr


All through the early hours Of the
long night they labored, dirty. black.
ened, tattered scarecrows Of men. run.
ming here and there. digging like mad
in the wide trench that was to stop
the surface flames. saving unceSs,
ingly ct the towering trees. while the
guards brought twenty-minute tidinga
Of the approaching fire.
High against the dun, smoke-light.
ened sky the dark canopy Of the East
Belt whispered and moaned as II IN
fear, and from time to time Sandry, q
haggard, grim-lipped specter Of q man.
lifted his bloodshot eyes toward it. II
was still his own, his future Of the
Dillingworth, despite the tangle Of
Hampden's threats, the unrecorded
deed and the unfinished trail Of the
Yellow Pines at the south. and II
pulled at his heart pathetically.
There was still q stretch of almost
impenetrable timber near the summit
Of the big ridge which must be cut
through before the flames reached 1t,
or all would be lost.
"Shall we make it, Jchn?" asked
the owner desperately of Daily, who
ran by in the smoke with wet rags to
tie over the mouths Of the men.
sOught to II the wind stays where
It is."
It was two o'clock and that hour in
the sleeping world outside when Ill
the elements are at an ebb.
Then, all suddenly. Destiny laughed.
And Destiny's laugh was . whooping
wind that rose as the elemental ebb
tide turned. Hell broke loose upon
the land and heaven was not. Fire
encompassed the world. It's increased
roar changed to the thunder of the
spheres. It appalled, the hearts OF
men, stayed their hands in fright. All
Throughout ssh.e darkness os rolling
smoke wherein they worked between
the raging torrent and the East Belt
that mighty voice commanded cessa.
ton. A
Instantaneously. without orders, AZ
one man where there was no commu.
nication save between those few feet
apart, they dropped their spades, their
tattered blankets. their axes. They
Strengthened from their labor. leaving
the cross-cuts in the trunks. Here and
there, above the solemn thunder
hoarse voices began to call. It was
the time to quit and they realized II
instinctively.
"out! Out! Quit" they cried ia
each other in the dusk. Get outl
Get out!"
Walter Sandry, working near the
apex Of the pushing line, saw men be-
ginning to run past him back along the
trench and the cutting. He lifted des-
perate eyes to the ridge whose dim
crest he could seq between the boles.
90 near had they won to victory. Only
. few more big pines, . dozen saplings,
Q scant few yards Of trench and 1t
would be done-the long lane Of safety
across the neck Of the East
Belt!
stop! Stop! stop!" he cried with
. great voice that came from the very
depths Of his lungs with borrowed
power. Stand BY me, men! For Gods
sake stand by!
He saw dim shapes falter. half turn
toward him and start on. Again he
raised his stentorian cry and flying
figures halted . moment. stopped
against their will BY its compelling
power.
I'm Johnny Eastern. all right. but
I'm going to stay! Who'll stay with
me?"
Out Of the dense obscurity came Col
Inns. huge. fantastic figure, and stood
beside him without . word. In the ten
sion Of the time Sendry reached out
. hand and grippsds the giants shout
der.
"a dozen men and we've won!" he
cried.
He saw the hating shapes turn,
gather another and smother. retrace
their steps and spring back into the