Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-03-03

pSohAh5 OhN NhC oui a. udhlCos Nuibii6
every sapling in sight. digging
trenches to head off any ground fires
that might be started.
But destiny was against the Dill
lingworth. The wind-"unusual," TO
use that overworked word of the re-
gion truly for once-grew steadily,
and despite the trained work, for ev-
cry man knew this business, it rushed
the flames through the underground
faster than they could handle it.
Daily, black with smoke and ashes,
was everywhere. Sandry chung at his
heels, watching his methods, learn
ing everything he could, listening,
picking up, catching on with light
ming rapidity. He knew himself to
be ignorant, and where he was the
head with his interest at stake he
must make himself competent.
BY night Daily was grim and silent,
hoarse with shouting, and he stamped
into the porch, where the m
watched the flames that fared red
against the night in a hundred
ploSCo VII INC WGSl llu6S anu up Liz
hills on both sides at the cutting.
"Sletz, honey" he rasped, IN have to
call on you agin. They's a new
n over the first shoulder toward
the East Belt-up in tn old cuttin'
Ride down to Toledo an tell EN- to
send tn town. Well need 'em all.
| can't spare a man-Ive sent u
six to hunt tn devil behind this, an
if | ketch him III kill him, damn
him!"
Som" said Ma from the shadows.
SO Siletz and Black Bolt and Coos
nah Numbered down through the
darkness to save the Di%llingworth,
and the heart in the girls breast was
throbbing with anxiety for Sandry-
black as Daily, and as rough looking,
fighting with his lesser strength. a
Westerner at last by every sign.
By midnight the town was there.
and Daily say among the crowd Har-
ris, his old saw-tiler, young Anwor-
thy and several more of those who
had deserted to the god of gold. They
kept %sheepishly in the background,
but they were there for the common
good that Daily had spoken of-tney
would have answered a call from a
real enemy in such a crisis, for that
is the way of the West.
Ma Daily, passing her interminable
tin cups of coffee-she had brought a
great iron kettle and boiled it over a
fire on the ground-stopped before
Anworthy, the curly headed boy of
whom she was very fond, with a hand
on his shoulder.
I'm mighty glad to see you, son.
she said kindly, and the young scape
goat had the grace to blush.
Destiny was against the Dilling.
worth. The wind leaped and shout
ed up between the hills and by mid,
night the flames suddenly leaped up
as if a restraint had been removed,
Huge, red streamers flung themselves
out against the black night sky
reaching half way to the zenith,
Dense clouds of smoke leaped and
bellied to the heavens, while the roar
that appalls a woodsman's heart began
to sound throughout the hills.
John Daily, working like a giant
went white beneath his CRIME al
sound of it.
my Cod" he cried hoarsely, it's
goin' away from us!"
And Sandry, halted a pace away
by that cry of despair, looked upor
the first really great sight of his life
h~oarsely. you Harris, go telephone
to Corvallis for more men,"
IT'S done, Johnny" said Ma Daily
painting in the light, her sleeves
, rolled up from brown, capable arms
81 sem S'letz some time back. She's
= calm fer all the stations between.
: The valley was is light as day, illu
mined all up and down it's length, anC
three horsemen were Looping up it,
| level floor. Lean, 1.-THE men the!
: were, clad in sober khaki, and they
leaped from their horses with bust
= nesslike alacrity, dropping reins owe
saddle horns instead of on the ground
Those three horses were we'll trained
intelligent aids, ready to stand foI
hours in one spot, to come at {
whistle, and they wanted 10 drag
ging straps to hinder.
We're forest rangers" announced
: the spokesman, a quick-eyed, stead,
young chap, to Sandry, give me you:
men"
Thank tn Lord" said Daily fer
vently, take command"
\ The newcomer talked a momen
\ with his two companions, motioning
dividing localities, sketching a quicl
plan. Then he gathered twenty men
putting them under n Of his aides.
\ go up over that ridge" he direct
\ ed briefly, and cut a forty-foot fal
straight across the dip behind tn
! fire. Go On and cut it up over the BIZ
ridge. Don't stop to fight"
AS the men hurried off with cross
cuts and axes, he plunged into tn
smoke and fire, shouting terse CON
mands, taking men from what SCENE