Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1916-02-24

OOuSiu6 Jul the Surface Hdm0S, CutIiu6
every sapling In sight, digging
trenches to head of 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. II 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 eight Daily was grim and silent
hoarse with shouting, and he stamped
into the porch. where the women
watched the flames that flared red
against the night in a hundred
places on the west ridge and up the
hills on both sides at the cutting.
"S'letz, honey" he rasped. IN have to
call on you agin. They's a new
one over the first shoulder toward
the East Belt-up in tn old cuttin
Ride down to Toledo an tell EN- to
send tn town. Wen need EN- all
| can't spare a man-Ive sent out
six to hunt tn devil behind this, an
IL | 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 Dillingworth,
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
Westerner at last by every sign.
| By midnight the town was there
and Daily saw among the crowd Har-
ris, his old saw-filer, 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-they
would have answered a call from a
real enemy in such 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 q
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 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 woodsmans heart began
to sound throughout the hills.
John Daily. working like giant,
went white beneath his CRIME at
sound Of it,
my God!" he cried hoarsely. it's
goin away from u.s."
And Sandry. halted pace away
by that cry Of despair, looked upon
the first really great sight of his life.
More men!" shouted the foreman
hoarsely. You Harris. go telephone
to Corvallis for more men,"
Its done, Johnny" said Ma Daily.
painting in the light, her sleeves
rolled up from brown. capable arms.
81 sent Sletz some time back. She's
calm fer all the stations between"
The valley was as light as day, illu.
mined all up and down its length, and
three horsemen were Looping up its
level floor. Lean, 1.-THE men they
were, clad in sober khaki, and they
leaped from their horses with bust
nesslike alacrity, dropping reins over
saddle horns instead of on the ground.
Those three horses were well trained,
intelligent aids. ready to stand for
hours in one spot, to come at a
whistle, and they wanted no drag
ging straps to hinder.
Were forest rangers" announced
the spokesman, quick-eyed, steady
young chap, to Sandry. give me, your
men,"
Thank tn Lord" said Daily fer
vently, take command"
The newcomer talked a moment
with his two companions, motioning.
dividing localities, sketching quick
plan. Then he gathered twenty men,
putting them under one of his aides.
go up over that ridge" he direct
ed briefly, land cut a forty-foot fall
straight across the dip behind the
/ fire. Go on and cut 1t up over the big
ridge. Don't stop to fight"
AS the men hurried off with cross
cuts and axes. he plunged into the
smoke and fire. shouting terse com.
mands, taking men from what seemed
imperative tasks to put them at work
in places removed from the fire-dig
ging trenches, cutting great pine