The Huttig news., 1916-03-25

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 Then well take to the East Bels }e cried even though fl is a creWp ire and coming fast. think our trench will nel5 it.
 With all confidence he turned to the auth InstLetively the nan had .rawG in behind him. TLe neck of tf4 1ast Belt WAS WaYering wall ot iame He @hirlea and glanced eack
 long the all and the trench. Lcne streauers sf fame were licking across [. lie halfI6akeI.for had happened fhe little bunch of fighters were aemmed in, rlnged around by ire Death faced tham on eRery side.
 Then. as the owner sent d searehlne .ook to every quarter, he sDrang for ward
 "Here!o he cried, here! into it. Every man Of you. Tn. say!7
 At the crest of the sheer ridge an oi1, abandoned tunnel gaped fu thr gloom, dim haven Of refuge It's mouth was oYarh1ng by vines. It's rs. cess mysterious m the elaekness San try s2ra1g b it's edge and turned gacK Tor the Een to rass. They staed small, silent buaeh, gazing Fl Wa4dGess consternati2n 2t the red canopy.
 Now low in hell did t get across se fall?" said Collins koafssly.
 But one by cne they stepped and entered the snail black hole in the earth. It ran backward into the ridge scarce the height q tall nan It's fi9or uneven WIth tie heaps Of earth allen frcm the raaf since some long -orsottcn pfospeetor had carved Il out
 Here for moment they breathed 11ore easily standing close together. ! sweating, FeHtH 3. waiting .mass ot humanity. SaHiry steod at the mouth the last to enter. lie locked out in hushed amaze at the uaehai8ed mad ness of tie burning Worli. The great fire had reached it's zenith. It came booming and reariag to the fan and tAe trench. It's sound WAS indeserib able, The heat graW until the tesh on S2ndry artss and face rcse in hlis tsrs. A sheet of fsfas shot sheer acrcss the tunnels mouth. Smoke rolled into it and here ana there a gasping breath ended in q mean There was no air to breathe. Like trapped animals the men jumped here and there. feeling fer an opening. a crevice to crawl into. away from the agony 9f heat and sHaeeatian. And then they lost eeHtHaI 3f themselves.
 My Gc4" cried Murphy shrifly, q cart staud ut Let he out an I'll die an get ut over!@
 He ca 6e grePiRg t9 the entrance facing the increasing neat His face was a Ead2an's. kls mouth cpen. his fingers crooked like talaAs. Eut at tAt month. that was as the gate of hell, he met the EasterHer. a straight figure against the light beyond.
 No. said saaary steaaly. go back and lie down"
 What" he shrieted. what? You damned Jatnayl Ycu tenderfoot Fiji" And he flung hirlself forward A smooth, black mazale came forth and pushed it's brazen menace into his face.
 I'll shoot the first man that at. teaats to pass me, said Sandry hoarsaly.
 Having and eursHg, he backed away
 More than one of the fourteen begged to be allowed 10 pass, and one of the lumberjaeks from Sacramento muttared deliriously Of calling his bluff But the awful moments dragge1 by and Sandry stood at the entrance The flames passed all mea surement Ot iPht and heat He lost sight Of thc figures at his feet He felt himself go ing out in the darkness.
 tS'letz, he muttered. little saetz--'
 When he came 10 himself again. mer were crawling across bim. He eoul6 breathe better and the light had les sened fte sat tip, Wiaeing at the mov ing of his scorehad skin over the muscles underneath, eraWled cut wit the rest and one by one they rose te their feet. Tha great timber of n, East Felt farther down steod serried and green. The effort had H6t been ie vain. The holocaust vas checked, the Belt was safe.
 Back towdrd the north stretched forest of tall, black spikes, picked oui here and there sy heavy spots of fire where fallen iogs dry and pitchIaden burned steadily The green canopy was gone. every vine and bit Of brush every sapling and fern. Only thin edge still cFacklod and snapped with streamers of flame along the trench.
 Mir Sandry," said Harris, the saw fler, If you're an Fastener hope 10 God the breed fills up the couutIy!
 He extended hand which Sanary grasped.
 An me" said Murphy. his grimy features distorted in an expression ot mingled gratitude and contrition. 'l take it all 5aelI--evory damn word ever said against you, an it's long list"
 Forget it, said sandry He was no longer Johnny Eastern. Ee lad won ts. .t.~t.4 . f;,.1 .,,a Rob+ e -,s,,st ty ,ov,a