The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-01-15

home.
But which of the men held the Ike,
to her heart?
Really she could not tell. but sh'
grew drowsy making herself believ,
she would be able in any event T.
compel her mind with its power o
judging wisely to control her heart.
Toward midnight she was arouset
by strange pungent smell pervadin.
her little room. Her breathing was no
quite free. What could 1t mean?
She lay for a minute dazed, yet witt
what sense she could command. trying
to discover the cause of the odor thai
was gaining in strength and sitting
power.
Suddenly a great crimson light illu
mined the small window. With a
quick movement Rachel sprang from
bed, and as she did so there came to
her ears the rapid beat Of a horses
hoofs on the prairie road.
Then she heard Dams voice burden.
ed with awful import.
RACHEL he called. "Mr. Winton.
Get up! Get up quick. The prairie is
on fire.
Father! Motherr the girl called.
running to their bed. Get up. Do
| you hear? There is a big fire. Yes.
DAN" she called from the window as
she helped her mother to dress.
There's not a minute to lose" South
ard called back. 1.-The fire is sweeping
| this way as fast as strong wind can
bring It,"
There had been no rain for three
weeks, and everything was as dry as
finder.
The Wintons understood the terrible
danger impending.
Not only the cabin, but stock. crops,
even they themselves, were at the mer-
cy OF those leaping flames.
Bring the blankets. quickr' shouted
Southland. Obeying him instantly,
Rachel dragged every blanket out of
the house.
Dan had ridden his horse to the little
spring in the hollow and was rapidly
filling every pail he had been able to
find about the place
Acting under his directions, the girl
mounted her fathers pony, and she
and Dan carried water for Mr.. and
Mrs. Winton to wet the blankets, this
being their only means Of fighting the
fire.
How they worked and fought! It
seemed as If the whole world was ar
rayed against them. and all the while
the moon looked down, cold and I'M
caring, while the fire swept fiercely on
ward until 1t caught in a row Of dry
cornstalks that reached nearly to the
cabin. Here the battle must be fought
with renewed energy.
The smoke Of the burning grass and
grain assailed their nostrils, scorched
their Threats and blinded their eyes,
but with hands torn and blistered they T,
toiled on.
When the old couple fell back over |
come Dan and Rachel took their places
with the heavy wet blankets and work
ed side by side. Inch by inch they beat |
back the angry flames.
Even In that terrible situation the
girl felt a singular strength and cool
ness In working by Southard's side.
She felt that the enemy must yield to
such grand and compelling superiority.
When the fire attacked them from
another vulnerable point IL was Dams
exhaustless energy that saved the day.
BY sacrificing a patch Of ripe grain,
through a prompt back fire, the foe
was met and made to recoi In wrath ).
full flames upon itself. I
After time the great body Of the
fire swept away northward, having
consumed everything Of the wintons'
except cabin and stock.
With thankfulness in their hearts
Tor the preservation of these, the old
couple entered the house and threw
themselves upon the floor.
Then Southland and Rachel came back
With weary, tagging feet from their
asst successful onslaught.
"Everything's safe now, Rachel" he
add huskily, starting toward his horse.
"Dan," she questioned, q queer chok-
ng In her throat, you are not going
nw?"
He stopped and looked at her. She
lad never appeared more beautiful to
him than now, with the marks of that
'reat fire battle upon her face and
altered dress II
All We have left we owe to you.
'an, she went on, noting his scorched
ace, bleeding hands and burned cloth
ng.
Then she placed her blackened hand
n his shoulder. How he trembled
nder that touch. II
Il don't feel as if / could bear IN
ave you leave us, Dan" There was
tender pleading in her tones.
The dangers over, Rachel" he re-
ssured her. "and l must ride all the
ray to Westfield before daybreak."
why to Westfield?" she asked.
without word he pointed across
HI