Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-05-24

a
Duke, facing US now" said De Spain
sternly, when he turned. We've got
to get Nan out of this-even if we
don't get out ourselves. Where do you
dgure we are?" he cried.
81 figure we're two miles north Of
the lava beds, De Spain" shouted Nor
gan.
De Spain shook his head in dissent
Then where are wei" demanded the
older man rudely.
Il ought not to say, against you.
But if I've got to guess, [ say two
miles east. Either way, we must try
for Sleepy Cat. Is your team all
dght?"
Team is all right. We tore a wheel
near off getting out of the lava. The
wagons done for"
De Spain threw the fur coat at him.
Put it on" he said. We'll look at
the wheel"
They tried together to wrench 1t
into shape, but worked without avail.
In the end they dashed it, put Nan on
the Lady, and walked behind while the
team pushed into the pitiless wind.
Morgan wanted to cut the wagon away
and take to the horses, but De Spain
said, not till they found a trail or the
stage road.
SO much snow had fallen that in
spite of the blizzard, driving with an
lnrelenting fury, the drifts were deep
ening, packing, and making all effort
Increasingly difficult. It was well-nigh
impossible to head the horses into the
storm, and De Spain looked with ever
more anxious eyes at Nan. After half
an hours superhuman struggle to re-
gain a trail that should restore their
bearings, they halted, and De Spain,
riding up to the wagon, spoke to Nor
gan, who was driving: How long is
his going to last?"
Cali day and all night" Nan leaned
closely over to hear the curt question
and answer. Neither man spoke again
.or a moment.
wen have to have help" said De
Spain after pause.
"Help?" echoed Morgan scornfully.
Where's help coming frOm?"
De SPANS answer was not hurried
'One of US must go after it." Nan
Ooked at him intently.
Duke set his hard jaw against the
lurtling stream of ice that shOWered
IN the forlorn party. ''Tll go for it."
ne snapped.
NO." returned De Spain. Better
for me to 60"
eco together" said Nan.
De Spain shook his head. Duke
Morgan, too, said that only one should
20; the other must stay. De Spain,
| while the storm ratified and shook at
! he two men, told why he should go
| himself. cts not claiming you are not
entitled to say who should go, Duke"
| ne said evenly. "NOr that our men,
anywhere you reach, wouldn't give you
! the same attention they would me.
And it isn't saying that you're not the
| better man for the job-yOu've tray-
| eled the sinks longer than | have But
| between you and me, Duke, it's twenty
| eight years against fifty. 1 ought to
| hold out while the longer, that's all.
| Let's work farther to the east"
Quartering against the mad hurri-
cane, they drove and rode on until the
team could hardly be urged to further
| effort against the Infatuated elements
DE Spain riding at intervals as far
4iorH+ 10 I0S@ l.
in vain quest Of a landmark. When
he halted beside the wagon for The
| last time he was a mass of snow and
ice; horse and rider were frozen to
each other. He got down to the
| ground with visible effort, and in the
| singing wind told Duke his plan and
| purpose.
He had chosen on the open desert
hollow falling somewhat abruptly
from the north, and beneath it's Shout
der, while Morgan 1oosened the horses,
| ne scOOped and kicked away q mass of
| snow. The wagon had been drawn
just above the point of refuge, and the
! two men, with the aid of the wind,
| dumped it over sidewise, making of
| the body windbreak over the hollow,
a sort Of roof, around which the snow,
driven by the gale, would heap itself
IN hard waves. Within this shelter the
| men slowed Nan. The horses were
driven down behind it, and from one
Of them De Spain took the collar, the
tugs and the whiff1etrees. He stuck a
hitching strap in his pocket, and while
Morgan steadied the Lady's head, De
Spain buckled the collar Oh her,
doubled the rugs around the whiff1e-
tree, and fastened the roll at her side
| in front of the saddle.
Nan came out and stood beside him
| as he worked. When he had finished
| she put her hand on his sleeve He
held her close, Duke listening, to tell
her what he meant to try to do. Each
knew it well might be the last moment
| together. Zone thing and another
have kept US from marriage vows,
Man," said De Spain Reckoning at