Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-07-04
Mt the stock yards In the city bid In
SnOwfoot and drove him on"

nj the stock yards In the city bid In
Snowfoot and drove him on"
Paul was speedy activity persona
fed. He hurried To neighbor and ar
ranged for horse until his return.
'Tll get back Snowfoot If ] have TO
20 To Jail for II I" he declared. and was
off on the trail of the man with the
market bound string Of horses.
II was the next morning when Paul
reached the city and located the horse
market at the stock yards close on the
heels OF Snowfoot. He found where
his fsvorite and some twenty other
horses were housed In "a pen. to be sold
at auction the next morning.
Paul had but one idea, to make away
with Snowfoot. He would wait till
dark Then his old friend should find
freedom. Paul put in the time wander
Ing about the great yards 10 finally
come To "A great building arched over
with glass and just being completed.
IL was vast auditorium. built To house
farmers conventions and stock shows.
AT one end was IA stage. Nothing
was yet set In place. and pulleyed
ropes and platforms were suspended
fran the roof rafters, from which
workmen were suspended putting In
chandeliers and otherwise perfecting
the lighting system.
About the middle of the building
stood well-dressed. important-looking
man. holding his little four-year-old
daughter by the hand He was giving
orders as TO certain construction de-
tails To the contractors, and, Paul
, learned casually, was head officer Of
the cattle exchange. "a man of enormous
wealth who made IA hobby of improved
live stock.
His FESTIVE little daughter. a bright.
lovely little midget. had taken adj
vantage Of her fathers preoccupation
and had run about fifty feet 10 the
other end of the building. She had
clambered up the steps leading 10 the
stage and was running up and down
the platform. pleased AT the hollow
echo OF her pattering feet on the
smooth boards.
Hi. there :" suddenly rang out a
frightful yell aloft. Within flashing
second Of time the scene was one of in
describable confusion. The fusing lamp
Of one of the overhead workers had cx-
ploded. The dripping contents had
scattered everywhere; up aloft the
whole inside framework vas ablaze.
The burning liquid. dropping to the
fioora had set great heap of Shavings,
block and bench frames on fire.
Paul CHANGED 20 be near the stage.
As he saw an impossible barrier of fire
shut of the entire front end of the
building he heard the vain shouts of
the agonized father, beaten back by
the curtain OF fire, pleading for the
rescue of his darling child. The brick
wall behind the stage was solid The
fire was advancing 10 lick up the new
framework. Paul ran 10 the child.
Little one" he said hurriedly. "for
papa's sake will you do just as | say?
If set you on my back with your arms
around my neck, will you hold fast
fast?"
But won't / burn?"
You won't burn, darling. You shall
be safe with your father in Il jffy, If
you just hold on and never let go
II was well that the old skill Of his
one-time trapeze experience held Paul
Dacre in good stead now. The little
one kept her word like Trojan. She
did not even whisper as, half way up
one OF the long ropes. a sweep of elm
ders came against them like blast.
Then they were AT the rafters Selling
a board. Paul smashed out a broad
sash. Now they were on the roof He
drew up the eighty-odd feet OF rope,
let IL trail down over the roof, and
inch by inch descended down the slant,
over the edge. and the gathered crowd
cheered and grouped about the hero
rescuer and the little child.
Paul Dacre did not have TO steal
Snowfoot to get him back home. He
could have redeemed the animal had IL
taken thousands, for the father Of the
little Evaline could not sufficiently
show his gratitude. He offered Paul
the charge OF a stock farm at high
salary. He even came down to the
Brayton home TO visit him. And Alma
began 10 see the nobleness of charac-
ter in the ex-circus rider. And little
Evaline was showing Alma how she
had chung to Paul the day of the fire,
and putting out her hands drew the
face Of Alma close TO her own.
And as IL nestled there, the chubby
hand drew that of Paul in loving con-
nj A
Paul. and the revelation Of perfect love
was complete.