The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1918-11-02

he qulckened his pace.
The fog and smoke overcast the sky
thlckly and made IL of brassy color,
just as though huge copper pot had
been overturned over the earth. wom-
en- stood at their doors, talking bnck
and forth in subdued tones. There
was spirit of expectancy In the air.
The hardware merchant wGs striding
nlong at quick pace when he came to
the Parlow place; but he was not GO
ing so fast that he did not hear the
carpenter hailing him In his cracked
voice.
Hey, you. Joe Staggl Hey, you r.
Amazed, Mr.. Stagg turned to look.
Parlow was hobbling from the rear
premises, groaning Mt every step,
scarcely able to walk.
"rhat sciatlca's got me ng'in," he
snarled. "Fm Almost doubled up.
Couldn't climb into carriage to save
my SOUL"
"What d'you want to climb into n
carriage for2" demanded Mr.. Stagg.
"'Cause somebody's got to 20 for
that gal of mine-and little Car'lyn
May. Amt you heard--or is your mind
so sot on maxim money down there to
your store that you don't know nothin'
elseT
Haven't heard what~ returned
the other with fine restraint, for he
saw the old man was In pain.
"The fires come over TO this side.
saw the flames myself. And Aaron
Crummit drove through and says that
you can't git by on the main road. The
fires followed the West Brook right
down and Is betwlxt us and Adams
old camp"
"3less mew gasped the hardware
dealer, pallng under his tan.
"Wal?" snarled Parlow. "Goin' to
stand there chntterln' all day, or be
you goin' TO do something's
"Somebody must get over to that
cabin and bring them out" Joseph
Stagg said. without taking offense ut
the grabbed old carpenter.
"Wall" exclaimed Parlow. "glad ter
see you're awake"
"oh, I'm awake" the other returned
shortly. II was just figuring on who's
got the best horse"
81 have" snapped Parlow.
"Yes. And I'd decided on taking
Cherry. too" the hardware denler add
ed, and swung into the lane toward the
carpenters barn.
"Hey, you'll Needn't be so brush
ubout it, growled the carpenter "He's
my hoss, | s'pOse?'
Joseph Stagg vent straight ahead,
and without answering. Having once
decided on his course, he wasted no
time.
lie rolled back the big door and saw
Cherry already barnessed In his box
stGll.
Together they backed the animal be-
twccn the shafts. fastened the traces,
and Mr.. Stagg leapcd quickly to the
seat and gathered up the reins.
you'll halter take the Tnllow road"
the carpenter shouted after him. "And
have care drivin' Cherry"
Horse and blackboard whirled out OF
the yard and his voice was lost to the
hardware merchant.
Cherry stepped out splendidly, and
they left cloud of dust behind them
ms they rolled up the pike, not In the
direction of the abandoned camp. Fore
warned, he did not seek to take the
shortest way to the cabin where
Amanda Parlow and Carolyn May were
perhaps even now threatened by the
forest fire. The Fallow road turned
north from the pike three miles from
The Corners.
FIecks of foam began to appear on
Cherry's glossy coat almost at once.
The air was very oppressive, and there
was no breeze.
The streak of flame that had fol-
lowed down the banks of West
brook moved mysteriously. He could
see the smoke of II now.
Amanda Parlow and his niece might
even now be threatened by the flames !
Now That danger threatened the
woman he had loved all these years, II
seemed ns though his nind and heart
were numbed. He was terrified be-
xpressiOn--terrliied for her safe
ty, and terrified for fear that some-
body, even Jcdidiah Parlow, should
suspect just how he felt about 1t.
The horses hoOfs rang sharply over
the stony path. Presently they capped
n little ridge and started down Into
hollow. Not until they were over the
ridge was Mr.. Stngg aware that the
hollow was filled, chokingly filed, with
bilIOwy white. smoke.
Another man--ope as cautious az
the hardware merchant notorIously
was-would have pulled the horse
down to n walk. But Joseph Stages
clutl0usness hnd been flung TO the
winds. Instend, he shouted to Cherry,
and the beast increased his stride.
Ten rods further on the horse snort
ed, stumbled, and tried to stop. A
wrlthing, flaming snake-a burning
branch-plunged down through the
smoke Direct" ahead.
"Go on !" shouted Joseph Stagg, with