Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1918-12-21
CHAPTER xVI-continued.

NO Oh GOOu uoS CfleQ Mr..
Stage. LEAD the way to Hannah's
Car'lynl'
He heard the little girl screaming +:
''Oh, Uncle joel Oh, Uncle Joe! Here
we arei"
Cherry ratified the blackboard down
TO the bottom of the hollow and
stopped. There was some smoke here.
but not much. The man leapcd to the
ground when he saw a figure rise up
from the foot of tree by the spring
O figure in brown.
"JOseph! Thank God!" murmured
Amanda.
The hardware dealer strobe to her.
She had put out both her hands to
him, and he saw that they were trem-
bling, and that tears filed her great
brown eyes.
"Oh, Joe!" she said, 81 feared you
would come too later
But Tn here, Mandy, and I'm not
too late!" he cried; and, somehow
neither of them could, perhaps, have
explained just how--his arms went
around her and her hands rested on
his shoulders, while she looked earn
estly into his face.
ooh, joel JoeI" 1t was like q sur
rendering sob.
''It's not too late, is it, Mandy? Say
1t isn't too latel" he pleaded.
mo, it's not too late" she whis-
pered. Tiff were not too old"
"Oldw almost shouted Joseph Stage.
81 don't remember of ever feeling so
young as / do right noww and sud
denly he stopped and kissed her.
'Bless me! what fools we've been all
this timer
"Oh, Uncle Joe! Oh, Miss Amanda :"
cried Carolyn May, standing before
them, and pointing with a rather grmy
index finger. you aren't mad at each
other any more, are you? Oh, am so
glad! so glad!" and her face showed
her pleasure.
But the situation was too difficult to
allow of much but practical thoughts.
Where's the old womanY asked Jo-
seph Stage quickly.
Her husband came with horse
and buggy late last night and took her
over to the new camp" was the reply
"The fire was coming into the camp
when | left. We must get out of here
in hurry" declared Mr.. Stage.
eve aren't going to be burned up
now, when Uncle Joe is here, Miss
Mandy" Carolyn May declared with
confidence. "See how nice he and
Prince found us? Why, they are regular
heroes, aren't they?"
They are. indeed, child" agreed the
woman. She turned to Joseph Stagg,
happiness shining in her eyes, and
looking prettier than ever before in
her life, he thought.
The hollow was rapidly becoming
filed with smoke. The man did not
understand this. but it fOreboded
trouble. He turned Cherry and the
blackboard around, and then he helped
Amanda into the seat.
Up you go, too, Car'lyn May" he
said. lifting the little girl into the rear
of the blackboard.
Joseph Stage felt very serious as he
seated himself by Amanda's side and
picked up the reins. The horse quick
~ retraced his steps up the hill TO the
tote road. AS they came out into this
broader path they saw the smoke pour
ing through it in a choking cloud.
"Oh. Joe" gasped Amanda 'its
comingm
1T surely is" agreed the hardware
merchant. Were in a hot corner, my
girl. But trust TO me"
oh, do, Joe !" she exclaimed
'queezing his arm. 81 am sure you
know what is best to do
I'll try to prove that so" he said
with subdued chuckIe
oh. Uncle Joel" cried Carolyn May
suddenly, cant we get out of this
awful smoke? lit chokes mel"
Wait" whispered Amanda to the
man. I'll lift her over the back of
the seat think she had better be in
my lap"
"Pr'aps that's So" he agreed. and
ne held in the nervous Cherry for
me nent till the change was accom-
plished.
The roaring Of the fire grew louder
ana louder in their ears.
suddenly Joseph Stage dragged
~aerry's head around. The horse
Saorted aud hesitated, for the smoke
was binding him.
pretty near missed these forks "
exclaimed The hardware merchant.
.iis left road takes us toward the
lake"
oh, Joe. can we reach it?" whis-
pered Amanda.
We've got to-" he returned grimly.
It9 three miles, if its an inch, but
merry has got to make it,
ihey were relieved after a minute or
1No IN this new road. The smoke had
"'t so completely filled it. But II was
Fougher way, and the blackboard
.'aneed until Carolyn May cried out
Ihey drove ever a little hillock that
used them higher than the tote road
11 done. Amanda clutched Nj.