The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1918-12-13
CHAPTER xvI-CSntinued.

TO on GOOO DOG CRIED MI.
Stagg. LEAD the way to Hannah's
Car'lyn!"
He heard the little girl screaming (:
"Oh, Uncle Joe! Oh. Uncle Joe! Here
we are!"
Cherry ratified the blackboard down
to the bottom of the hollow and
stopped. There was some smoke here,
but not much. The man leaped to the
ground when he saw figure rise up
from the foot of tree by the spring
figure in brown.
"Joseph! Thank Godi" 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, joel" she said, 81 feared you
would come too later
'But I'm here, Mandy, and I'm not
too late" he cried; and, somehow
neither of them could. perhaps, have
explained just how-his arms went
his shoulders, while she looked earn
estly into his face.
ooh, Joe! joe" 1t was like sur
rendering sob.
"It's not too late, is 1t, Mandy? Say
Ii isn't too late" he pleaded.
mo, it's not too late." she whis-
pered. "f-if we're not too old"
odd" almost shouted Joseph Stagg.
81 don't remember of ever feeling so
young as I do right now!" and sud-
denly he stopped and kissed her.
"Bless me! what fools we've been all
this timer
"Oh, Uncle Joel Oh, Miss Amanda ~
cried Carolyn May, standing before
them, and pointing with a rather grimy
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 woman?" asked Jo-
seph Stagg quickly.
"Her husband came with a 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.. Stagg.
1--WE 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
filled with smoke. The man did not
understand this. but 1t foreboded
trouble. He turned Cherry and the
around, and then he helped
Amanda into the seat.
Cup you go, too, Car'lyn May" he
said, lifting the little girl into the rear
of the blackboard.
Joseph Stagg felt very serious as he
seated himself by Amanda's side and
picked up the reins. The horse quick
ly 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 1t in choking cloud.
"Oh. joe" gasped Amanda, "it's
"It surely is" agreed the hardware
merchant. "We're in hot corner, my
girl. But trust to me-"
~Oh, i do, Joew she exclaimed,
his arm. 81 am sure you
know what is best to do"
I'll try to prove that so." he said
with a subdued chuckle.
ooh, Uncle Joep cried Carolyn May
"can't we get out of this
awful smoke? lit chokes mer
"Wait," whispered Amanda to the
man. "T'll lift her over the back Of
the seat. I think she had better be In
my lap"
"P'r'aps that's So" he agreed, and
he held in the nervous Cherry for
till the change was accom-
plished.
The roaring of the fire grew louder
and louder in their ears.
Suddenly Joseph Stage dragged
head around. The horse
snorted and hesitated, for the smoke
was binding him.
II pretty near missed these forks |"
exclaimed, the hardware merchant.
This left road takes us toward the
lake."
"Oh, Joe, can we reach lit" whis-
pered Amanda.
"We've got tor he returned grimly.
TITS three miles, II it's an inch, but
Cherry has got to make It,"
They were relieved after minute or
two In this new road. The smoke had
not so completely filed it. But 1t was
a rougher way, and the blackboard
bounced until Carolyn May cried out
In fear.