Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-01-11
IIAPTER SSN
In tho Blizzard.


climb thai ended at the pass. II "aS
his habit I" Erumblc Il" had been
complaining ever since they had
started Eut as he studied III" heavy
billOws Of cloud banked above tn"
peaks and in tn" saddle between.
there was real anxiety IN hIs red.
apoPlctir face.
"Gittin' her back up for blizzard.
looks like Doggone II, If that would
not jest ho my luck" he murmured
fretfully.
Shehn hoped there would he one.
not. OF course. ii really. truly blizzard
AIch as Macdonald had told her
bout, but the tail Of Il nIakc-bchcH"
one. enough 10 send her glowing with
exhilaratiun into the rOundhous"
with a h:,ppy sense of an adventure
achieved. The girl had got out 10
relieve tn" horses. AMI dS her young,
lissom body took the hill scattering
flakes OF snow w.r" already lying
Today Sh" WAS huOycd up by
sense of freedom. For Il time. al
least. she Mas escaping MacdUnald's
driving energy. the appeal of Cor
don f.li0tS warm frI"ndlIncss. and
the unyUicch urging Of DIanc. Good
old Peter and the kiddics were IN"
only ones that let her alone.
She looked back al the horses
laboring up the hill. Swiftwa,cr had
got down and was urging them for
Dyard. his long whip cracking about
ehe ears of the leaders. He waddl"d
as ne walked. His fat legs were TO"
short for the round barrel body. y
big roll OF fat hulgcd out over III"
collar of his shirt. Whenever he was
excitcd-and he always was on TN"
least excusc--he puffed and snortcd
and grew alarmingly purple.
Fiat chance" ne exploded as soon
as he got within hearing. SNOW IN
thtse cloudS--tons of IT. HIM And
Wild. Wow. We're III for an honest
to-God blizzard. sure as you're Il foot
high"
saltwater was worried. He would
ha, liked to turn and run for II. But
the last roadhouse was twen,y-se> "m
mild back. II the blizzard came
howl Ing down the slope they would
have q sweet time Of 1t reaching safe
II, 49,. CrosslDg was on 1.-The 9th
er side Vf the divide. only nine miles
away. They would have to worry
through somehow. Probably those
angry clouds were half a blum.
The temperature was dropping rap
idly. Already snow fell fast in big
thick flakes. To make il worse. the
wind was beginning to rise. 1t came
In shrill gusts momcntariiy increasing
In force.
The stagc-drivcr knew the signs OF
cold and cursed the luck that had
led him To bring the stage. II WAS
to have been the last trip with horses
until spring. His dogs were waiting
for him ut Katma for the return
Journey. He did not blame himself.
for there was no reason Ia expect
such q storm so early In the season.
None the less. 1t was too bad that his
lead dog had been ailine when he left
the gold camp eight days before.
Miss O'Neill knew that Swiftwater
Pete was anxious. and though she
was not yet afraid. the girl under
stood the reason for 1t. The road
ran through the heart of vast snow
field, the surface OF which Was beinS
swept by a screaming wind. The air
was full OF sifted white dust. and the
road furrow was rapidly filling. Soon
II would be obliteratcd. '.eady the
horses were painting anu struggling
as they ploughed forward. Sheba
tramped behind the stage-drivcr and
In her tracks walked Mrs. Olson. the
other passenger.
Through the muflled scream Of the
storm saltwater shouted back to
Sheba: You wanta keep close To
me-"
She nodded her head. His order
needed II, explanation. The world
WAS narrowing to lane whose walls
she could almost touch with her
nngers. a pail OF white wrapped
them. Upon them beat wind Of
stinging slcct. Nothing could be seen
but the blurred outlines Of the stage
and the drivers figure.
The bitter cold searched through
Sheba's furS 10 her soft flesh and the
blast OF powdered ice beat upon her
FACE. The snow was getting deeper
q the road filled. Once or'twice she
stumbled and tell. Her strength ebb-
ed, and the hinges OF her knees gave
unexpectedly beneath her. How long
was IL, she asked herself. that Mac
donald had said men could live In
blizzard?
Staggering blindly forward. Sheba
bumped into the driver. He had
drawn up to give the horses mo-
ment's rest before sending them
plunging at the snow again.
NO chance" he called into the
voung woman's ear. Never make
smiths in the world. Coin try for
miners cabin up gulch little way"
The team stuck in the drifts. fought
through, and was blocked again ten
wards beyond. A dozen times the
horses gave up, answered the sting
Of the whip by diving ahead first at
the white banks and were stopped by
fresh snow-combs.
Pete gave up the fight. HI began
unnitching the horses. while Sheba
and Mrs. Olson. clinging to each 9TH
er's hands, stumbled forward to join
him. The words he shouted across
/. the back Of Il horse were almost lost
In the roar OF the shrieking wind.
". .heluratime ride. .gulch.
: sheba made out.
He fiung Mrs. Olson astride one Of
k.he wheelers and helped Sheba to the
hack Of the right leader. Swiftwater
,,hared upon its mate himself,