The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1919-05-23
CHAPTER xvI-continued.

"G0 ont GoOd dog" cried Mr..
Stage. LEAD the way to Hannah's
Car'lyn!"
He heard the little girl screaming:
"Oh, Uncle Joe! oh, Uncle Joe! Here |
we arep
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 a figure rise up |
from the foot Of tree by the spring
q figure in brown.
"Josephi Thank Godl" 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.
ooh. Joel" she said, II feared you
would come too late"
'But I'm here, Mandy, and I'm not |
too latep 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.
"Oh, Joel Joew It was like sur
rendering sob.
"It's not too late. is 1t, Mandyf Say
It isn't too late" he pleaded.
mo, it's not too late" she whis-
pered. "H-if we're not too old"
."Old!" almost shouted Joseph Stagg.
IT 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 time!"
"Oh, Uncle joel Oh, Miss Amanda"
cried Carolyn May, standing before
them, and pointing with rather grimy
index finger. "You aren't mad at each
other any more, are you? Oh, I 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 woman7" asked Jo-
seph Stage quickly.
4 'sHer husband came with q 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 a hurry" declared Mr.. Stage.
I'VE 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 they2"
'"They are, indeed, child" agreed the
woman. She turned to Joseph Stage,
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 60, 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 it in q choking cloud.
"Oh, joe" gasped Amanda, "it's
coming!"
ut surely is" agreed the hardware
merchant. "We're in-a hot corner, my
girl. But trust to me-"
"Oh. I do. Joel" she exclaimed,
squeezing his arm. II am sure you
know what is best to do"
'srll try to prove that So" he said
with a subdued chuckle.
"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. 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 6
moment till the change was accom-
plished.
The roaring CT the fire grew louder
and louder in their ears.
Suddenly Joseph Stage dragged
Cherry's head around. The horse
snorted and hesitated, for the smoke
was binding him.
II pretty near missed these forks 7
exclaimed the hardware merchant
This left road takes US toward thu
lake."
"Oh, Joe, can we reach it," whis
pered Amanda.
''We've got to-" he returned grimly
tits three miles, if it's an inch, bu
Cherry has got to make it."
They were relieved after minute o
two in this new road. The smoke ha
not so completely filled it. But it wa
rougher way, and the buckboar
bounced until Carolyn May cried GU
in fear.
They drove over little hillock tina
raised them higher than the tote roa
had done. Amanda clutched MI
Stages arm again and uttered hall