The Monticellonian., 1919-01-17
CHAPTER xvi-continued.

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 "Go oni Good dog cried Mir stagg. Lead the way 10 Hannah s Car'lyn :"
 He heard the little girl screaming ''Oh, Uncle Joe! Oh, Uncle Joe Here we are i'
 Cherry rattled the blackboard down to the bottom of the hollow and stopped. There WIS some smoke here, but not much The man leaped to the ground when he saw figure rise up from the foot of q tree by the spring figure in brown.
 Joseph! Thank God" murmured Amanda.
 The hardware dealer strode to her. She had put out both her hands to him. and he saw that they were trem- bling, and that tears filled her great brown eyes.
 "oh, Joe :" she said. "I feared you would come too late !"
 But I'm hnre, Mandy. and I'm not too late F' Ee 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, Joe! Joel" It was like q sur rendering sob.
 'It's not too late, Is if, Mandy? Say It isn't too late r he pleaded.
 No, it's not too late.n she whis- pered. Tiff we're not too old
 "Old" almost shouted Joseph Stagg. 'I don't remember of ever feeling So young as I do right nowl" and sud denly he stopped and kissed her. "Bless me- what fools we've been all this time v
 "0h. Uncle Joe Oh. Miss Amanda ,' cried CaroyIn May. standing before them, and pointing with rather grimy index finger. You aren't mad 1t each other any more. are you? Oh, am so glad so gladt" and her face showed her pleasure.
 But the situation was too difficult to allow of much but practical thoughts. "Where's the old woman?n asked Jo. seph Stagg 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 eamI when left. We must get out of here In q hurry" declared MT. stagg.
 We aren't going 10 be burned IT now. when Uncle Joe Is here. Miss Mandy Carolyn May declared witt confidence "See how nice he ant Prince found us? Why they are reglai heroes, aren't they?"
 ..They are indeed. child agreed tht woman She turned to Joseph Stagg happiness shining in her eyes. anC looking prettier than ever before 1T her life, he thought.
 The hollow was rapidly beeomin. filled with smoke. The man did no understand this, but 1t forehodet trouble. He turned Cherry and tn, blackboard around, and then he helped l Amanda into the seat
 Up you go, too, Car'lyn May" h, said, lifting the little girl into the req of the blackboard.
 Joseph Stage felt very serious as h, seated himself by Amanda's side ant picked up the reins. The horse quick ly retraeed his steps up the hill to th, tote road. As they came out into thi broader path they SAW the smoke pour ing through il in choking cloud.
 "Oh, Joe" gasped Amanda. sit coming !"
 "It surely is," agreed the hardwar, merchant Were in hot corner, m, girl But trust to me-
 "oh, de. ,loe!s she exclaimed squeezing his arm. .l am sure yo, know what k best to do,
 I'll try to prove that so," he sail with suhdued chuckle
 "oh, Uncle Joel" cried Carolyn Ma, suddenly, cant We get out of thl 1 awful smoke2 It-it ehokes mel"
 Wait whispered Amanda to tn man. I'll lift her over the back 0
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