Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1919-03-26
CHAPTER xvI-continued.
Ii

HOh, Uncle Joel 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 a figure rise up
from the foot of tree by the spring
figure in brown.
"Josephl 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, 81 feared you
would come too latei''
"But I'm here, Mandy, and Tn not
too late" he cried; and, somehow
neither of them could, perhaps, have
explained just howv-his arms went
around her and her lands rested on
his shoulders, while she looked earn
estly into his face.
"Oh, joel Joel" 1t was like sur
rendering sob.
'It's not too late, is it, Mandy? Say
1t isn't too late!" he pleaded.
"NO, it's not too late" she whis-
pered. "If-if we're not too old"
"Oldi" almost shouted Joseph Stage.
~ don't remember of ever feeling so
young as l do right now!" and sud-
denly he stopped and kissed her.
"Bless mel 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 grimy
index finger. "You aren't mad at each
other any more, are you? Oh, am so
gladi so gladI" 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.. Stage.
''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
booking prettier than ever before in
her life, he thought.
The hollow was rapidly becoming
SLED 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.
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 it in a choking cloud.
"Oh, joe" gasped Amanda, ''it's
coming!"
SIT surely is" agreed the hardware
merchant. "We're in hot corner, my
girl. But trust to me"
ooh, / do, Joel" she exclaimed,
squeezing his arm. 81 am sure you
know what is best to do"
s'rIl try to prove that So" he said
with subdued chuckle.
"Oh, Uncle Joel" cried Carolyn May
suddenly, "can't we get out of this
awful smoke? lit chokes me"
"Wait," whispered Amanda to the
man. ''rH lift her over the back of
the seat. 1 think she had better be in
my lap"
"P'r'aps that's So" he agreed, and
he held in the nervous Cherry for a
moment till the change was accom-
plished.
The roaring of 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.
81 pretty near missed these forks r
exclaimed the hardware merchant.
This left road takes US toward the
lake."
"Oh, Joe, can we reach it?' whis-
bered Amanda.
"We've got tol" he returned grimly.
'Tt's three miles, if it's an inch, but
Cherry has got to make it"
They were relieved after a minute or
two in this new road. The smoke had
not so completely filed it. But it was
rougher way, and the blackboard
bounced until Carolyn May cried out
In fear.
They drove ever little hillock that
raised them higher than the tote road
had done. Amanda elutChed Mr..
Stages arm again and uttered half