Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1921-02-10
PAGE SEVEN

through which it might be possible To
crawl, Yet what would there be be
You'd? Why should they venture fur
Their at present? Laud was outside
with his Indians, the whole scene lit
up with the glare of flames. They
dare not venture to expose them.
selves. Here they We're beyond reach.
protected from both flames and saw
ages. Unless some among those as
s~ailants knew the existence of this
tunnel, or accidentally stumbled upon
Its outer entrance, they could scarcely
be exposed. Even if one or two found
their way in, his barrier of earth
would block them, and, if necessary.
form the best possible defense. Con
fident that they had persisted, and thai
their charred bodies were lying in thu.
midst of the still smoking embers Of
the cabin, there would be no guard
watching for an attempt at escape. He
reached out and grasped her hand.
drawing her down beside him.
what is it?" she asked in a wills
per.
"A fall of earth nearly blocking the
passage" he explained. Il have no
idea where the tunpel leads to, and
if l did, we would never dare creep
out into h open at present"
"You-you think we had better re
main hereT doubtfully.
Until the fire dies down; perhaps
even longer. Let them believe we died
in the cabin then there may be some
chance for us to get away"
"But they will search the ruins?"
Not for some time; those logs will
be glowing embers for hours. Thai
sounded like the roof falling in then
1t was-see! 1t has crushed it's way
down through the floor. There is !,
caldron of fire II that hole we just
left, but it can't reach us here-onIy
the smoke" ,
Twill it not show them wher we
have gomez"
II hope not probably the smoking.
blazing timbers will choke up the
opening, leaving it so filed With part
iy burned wood as to conceal it entire
~. Anyhow, this is our one chance.
We would he shot down mercilessly
outside"
The glare from the burning rubbish
revealed their faces, and the smoke
hogan to swirl past them in clouds.
vet did not choke the tunnel, showing
there must be an opening somewhere
beyond to the, outside. Shelby fast
orol l;. .,oo1o,.I:.r $500. " 800,
nose and mouth, and protected her, as
we'll as himself, by means of his coat.
Scarcely conscious of the action they
sat thus, their hands clasped, gazing
at the leaping figures of flame, and
listening to the variety of noises
reaching their ears. The position.
while one of brooding horror, did not
apparently involve immediate peril.
The flames could not reach them, and
it was already evident that those
dense volumes of smoke, while dis
agreeable and s~uffocating, could still
be endured. But being cooped up
there. in that hole un%dergroundN IN
able to venture forth. choked by the
fumes. their faces smarting from the
heat. the earth walls holding them in
prison. death waiting for them which
ever way they turned. brought a
strain to Olga she could no longer
combat. Impul>ivrly she rlufchel the
man beside her. her head touching his
shoulder. her slender form trembling
to II sudden oulllrsl. -
''oon't los" yn,lr nerve" he whiS-
pered startled lay her action. "uo1hing
can hurl MS here"
'Oh. ! know; it is not THAI" the
an really frightened; only IL want
to feel you near me"
Me" he questioned surprised;
"wlrv ! haven't been much good so
far"
Oh. hut YOU have; You have been
splendid. No. roma could ever ask
more. | want YOU 10 know how CRATE
full I am
well, / don't just like that" he
protested. ''rhere amt no cause for
YOU to be grateful. sc far as l can see.
A man who wouldn't stick with his
wife wouldn't be \much.'
care YOU here Just because of that?"
We'll, maybe not altogether. Of
course, I'd be here anyhoA. | wouldn't
go back on no oma who belonged
to me. But you amt just that exact
ly. I've somehow got to thinkin' a lot
about Won lately"
"Truly?"
.
Sure; there's a heap O things hap
pened since we was lined up against
the wall of that shack down at Ponca.
I've found out more what you are
than L knew then: an, | reckon, you
got !: better line on me-
IL chose you ever then"
He laughed awkwardly.
"Out q that bunch, | don't take
that as no great compliment. Say,
sConrinued Next WeeF,
Trees Look Like Ostrich Tips.
Forestry associations in the East
have developed the habit of touring