New Britain herald., 1922-02-09


 heat tho men retreated across the break and olung to their line. AL ready their lungs were sore from in- haling smoke and their throats were in1amed, A pine, its pitchy trunk ablaze, crashed down across the Are trail and caught in the fork Of a tree beyond, Instantly the foliage leaped to red flame,
 Bob galloped into the canon and flung himself from tho horse.
 shes jumpin' outa the guch above. Too late to head her off. We better run trail alonk the top O the ridge, don't you reckon?" he said.
 "yes, son." agreed Crawford. we can just about hold her here. Itnl be hours before l can spare man for the ridge, We got 10 get help in q hurry. You ride 10 town and rustic men"
 The canon above them WAS by this time a sea Of Arc, the most terrifying sight Bob had ever looked upon Monster flames leaped at the walls of the gulch, swept in an eyebeat over draws, attacked with a savage roar tho dry vegetation. The noise was like the crash of mountains meeting. Thunder could scarce have made itself heard
 Sanders was in the office of the Jackpot company looking over some blue prints when Joyce Crawford ,,,, rnI 4xil Ill. last night, Mr. Sanders. He said might pass t on to you and Boh though if isn't to go farther. It's about that ten thousand dollars he paid the bank when if called his loan. He got the money from Buck Byington.'
 Buck" exclaimed the young man.
 'T know" she explained. "The money wasn't his. He's executor or something for the children of his dead brother. When he heard Dad was so desperately hard up for cash he let him have the money. Now it has been strengthened out. That's why Dad couldn't tell where he got the money. Buck would have been in trouble"
 'I sec"
 A shadow darkened the doorsill and Bob Hart stepped into the office.
 His first words were ominons. but before he spoke both of those look ing at him knew he was the bearer of bad news. There was in his boy ish face an unwonted gravity.
 "F1re in the chaparral, Dave, and going strong
 Sanders spoke one word. "Where? ?'
 "Started in Bear Canon, but it's jumped out into the hills"
 Joyce guessed the situation was a desperate one. "Is Dad in danger o she asked.
 Hart answered. "No-not now. anyhow"
 What can I do to helr?"
 wen have hundreds of men in the field probably. if this fire has real start" Dave told her. wen need food and coffee--lots of it. Or ganize the women. Make meat sand wiches of them. And send out to the Jackpot dozens of coffee- pots. Your job is to keep the work CTS well fed Better send bandages and salve. in case some get burnt.
 Sanders was on the road inside of twenty minutes, group ot horse men galloping at his heels. Through tho smoke the sun was blood-red. The air was heavy and heated.
 From the fire line Crawford came to meet these new allies. We're ho,din' her here. It's been nip an tuck"
 E,merson Crawford was holding h1s ground, though barely holding it.
 How are things up above :' he asked in a hoarse whisper
 Good. We held the check-line'
 "See it through. Say, son. look who's here." His thumb hitched to- ward his right shoulder.
 Dave looked down the line or blackened. erimy ire-tighters and hls eye fell on Shorty. He was still wearing chaps, but his Chihuahua hat had succumbed long ago. Manifest ly the man had been on the fighting line for some hours.
 Doesn't he know about the re- ward ?"
 "yes. He was hidin' in Malapl when the call came for men, Says he's no auitter, whatever else he IS. You bet he ain't He's worth two ot most men at this work. Soon as we get through he'll be on the dodge again. He's a good sport, anyho"' I'll say that for him.
 CHAPTER \%I1.
 When Shorty separated from l'ohle