Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-09-07

ton posted his men along the a sid
of the way. TO beat out the patches o
flame that would spring up from tn
burning brands carried over II by tn
wind.
The confiagration came roaring
down on them before many minutes
had passed. II seemed to gather forcs
as II advanced. The smoke was sti
fling. They could see one another
only dimly in the swirling fog.
The line of fire shot through the
fore them. and reached the edge OF
the cleared way. Then the workers
found themselves surrounded with q
ring grass
were alight behind them. And along
the muskeg edge the c~oniagration had
thrust out gripping tentacles Of fame
that edged round and In toward the
~engine-sheds.
Shouting TO those nearest him to fol-
low. Wilton ran down toward the
swamp. But when the grade came
into sight he saw something that
caught his cry and killed 1t on his lips.
OF a sudden his veins seemed to run
ice for blood. The fire had caught the
trestling and was running along the
timbers. eating Its way toward the
east bank.
But what made him catch his breath
and clench his fists was this: the FIRE
was moving eastward and yet It could
pot haua ufaxsa1 nm the wo~f hark for
here the trestling IA completely hid
den under the foundation. over which
the flames could o pass. The fire
had started In the middle of the mus
keg. and had been started there Of
design.
II was the end OF everything. Big
Muskeg would remain unspanned after
all. when Bowyer assumes control.
The engine-houses were flre-red ru-
ins, belching up a black, sticky smoke
that clogged the fighters lungs and
settled In fine particles Of black dust
all over them. Drums of oil and gaso-
line exploded with the salvoes of ar
tillery. shooting up streamers of flame
~sky-high. Rivulets of fire broke forth
and streamed through the camp.
spreading the destruction.
The encircling arms of-the confa-
grafton had thrust their fingers all
about them through the forest, which
in the open space itself the fire had
been stayed, though hardly anything
was left except the kitchens aud
bunk-houses. The sheds and engine
houses had gone up In a few minutes, |
and now glowed fercely with an In
tense heat. but without fame.
The fighters had done all they
could do, and that was nothing. They
could do nothing more now. except to
guard the b~unk-houses from the rivers
of blazing oil. Wilton found O few
and told them to take spades and
throw up mounds along the courses Of
torrents, In order TO divert them.
The IIunkIes, mad With drink. gath
cred In clusters AT the doors OF the
and Ieered at the men
who fought TO saw them: and these.
dlsconsolate to care. having al
last secured the remaining structures,
Hung down their spades and drew oui
u their way. Everyone knew this wns
he end.
Out of the sninL, came the figure
VI Mct;re. the hea,- locomotive engi.
lcer. His hair was crisTel like n ne
gro's-he WIS rs black. and the iears
furrowed white channels down his
ITS all gone!" he shouted. ".Noth
ng but scrap-iron and junk. Wen
ave a bargain sale" lie recognized
and seized him by the arm.
Who set that blazer" he screamed.
Man. there was gasoline. gallons Of :
t. soaking the sheds before ever the !
ire come there. They we're soaked
Nth II. Who did 1t? Show me the Q
skunk !" he shouted. half beside .
imseIf. !
ut doesn't matter now said WI .
Dn. :
MCGEE raved, cursing and sobbing.
suddenly rushed away into the a
and was lost to view. a
Wilton was making his way toward a
Is shack before IL occurred TO him a
lat he would not find II. Yet there g
the safe. He would stay guard q
yer that. To his immense surprise. Il
Jwever. he discovered that the shack n
i'd escaped the confiagration. though
remained of Kitty's but a few v
ackened beams. A backire had h
zen set successfully. The grass was al
Irned all about the place, and some 81
the timbers were s~corched, but that d.
as all. The shack was an oasis In cl
e devastation OF clnders. Jules III
ii stuck to his post. es
Wilton knew there had been treaeh ef
>. He knew that Bowyer's appear III
ice at the portage had not been
ance. Bowyer had not driven miles vi
DIN Cold Junction by coincidence. In
had no doubt that the fire was Sc
his making. Of
And even that did not matter. 81
the door Of his shack he stopped.
had a strange instinct Of danger vi
instinct of the beast returning 10 -
den. which tells II that something
8 been there during It's absence. I'd
1o unlocked tho rfS3ca Honr and wont 49,