The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-06-24

hardly see. or of the heat which with her exertions had sent the perspira- tion streaming down her face. For | now, balancing herself with great care, she moved her tortured arms half numb with pain, up and down against the rustdy edges. A sharp pain and she bit her lips-readjust- ing herself to her task. But she felt
 the saw cutting into the rope-one strand, another. and in a moment her hands were released
 In her joy of the achievement, she toppled over on the floor, but man.
 aged to release her elbows. Now, panting with her exertions and nov ing her arms quickly to restore the circulation she felt for the knots at her knees and ankles and in a mo- ment her limbs were free. But she
 had not reckoned with the effects of their long period of inactivity, for when she tried to get to her feet she found that her limbs were powerless.
 But she moved her knees up and down, suffering kneely as the blood took up its course, and after a time managed to ramble to her feet, and stagser to the opening in the wall. It seemed that all the forest was now a mass of flaming brands and ITdl the roar or the flames was al her very ears. It was stifing hot, too, and in one corner of the cabin there was a tiny bright spot and a curl of smoke. Had her liberty come too late? She was not even free yet, for the hole in the wall of the build ing was no larger than a. single pane of glass and the door of the shanty was fastened by the hasp on the out side
 There was no time now to hesitate unless she wished to be burned alive.
 With an effort she threw herself against the door-again and again, but it would not yield. Despairing and blinded by smoke, she staggered to the box, hunting an ax, when her fingers met the handle of the friendly saw. It was heavy, but she knew how to use it, and set it at the hole in the wall. drawing it back and forth. The wood was dead and she felt it yield to the strong teeth of the tool, So that she struggled on, the width of the board: then cut again, at the upper edge of the aperture. and in a mo- ment the board feM away
 She was not a moment too soon. for as she crawled through the opening and fell exhausted on the outside. one end of the building suddenly caught fire; blazing fiercely. The sparks were all around her and her skirt caught flrt in the flaming leaves into which she had fallen, but she put 1t out with her blisterad hands and rose to her feet A figure was coming to- ward her, bent it's hand before its eyes. She could not make out who 1t was but as she turned to run Hawk Kennedy espied her.
 Ho, there, kid! Got lose, hey? Just in time. Did ye think I was goin to let ye be burned to death 9"
 With Brierly leading them to the machine and listening to Peters story as they went, Peter made his way across the foot of the lawn to the road where the machine was waiting for them. As they climbed into it, the glow to the south had turned a lurid red. staining the dusky sky to the zenith. Brierly drove and for precaution's sake Peter sat in the tonneau with Shad. But the lumber man, if he had ever been considered formidable even in his own estima- don, showed no evidence of any self confidence. Peter had given him signs of mettle which were not to be denied. and like all bullies Shad knew that he was beaten. The one vestige of his decency-his honorable affec- tion for Beth. which had blinded him to reason and all sense of duty-was now dedicated to the task of saving her. And though the dull hatred of Peter still burned in his breast, the instinct oS se1f-preservation, and the chance of retrieving himself at the last. made it necessary for him to put his pride in his pocket and accept the inevitable.
 "Ye'N keep yer word. mister?" he inquired of Peter. after a moment 'I didn't have nothin' to do with set- tin them woods afire. Ye'n get me out O this scrape?''
 Yes" said Peter shortly. "I will"
 But he watched him nevertheless
 The ex-soldier drove the car at a furious pace over the rough road, re- joicing in the open cut-out and the rush of the wind past his ears. He had been, for a time, chauffeur of a staff car on the other side, and the present conditions were full of prom ise of the kind of excitement that a appealed to his youthful spirit
 Shad shouted instructions over his shoulder. but Brierly only nodded and sent the car on over the corduroy to which they had come. with the throttle wide. Night had nearly fall en. but the road was a crimson track picked out with lond pencilings of shadow. The wind was still tossing the treetGps and leaves and twigs cut sharply across their faces. There was no mistaking the danger to the whole of the Lower Reserve unless the wind fell-a crown" fire after two weeks of drought was not a subject for jest
 But Peter was not thinking of tke damage to McGuire's property. lie roared questions eagerly at Wells as to the location of the cabin with ref erence to the probable course of the flames The man only shook his head dubiously. but it was plain that he was considering that danger As they neared the fire they could see the flames clearly now. beyond the pines just before them, which were etched in deply bitten lines. every quivering frond in silhouette against the glare.
 As the car neared the Fork" Shad directed Brierly to take the turn to the left-away from the main road to camp. and they swung into a sandy