Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-11-14

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cheek. Air. were stirring. soft as
velvet. The man at the fire had
coaxed 1t into tiny flame. Burton
saw sic had been mistaken; that this
was not Gardiner but Davenport
The young man had on yellow
sicker and sou'wester. He looked up
and caught her eye.
"She's coming" said he cheerfully
Listen TO herI"
And then Burton suddenly realized
that the roar was not of the surf, but
Of the tempest hurting through the
forest
She stepped to the fire, gancing Gu
riously at the reeumbent figures under
the other shelter, and looked at her
watch again. One-twenty-six.
"Oughtn't you to awaken Mr.. Gar
diner to witness that it's raining and
he's lost his bet?" she asked.
He probably wouldn't acknowledge
these few drops as rain" said Daven
port easily Hes natural quibbler."
"There are less than four minutes"
Don't worry 1T will be here in
less than two. Listen"
The roaring was louder, with a half
guessed undertone of crashing, the
beat of wild rhythm.
ut frightens me- she confessed,
tits like the approach of ravenine
wild beast"
"You are SAFE" he told her conf
IDENTIFY; all answer for 1t. Believe
that; and enjoy 1t as the great and
fearful spectacle 1t will be. But get
into the tent now. You must not gel
wet, for there will be no chance to
dry off and when this hits 1t will
come in buckets"
They turned together to the tent.
One of the figures under the shelter
stirred uneasily. some faint echoes of
the turmoil penetrating his dreams.
When the wind comes before the rain.
Hoist your topsais up again.
When the rain comes before the wind
chanted Davenport In full voice. Over
head Burton heard a hurried patter
as though many little feet scurried
across the canvas; then succeeded a
drumming.
"Roll out Roll out !" yelled Daven.
port. "Roll out and see 1t rainl AT
thousand drops for cent my ten
thousand would be overpaid a thou
sand times!"
With furious rush the wind fell
upon them.
Burton had thought she would be
looking out to see the spectacle. In.
stead she huddled on the cot, Rugged
Rapscallion, and wondered how long
the tent would stand under the furi.
GUS assaults delivered against 1t. The
roar OF the water against the canvrs
aad the first howl of the wind muffied
the rending crashes OF branches, aid
the crescendo of falling trees All
the air seemed full of devils OF wind
and water The tent alternately
sagged and bulged In sharp fierce
tugs at Its moOrlngs. 30 that II
seemed impossible 1t could hold to-
gether. Once. however. the circle Of
the flashight showed at the bottom of
the tent. followed II AROUND She
heard Inufiled blows. as the tent pegs
were assured. few moments later
Davenport showed al the doorway.
the water streaming from his face and
garments, grinned at her reassurIngly.
shouted something and disappeared.
This continued for long time. II
seemed hours to Burton. But little
before three o'clock the fury of the
tempest passed on Orderiness re-
sumed Its control The wild orgy Of
ths elements was replaced by bust.
nesslike deluge of rain. that struck
its nifch and held IL In steady. sus-
tanned roar Of falling waters. After
the nervous strain Of the unheayal Ii
was actrally soothing. Burton re-
faxed; lay down; drew the covers
over her. In thirty seconds she was
profoundly asleep.
Ito be continued)