The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-11-04
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eled down to where the timber camp lay and a dreamy look came into them.
 A swirling apIral of smoke caught Ball's eye. It was rising from above the opposfte ridge. stan, always a good woodsman noted that the fire was more than a campers cooking blaze.
 ..some fool tenderfoot has let his campfire get into the spruce" Stan said to the mare.
 The smoke increased in volume while Stan watched 1t. Ordinarily he would have ridden straight to the spot and tried to put the fire out but now he was not free to go the smoke and would so. Stan early and the fire might sweep into yond control before anyone saw it.
 With a grim smile, he sent the black. pounding down the slope in the direction of the fire. This was in line with the foolish things he was used to doing. He would likely have to do some fast work to keep from being captured after he had stamped out the blaze, if he could do that.
 The trail across the valley and up the far slope was rough and Stan had no desire to have the mare twist leg, so he held her in and took the run at an easy lope. They struck the Pass Creek trail and thundered along for couple of miles, then swung off to the left.
 The smoke was heavy now and that the fire was in pitch or pine wood, possibly green .stand- ing ember. Stan burst into the that surrounded Swergin's hidden cabin to find the walls on two sides ablaze. He pulled up and like q flash his trained eyes took in the situation.
 Been set" he snapped.
 The black mare paved impa- tiently and swung around.
 There might be someone insida' Stan spoke 8 thought that had struck him instantly.
 Leaping from the black mare he ran toward the cabin. Long tongues of flame licked upward around the walls. Stan shielded his face with his arm and plunged ahead. He was forced to retreat when 10 feet from the door, his clothes smoking and his hands smarting.
 He ran around the cabin and ap- preached from the unburned side. A dash brought hi close to the wall and he slid along in its shelter until he could reach around into the flames and smoke and jerk the door open. Bending low, he leaped inside.
 The room was dense with smoke and spurts of flame shot between the logs. The heat was intense as Stan took in teh scene. The pile of clothes Swergin had left in the center of the room attracted him first. He paved them over and tried to look around the room. There was no sound, and he called loudly twice. Only the cracking answered.
 Stan bent low and whirled to- ward the door. He could stay no longer. As he leaped a groan came 10 him from the west wall. Whirl- ng he sprung across the room and his outstretched hands touched a ,rumpled figure. Stan grasped the nan around the shoulders and tried | 70 life him. The limp form was pound fast to the wall. Like a flash, | Stan whipped out his saddle knife | md slashed the rope. |
 The return to safety was a mad scramble and Stan suffered an ag- only of heat and choking fumes. He staggered out into the clearing with his burden and laid it in the grass then sat down to choke and cough the smoke from his lungs When he was able to ses again and 1ad recovered his breath he bent ,ver the man he had rescued.
 Turning him over, Stan stared at he blue and choked features. As per Delo!" he muttered in aston shment. Then he went at the work # restoring the old man with grim Ipeed.
 Asper came around slowly. not injured to any great extent. He re- ,ognized Ball as soon as he opened his eyes, and a smile parted his olistered lips.
 "If you can make 1t I'll try to | ut back some of the brush around his cabin so that the fire will not cross the clearing" Stan grinned.
 Asper tried to hold Stan back. He to tell him something but lis throat was so dry and tortured rom the smoke that he could not . speak. He lay back and let his ungs pump themselves clear.
 Stan tried every trick that he xnew to keep the flames from spreading and then returned to Asper. But his work was futile. l The old man would have to ride in | and get help; that was the only way a disaster could be averted. He ran around the cabin and duck sd through the smoke. Stopping where he had left Asper he looked around then his lips pulled into straight line. The timber man was yone!"
 "still bent on taking me, I guess" Stan spoke bitterly. Thinks he can get gang of men here while l fight this fire.' Tossing aside a green bough he had been using to | beat out grass flames Stan whistled to his mare. He might as well make | B run for it before he had to use | 3 gun to get away.
 lie nd0 lOOI III luO otiELuP when a husky voice halted him. "Just a minute, Ball."
 Stan whirled to see Asper run- hing through the smoke toward him.
 T had to get swallow of water | to talk" Asper held out a grimed | hand.
 Stan took it without hesitation and his old grin burst through the ashes and sooty patches on his cheeks.
 i've been a fool but know now Asper's voice was only a rasping whisper.
 "This was more of Swergin's work?" Stan waved toward the mass of flames that marked the cabin.
 Caught me on the way down to Pass Creek" Asper's eyes blazed from sooty hollows.
 You better get down and give an alarm" Stan suggested. "I'll take you behind the saddle to the edge of the clearing"