The Coolidge examiner., 1934-12-07

Z ter. staring Into the wlnd SD ep
space. fought terror. Snow was de
scendinE fast and furiously now
Indeed. as they kept on doggedly I
seemed incredible that this was thi
same bare road they had traverses
50 short = time before with frlendll
sunlight dappliBg the plains OF
every side II might. thought Nancy
have been showing here FOR hour
and hours Could II be possible tha
they we're OF the road7 Stralnlns
her eyes into the drifting white
watching in desperation FOR The
wayslde mail box. visions OF frozei
cattle rose up before her. and tbs
girls heart thudded
Al last Jack said. not looking at bis
sister: We've missed that ranch
Nancy. II can't have been as far a
this what say we turn back now
and try 20 reach the schoolhouse
The wind would be behind us any
way: and as II Is can't see fouT
feet ahead II looks 90 me as Il
our best chance vas to-"
The words we're silenccd by cry
from Nancy. "a cry of warning that
came too late Jack jammed on the
brakes 80 suddenly that his sister
WAS thrown forward against the
windshield Just as the car collided
with the engine % big school bus
which stood. itS back wheels rest.
ing In a Snow allied gully as II e1.
tended crazlly across the road.
As Nancy righted herself again
her eyes met Jacks. a glance OF
stark despair passing between them
I'm afraid that crash has On.
lshed this old car" be told her
then added "Why. Nance. ! think
that bus ls FUN of children"
I'll. there z" came a voice almos;
ht his elbow Had q smash up,
didn't your Did you meet CicmT
Jack turned 20 see a boy Of per.
haps eleven standing amid the
swlrllng snow
skip back into that bus Md.
he shouted. we're coming. too"
lie was already out. stretching
n helping hand 10 Nancy. and TO
gcther they fought their way TO the
door of the stalled bus As the
door flew open TO admit them and
Nancy. exhausted. sank into the
nearest seat. he continued with a
captivating grin: I'VE got com.
pany. kids. These folks is chang.
Ing cars az this station Say
turning 20 Jackl. did Glen John.
son send you after usT''
Jack shook his head. and glanc-
Ing about the bus. inquired: is he
your driverf-
"Jus; for today. Our regular
drivers sick" explained the boy.
Came down with an awful pain
when be was sweepln' out the bus
this morning. and his wife go,
Glen TO drive Us Teacher closed
school early because there's some
sort Of convention In Denver tomor-
row. and she wanted 10 take a
train this afternoon The storm
came awful sudden. after we left ;
and when we got this far Clem said
we'd better get back 10 Bartlett's
ranch as fast as we could. -Tisn't
more'n a few miles east Of US: but
when be tried 10 turn. the wheels
went into that gully and somethIn'
broke Glen worked for a long
time and couldn't FIX f."
$50 he went for heipf"
That's II. He thought he'd get
there easy; but the wind got some
thin fierce after he left We told
him not 10 90, but he said we'd
freeze 10 death out here and twas
up 10 him TO get us somewhere
safe. He's been gone a terrible
long time though. Say. what's your
nameT"
Jack Nelson: and this is my
sister. Nancy. What's yoursT'
Tom Osgood. I'm the oldest
feIler here: but two OF the girls are
older'n me. What do you s'pose
became OF Clem7 He ought TO be
here"
AT the front OF the bus two chill
dren began TO cry; and looking
about at all those helpless young.
sters. Nancy forgot herself. There
must be fifteen OF them; and two
lovely little girls. obviously twins
OF seven or eight. wore only sweat
ers over summer dresses. How
cold they must be,
look here" she said. rising TO
speak quietly. "these poor kiddies
are getting frightened. We must
divert them. Jack-play games OF
some sort-keep them moving as
much as possible in this crowded
place Why. I'm cold already even
with this coat. and not one Of those
children Is dressed as warmly