The Coolidge examiner., 1934-12-14
cpAPTER x-con,inued
IL

IL
And how long viii we lastf How
long. ask your lie raised = foot
and she saw a bare leg above the
shoe. 4 put my socks on Joey
Miller three hours ago when you
were noddlng That boys all In.
Nancy and some of these little girls
won't live the day through unless
help reaches Us. II We had food Il
night put new lie iuto them: but
every lunch palrs empty and
He stopped. sllenced by a moan
from some one In the huddied mass.
and lifting a child. worked AZ her
stln lsgs in desperation. II was.
Nance saw. the twin who wore her
sweater. and suddenly the girl was
pullinE or her wooien stockings
while Jack protested You keep
those ou. Sis Say. are you going
crnry7 DO you want 10 freeze 20
death1 You're 10 your thin silk IN
dies now. know H. | saw you
EAsF@A VIZ va A#AA M&AAAf9 AAaMM
while ago. D--u you. Nance Mel
son. you keep those stockings on r
Nancy said nothing. Jack was.
she Understood. half crazed with
anxiety for all those helpless chill.
drcn and herself as wclL Slipping
bare feet into her shoes again. she
knelt 20 pun her warm hose over
the icy legs OF the small sufferer
while one OF the girls. watching In
silence. struggled out of her coat
and bu,ioned Il about her little sis
ter.
Nance threw a smile. a drawn.
sad smile that Cousin Columblne
wouldn't have recognized.
Come help me. Evelyn she
said gently we must wake some
OF the ilttiest ones and keep them
moving
IL was nearly noon when. as the
wind subsided. Jack said the words
that struck terror 10 his sisters
heart.
I'm going now. Nancy His
voice tremhled a little "Aa I see
II. there's no other way. Keep up
your courage. and for Gods sake.
Mace. keep lighting. Unless the
wind starts up again I'll reach that
ranch In = few hours
"And-lf you-dontf-
Their eyes met. and Nance knew
her brother realized how slim
chance be had Her lips ircmblcd
but he made a gesture toward the
children.
Il kuow-bui can't let them
die, Nancy. while there's a chance
20 save them. BILL" turning 20
the boy who wore his Jacket. I'm
going for help and Il looks as II I'd
have 10 take that coat No. I won't
need the socks" (as the little boy
stopped bravely 10 remove them).
TON osgood. you keep the kiddles
moving I'm counting on you older
ones 10 help"
Look here" spoke up the boy
suddenly. ''you find a fence. Jack.
and follow II II you can Dad told
me once that II ever got caught
out In a blizzard. to End a fence
and just hang onto H. And II you
run into mall boz you1l know a
gate ls somewhere near. Gosh
Jack. III sort wish you wouldn't
10"
Jack forced 4 smile.
Now don't you worry. kid. I'll
get there sure. so long as the wind
stays quiet You just help Nancy
every way you can: and whatever
happens. don't 30 70 sleep. Keep
thinking that by night wen be safe
home Good--good-by-every one"
He did not look at Nancy as he
strode away. The girl knew that
he did not dare to: and In another
moment his tall form was blotted
out What fate would meet him.
alone on those terrifying plains,
she wondered. tears stlnging her
eyeiids. And with a clutch OF
fear). was the wind risingl
Time passed. intermInable hours
that seemed unendlng. The dread
ed wind died down. returned. and
died again. not TO return No one
could say just when the blizzard
ceased. for one by one the children
were succumblng 10 the portentous
drowsiness. Once Nance succumbed
herself. 10 be aroused by the fran
tic. pounding fists OF Tommy Os-
good.
The cold was still Intense when
that second dusk approached the
prairies; but the whlmpering voices
were hushed in an ominous silence.
Most OF the children had given up
by now. completely spent with cold.
and hunger. and even fright For
there had been strange happenings
since Jacks departure. Twice they
rejoiced at the sound OF approach
ing horses. only to find that their
ears must hare deceived them. Two
OF the children had "seen" the
schoolhouSe. and. as the mirage
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