Out In The Storm

"I don't like the look of the sky," s.iid 3quire Mltclielt. 'Oh, the sky's all right, únele," said a merry voice. "It's the earth thut concerns us," said anotlier as meiry. "If that does well hy us, we'll let the Bky tiike care of itself.'' "Look out, tho' or it may take care of 'ou in a way you won't like," said the squire. He stood at hls frate, smiliiifr at the rolIckir.g party of young people wlio were with niuch iaiiL'htcr. jokinjr and chalter, seating themselves ín h largc sleieli. Two brothers and two sisterg 11111011: theno were his nephews and nieces, wlio, In company with aeveral others, had drivcn n the fine slelgbing acrosg tlie prairie to ipend au evening and a nfght at his urne farm house. But a little uneasiness miiifrled itself with the smile as he agaln glanced at the eky. "Nn, I don't like It," he repeated. "Why, it's jiist like the skies we've tiad half the days this winter, uncle. Never saw such a cloudy winter in my life." "Not exactly like the others. The re s a blizzard look in it. Get home as quick as you can, Caleb," to the boy who was preparing to drlye. "I will, uncle. Bat and Ball will skin over the snow like sixty." "Tuck In your robes, girle," said the pquire. "Feel that wind? Beoff, iww! Good-by to you all." With a rinjíinjí chorus of good-bys and a jingle of many bells, the horses praneed away as if rejoicing in their prospective run over the wide prairie. It wns ibout two o'cloik in the attcrnoon, and for more tlian an hour all went well, and a dozen miles had been covered of the twenty which ly between their homes and Bquln Mitcliell'.t farm. A y huist fellow older than Ualeb G raham, gat beside hlm on the front si'at, and looked with keen eyes into the northern sky, niarkinjf with appreheiii-Ion the pulls of wind which caine with increasIng violence directly iuto their faces. "It's my turn to drive now, Cnleb," he saiil ; "your hands must bc cold." "I rather ftuess so," said Caleli, ;!adly l:if-iii; the linea to him, and puttinr hls hands undir the bieast of hl bull'tlo coat. "We'd better take uncle's advice- et ulonK as fait aa we eau. öee these Ilakes of snow ?" "Yes," said George Harvey, lowering his voice; "but the horses have mide their best speed already." "Whal's tlmt roaring noise ? ' Abovethe music of the bells and the lively talk behiud tliem they could hear It - a low, sullen roar. "The snow! The blizzard- look!' crie(i Caleb. On itcame- a blast straight f rom the frigid zone, unbroken in its sweep over huudiedsof miles of dead leve!, brmg inj{ on its wings what seemed like a wal of snow, wrapping everything in its BiUtj whitenei-f, shutting out at once everything In the way of a landmark fo the travelers. . "Oh Caleb, what a storm ! ' cned one of his'sistert, joined by exclamationg o diimay f rom other voices. "Keep well covered up," said Georjre ur"iug his horses to greater speed "We're a good deal more than hftlf-waj home." "But can you see to drive r' "I can'tgee much, but there Is a gooc track, and the horses can keep it. Yo inow animéis have a sure instinct about inding their wy to wliere tliey belonz." But a hush feil on the nolsy load as the a9t fulling flakes covered them with a uickness scareely Imaginable by one to whom a north-western blizzird is untnown. And bcfore long the horsrs grew estive and almo-t unnianageable nnder he fury of the pitiless blast. AVitli stronjf hands and steady nerve George continued to keep thera under ontrol. Bui ilieir DQovement liad nubIded to a walk, and the trark was in ome places nipidly ülling. not only vilt) tbe snow which was fallinjr, but with that which biid lain on the ground efore, caught up and drifted in tlie vioent wind. The advancing twilifht of the short wiuler day was bezinning lo add its obcniily to the darkness of the storm vhen Caleto whispered under his breath : "Wliere are we, anyway ''' "I don't know," canie in nnswcr as ow. "Don't let on. It won't do any ood for them to ;jef. frljrhtened. The ïorscs liave been taking t':eir own way his last balf-lionr, for I cau't hold 'em gaiiist tli is wind " "We've left the road, haven't we?'' "Yes, ('m sure of it, but I couldn't teil wliere, In these drlfts."' 'Til drive now," said Caleb. "Wht-n are we going to get home oys f" ome In a girl's pit ï Tul Vofce. "Oh, bt'fore lnr," sai( Qeotge, cheerly. "ItV awfully hard for the liorses to imke beadWHy, you know. Here, lft nu sli;ike the snow oft" you. You look ike a pack of drifts yourselvcs." 'Sing now," called out Caleb. "Don't you know what a lot of jolly songs we irtd last night ? Come- Geor-re and I uwe got to have our spirits kept up to lo this tlriving." A few brave volees struck up a lively ong, but the chili of the cuttin;r b'ast eemed to penétrate to the hearts and till the tongucs. The song died out as larkness feil deeper and heayier. "George," said Caleb, leaning close to iim, "What is golug to be the end of hls?" "You and I have beard of plenty of uch ends," said Oeorjre, gloomily. "Thereare tour of us here," said Caleb with a grasp in his voice. "Four of one ainly. Oh, poor mother !" "We musn't give up,"said Geoige, resolutely. "If you and I don't, hold out it s easy to see what the end mu9t be. Tlie cold is getting awful. Here, Louise. Citty, Janet,- all of you, are you cold ?" "Not very," came in a drowsy tone rom some of the girU. George passed the linea quickly t Caleb. '"8ee here," he Wied, jumping hack araong the others. "Stand up. eveiy one )f you, while I fix your robes." There was a good deal of complaint at lelDfr disturbed, wblle one or two fit ris lrowlsly refusi'd to move. Geir;;e roujjhiv seizcd and shook tliein, provoknr anrry remonstrances. "Don't" you know," he said, in tones uil of a 'desperate realization of the enls of tlie situatiou, "that you'll all reeze to death if you allow yourselves to get drowsy ?" The cold grew with évery moment more bitter and bltlng. The wind roared on as if the Spirit of Winter had sent all lis demons to wreak their fury on the helpless earth. The two boys with unvavering courage faced the cruel blast and the blinding snow, alternately holdng the unes with stiflened hands and rying to keep the yonnger ones astir, Vh I Ie thicker niid blacker tbe darknes settled down. "I teil you what," said George, again springing among tlie cowering, shiverlng drowsy company, "if one ot you goes to leep, I declare, I'U pitch you out into he snow." "I thiiik I'm goinií to hw$ a lift, nother," said Dick Moore, as he went íome to dinner that same day. llow ?" she asked. "Well, Mr. Grabam's been talking to me about the engine to-day. Oíd Hardy'í jeeu assistant engineer "t the factory ever siiice it was built, bul the poor oíd 'ellow's breaklnv úown and says he can't stand tliis climate any lonjrer. All Irawn up with rheamatlsm, and therc's ots of exposure about tlie work." "I'in afrald it will be pretty hard for you,"8aid bis mother, anxiou.-ly. "Me? No, Tinas stout aml stal wart as a bush; look at me!" He drew blmself up and struck out With ettbei arm Rhowing H Form of whlch any lad of lilecn miglit well be protid. "I'm almost as tall as a man and every bit as strong." "Yes, you look as If yon could tijílit your way throurli tlie woild," said his motber with a sin i le. "And fij;ht your way too, mother darlitij;." Tlie big boy was very tonderly fond of his uiothor. "l'eihaos aftt-r a while I'll get to bu lirst uugiueer, and then I'll get tip-top pay, and If lidie mother wants the moon sbe shall have it regardless of col." Until than I suppoae I must be content without it." "I do not know yet exactly what tlie assistant pnírinepr ge," said Dink llioiivhlf iilly 5 "but it must be a reat deal better than I am gettin now." Gning bark to the factory alter dintier Dick reccived word that tlie owner of the factory desired to st-e hhn In hi olli'-c "Hanly senda to me nying that he can no lonfter act aH assUlant in the engiue room," laid Mr. (iraham. "Do yon feel able to take hls pKce?" "Yes, I do," said üick. "At any rato I can try." "I can do no better thnn l-t you try, for I can not get iiny ono ¦!¦ "i short notice. You din begin at once. Dick bad fónnd his new duties fully as oneroat he han erpfcstttí, if uot more so Tho Western factory. like bo iikhiv other Western ttiings, was in its besfinniiiKí, and tlie mo.st of its equipm.'iits were rude and inaufacicnt for what was expected ;of them, rendering tlie work niuch roupher and harder than would have been tho case in a more complete establishment. As Dick, however, liad had üttle txpcrieiici' in BBythlnje better, he found no fault as h cheerfully and imlnstriotisly früvo his whole uergic-' to mahhtff the best of tilines under hls cliarge. ., ,-, As the afternoon wore iffW Mr. Graham walkt'd reeÜMsly up and down his small office, giviiiK uneasy dances trom the window at the fast-increasniK storm. "Nothiiig "fard from our young tolks yet ?" At the sound of the questlon Mr. Graham turned to see a man standing In the doorway. . "Oh your boy went too? he asked. "Yes. In't le tull time they were bck ?" "Four of mine went," suld Air. Graham. Tlie two men glanced into cach others eyes nnd thelr cheeks rrew a shade paler, tntt netther spoke his fears. Mr. Graham went and looked out again, although well knowlnjr that nothng but driving snow could be seen. "Wliy," he said, stiivlng to speak in a brlsk, unconcerned manner, "1 think they must have stayed over. Yep - I'm 9iire of it. It's looked threatening all day, and I'm sure thesqulre woulü object to their starting home.'1 "It falrly took away my breath to get here," said tlie other, shaking the gnow from his cap. "1 had to hold on the posts when I come around Gailand's córner. Baar that blast blow V "Yes, yes, and it's getting as dark as Egypt. But l'in eure they must have siaycil at the Squire's. Yes, sure" But Mr. Qraliain's step was more restless than before, after bis neighbor left him, and he hastened to get out bis borse and cutter from ils shelter and drive home, In the faint hope of finding ttie pleasure party tbere. pe fotmd tlie half-mile rideahard one, ¦ i t 1 1 ] lus heart 8nk as the quiet within the house told bint that no young people were tlitre, and he was obliged to repeat Ii is assurance to his distracted wife, all the wliile feellng that his words held no meaning fur himself. "It's awful- fairly awful," said the fireman to Dick, as he brought his cal, mixed with snow, to the fiirunce. "The storm the other day took half the roofing off the coal sheds, and the snow's drifling in 8 fast it's all 1 eau do to get enough coal to keep the fires up. Eighteen below ïero tli Is moment as near as I can see in the dark. Ouch ! how my bands tinwie when I get near the fire." "No wonder," said Dick, stepping outof-doors for a pail of snow. "Here, hold your bands in thisoryou'll have a rare old time with them. Don't you see thay're frosted ?" "Didn't see it till just now," said the man, holding his bloodless lingera near the fire. "Hcre, give me your shovel." For ah honr Dick perfornied the lireman's duties in additlon to hisown. Shutting-down time carne, when the tired operativo, the most of whom Uv:d very oear the factory, gladly went home, those living at a dixtance nol daring to bmve the storm, but accepted the kindly oflvred shelter of their fellow employees. The engineer gave a look at the engine and, with a few directions to the new assistant, al.so took his departure. To Dick and tlie lireman stil 1 remained the duty of covering the fires and letiving thing3 in safely for the night. "You can't do Hiiytbing more," said the boy to the fireman, whose frost-bitten banda proved to be in bad condition. "Go home and take care of your bands or you won't be able to do a stroke of work for a week." Left alone Dick addresfed himself vigorousiy to the duties of the hour, last of ill going again to the coal sheds, the conlltlotl of wliicli was tar from satisfactory to him. More boards were rapidly becoming loosened by the wind. "If lliis keeps up," he said, turning his face np to the wild war of tlie elementa, 'there'll be no getting a morsel of coal out of bare by to-morrow." Jt was not bis business to mend the coal sheds. Mr. Graham's attention had been called to them and he had ;lven orders for their repnir to Mr. Hardy; Dut the poor old man had been losiug his memory with lus strength, and the matter had been neglected. It was not, however, Dick's idea of duiy to his employer to stand strictly upon the question of what was, or what was not a part of his work. ".V little tinkering just now," he said 10 himself, looking critically at the loose boards, "will keep these together until the storm Iets up, and theu we can make a better job of it." It was a harder, longer piece of work than he had anticlpated. The wind rushed against him with such force that It was difticult for him to maintain bis footing, wliile in the cruel cold his fingers soon became so benumbed that he could scarcely feel liammer and uails, and more tharl once dealt himself a cruel blow. After one of these the stinging pain drove him back to seek for a few moment! the shelter of tlie engine-room. "Whnt's that glare 'round there?" be siid to himself as he carne within range of a window comniandiiig a view of the side of the factory opposite to that on which he had been working. "What a queer light it is on the falling snow." Tlred and out of breath he gazed for a moment without clearly taking in the dread slgnilicance of the filare, theu spring forwanl in excited alarm. "That's tire!" Forgetful of cold, or storm, or pain, he rushed out and around to where the I glit shone. It was faraway from the engine-room, fur from where anybody could suppose a Dre sliould he, but tire it was, which havIng been belped on by the strong wind, had caten its way through apileof refuse rood) and was now laying greedy hold upon a shed connected witb the tnaiu portion of the liusre woodeu building. In the bewildered moment in which Dick took all this in, he saw at once a pile of aslies carried from the furnace had been lald bare by the wind which had then fauned into existence the smolduriugsparkstliat had laia concealed aud misuspected. It nteded but a glance to teil hini thiit no single hand could cope witli the danser. With every gust of wind the destróyer íained new vigor and seemt-d to laugh inliis fnce as it crept over the dry wood, gaining surer footinjj wlth every inch. " Wliat's tluit?" asked Mr. Graham prlDgrng to hls feet. He had, after inany a turn up and down his cheerful siuiiig room at home, fat down for u few munienta in sheer weariness. "It sounds like the factory whistle," snld liis wife. " Yes, the tire alarm. Listen ! ' The quick, sharp "loots" telling ot danfter were borne dislinctly on the wind. "Yes, and I can see a light." Well it wns for Mr. Oraliam tlint liis employees lived near tlie factory. Keady hands were at work before liu arrived tin re, and they fouglit with such good will Unit the tire was subdued before once laylng ts doadly tingers on the iimin balldlOJE of the factory. Faintly the sound of a whistle arose above the nmr of the storm, at tirat strikinK upon half-dulied ears, as George, In Otter ditpalr and exhaustion, for a few nomenM gave up his alteinpt to arouse liis companions, wlille Caleb had dropped the reina from his helpless lingera. Olearer and louder it caine, now in phort notes, now in along-drawn whistle and ({coree suddenly raiaed his liead. "Üid you hear that, Caleb? Hark! " "No, I dldn't hear anytlilnfc but the wind," sald Caleb, In a heayy tone. "I did! There! It's the factory whistlc. Caleb! Listen boys - girls - don't you hear? Il's Ufe- lite! Up, up, boys- were almost home." Some of tlie party rouged themselves, otliiTH were even now in ttie stupor wliich means death if help be not near. "I aee a light - ¦ glow through the snow. Look, Caleb - give me the Unes. Yes; it's the factory. Here we are. It's on tire, but there'll be plenty of help for us." There was, as the poor castaways drew witliin the circle of light. Agaiu was Mr. Qraham fortúnate in the possession of Faithful assi-idiits for not another thought fve he to his faotory, but with voice wliicli inspired the tired horses with ncw courage, he took t he reina Into his own hands, and sooa hiid brought tlie wanderers into blessed shelter. Dick Moore received a second notiee to neet Mr. Oraham in his office. Tlie [oy's hands wcre wrapped up, but he was still :itlenlinL to his work. " Frozeu hands, eh?"asked his eraployer. " Yes, sir; tliey got a little nipped last night." "They tell me that you were the flrst person to see the tire. How did vou happen to? It wis pust work hoiirs. "I bftdn't gone lióme," paid Dick; "tlie coal siieds were iu a bad way and I was cobbling them up a little." "ll'm!" Mr. Giaham looked with a keen, kiudly eye into tlie briglu, honest face. It. seemed too good and retíned a one to beloBg to a penon who worked only with his hands. " Did you know that tlie factory woull liave burned down if you liailu 'tacen it when you did? " "I guess so, 8aid Dick, with a suiile. " That wind was givinsr it good help." "How is it tli:it u boy like you are in a factory?" asked Mr. Graham iu a voice of earnest interest. " My father put all he had into some land and carne out here to develop it. Tlien he died smidenly two years ago. Mother needed me, so I left school last spring." " Did you know that a party of young people got 1 )t on the prairie last nigut?" " Yes, sir." " And that your blowing thnt whistle gulded them home - aud - saved every lite ? " " Hurrah for the oíd whistle! " shouted Dick, maklng a mnTwniwit as if to clap bis hands, but taking a caper about tlie room instead. "I beg your pardon sir, but I'm awfully glad." " lt it liad not been for the work oí your faithful banda my home woukl luive been desoí ite to-d ty. It sliall be a blesseJ providence to you as well as to me. Go home and take care of your hands. Tell your mothor I think you liad better go biick to school, and thut f rom this day on she and you will be my care."