Page:St. Nicholas (serial) (IA stnicholasserial321dodg).pdf/367

1905.] When they drove into La Junta the air was balmy as springtime, and the sun was shining in an unclouded sky; but the storm-signal was waving. Before they started homeward the storm was upon them.

The storekeeper wrapped the child as well as he could in the heavy robe. They were facing the storm: every moment it grew colder. They had gone scarcely five miles when Mary Ellen, striving with her unmittened hands to hold the fur robe around her, felt herself growing numb. Through her chattering teeth she uttered the fear that the apples and oranges would freeze.

“Give them here, once; I’ll keep ’em safe.” Frau Metzger opened the great ulster and tucked them safely inside it.

Responsibility gone, the child began to relax. She dreamed that the great brown ulster had opened and swallowed her bodily, and she was just nestling down so warm and comfortable, when she was aroused by a vigorous shaking, only to sink again into blissful repose.

Dark, not more than half-way home, and the child freezing—this was the situation. Mrs. Metzger’s thoughts traveled rapidly. There was but one refuge. It could be only a short distance to Crazy Bill’s shanty.

“Crazy Bill, or Wild Bill, or whatever Bill they call ‘im, I ’m sure he would n‘t harm the child; and, anyhow, his wife would n’t let him. Mrs. Crazy Bill will take good care of her, I know, for she is fond of children. To take her on m this storm is sure death; to leave her could be no more.” She halted and called, but no voice could be heard against the howl of the storm. She laid the child in the bottom of the wagon and made her way toward the light.

When the man learned that a child was freezing at his door, he went out without a word and carried her in. His wife took charge of her at once, with many a kindly “Poor dear!” as she took off her cloak and drew her near the fire, patting her cold hands the while. Restoratives were applied, and in a short time Mary Ellen returned to consciousness. Riding the remaining five miles, however, was not to be thought of for her; so Mrs. Metzger explained to her, concluding with: “You stay here the night