LOST IN THE SNOW.
It was not a pleasant outlook, stuck in a deep hollow on the road with
the snow coming down furiously. Already the ground was covered to the
depth of a foot or more, and around the heavily-laden wagon a drift
was forming which soon reached above the axles.
"We must do something, that's certain," muttered Matt, as he sprang to
Billy's head for at least the fifth time. "Come, old fellow, can't you
stir it up a bit?"
Andy ran to the back of the wagon and placed his shoulder against the
case there strapped on. But though the two and Billy, the horse, did
their best, the auction wagon remained where it was.
"It's no use," groaned Andy, as he stopped to catch his breath. "We
are stuck as hard as if we were planted here, and it looks as if we
would have to remain here for some time."
"We must move on," returned Matt desperately. "In a few hours night
will be coming on, and we'll be completely covered."
"The snow is coming down faster than ever, and the wind is rising.
Maybe we are going to have a blizzard. If we do, Heaven help us!"
"Let us take those cases of goods off," suggested the young auctioneer
after a moment of thought. "That will lighten the load for Billy
somewhat."
The big packing boxes were unstrapped and let down in the snow. They
were followed by every other article which could be removed from the
turn-out without damage.
Then Billy was once more urged to go on, Matt and Andy pushing with
all their strength in the meanwhile. The wheels of the wagon and the
axles creaked and then moved forward slowly.
"Hurrah! we've got it started!" shouted Matt joyfully. "Get up, Billy!
get up!"
And the horse really did strain every muscle until, two minutes later,
the wagon was out of the hollow and up on the ridge of a little hill.
"Thank fortune we are out of that!" exclaimed Andy. "Now what is to be
done?"
"We had better strap the cases in place again and continue on our
way."
"The cases are awfully heavy. I wonder if we can't hide them somewhere
and come back for them later? The snow is not melting, so that won't
hurt them."
The matter was talked over, and finally they decided to leave the two
cases, which had not been opened, and were well packed, under a big
tree near the roadside. The cases were removed to the spot without
delay, placed upon a couple of dead trees and covered with brush.
Then they moved on again, Andy leading the horse, and Matt going on
ahead to inspect the road, and thus avoid getting into another
hollow.
It was bitterly cold, and having nothing but a light overcoat on, the
young auctioneer was chilled to the bone. He was compelled to caper
about and clap his hands continually to keep from being frozen. The
snow, now fine and hard, beat into his face mercilessly, and to
protect himself from this he pulled his hat far down over his eyes,
and tied his handkerchief over his mouth and nose.
But the hardships of the storm were not to be endured for long. A
quarter of a mile further on they came to a large farmhouse, situated
some little distance back from the road. In the rear was a barn and a
cow-shed.
Running ahead, Matt knocked upon the door of the house. It was opened
by an elderly farmer, who was smoking, and who held a paper in his
hand.
"Good-afternoon," said the young auctioneer. "Can we get shelter
here for ourselves and our horse? We are willing to pay for the
accommodation."
"What's the matter? Caught on the road?" returned the farmer
pleasantly.
"Yes, sir," and Matt briefly narrated the particulars.
"Drive right around to the barn," were the farmer's welcome words.
"I'll open up for you and make your horse comfortable enough."
And reaching for his hat and coat, he put them on and came outside.
Andy was not slow to drive Billy into shelter. The barn was a large
one, and far from filled, and the wagon went in without difficulty.
As soon as the horse had been cared for, the young auctioneers
followed the farmer back to the house. The family had just finished
their dinner, but set to work at once to prepare food for the
half-frozen and exhausted travelers.
While Matt and Andy were warming up they told the farmer about the
cases which had been left on the road.
"I suppose they ought not to be left there too long," said Andy. "If
I had a light wagon and a pair of strong horses I would go after them
as soon as I've had something to eat."
"Don't you mind; I'll go after 'em for you," said the farmer. "I've
got Sam and Bess, and they can pull through most anything. Perhaps
after you've had dinner it will be too late."
"Well, if you get them we will pay you whatever it is worth," returned
Matt's partner.
The farmer set about the trip without delay, and just as Andy and Matt
were called to the dining-table he drove out of the yard.
The meal was a good one, there being plenty to eat and all of it well
served. To the two half-famished ones it seemed to be about the best
meal they had ever tasted.
After it was over they sat down by the fire and began to chat with the
farmer's wife, a motherly creature of the same age as her husband.
Every five minutes Matt would walk to the window to see if the farmer
was yet returning.
It was nearly an hour before Mr. Pearsall, for such was the farmer's
name, drove up to the door. Matt and Andy ran out to meet him, and
were relieved to learn that the cases of goods had been brought in
good condition. They were taken around to the barn and there
transferred to their original places on the auction wagon.
Mr. Pearsall was curious to know something of their business, and when
they were once more in the house the two young auctioneers told their
story, to which both the farmer and his wife listened with deep
interest.
As it continued to snow, Matt and Andy decided to remain at the
farmhouse over night, and arrangements were made to that effect. They
spent a pleasant evening, and all hands retired early.
In the morning, much to their joy, they found that the snow had
stopped coming down, and that the sun was shining brightly. They had
an early breakfast, and then, after settling with Mr. Pearsall, who
did not wish cash, but took goods his wife desired instead, they set
off for Pittston, which was scarcely half a mile distant.
Billy had had a good rest, and the city mentioned above was reached in
a short while. Here they arranged for an extra horse, that was hitched
up in front of their own. In this manner they started for Scranton
with more confidence.
The road was as rocky and uneven as before, but it being bright and
clear, they were enabled to avoid hollows with ease. They stopped at
Taylor for dinner, and arrived in Scranton an hour before nightfall,
tired out, but happy to think that their journey, for the balance of
the week at least, was over.
As soon as they had settled in a vacant store Matt left Andy in charge
and hurried to the post-office, to look for a letter from Ida
Bartlett. He was not disappointed; the letter was there, and he read
it with deep interest.
"Since receiving your letter," she wrote, "I have been watching Mr.
Fenton closely, and I am satisfied that he is much disturbed over the
fact that Mr. Gaston has left his employ and that he was threatened
with exposure. I have also taken the liberty to write to Mr. Gaston,
but have, as yet, received no reply. Will write again as soon as he
answers. It is a pity you cannot find out what became of your poor
father and the papers."