tly, "you've allus told me not
to say nothin' 'bout the folks down to the Halfway House, an' I hain't
said a thing. I 'low you got jarred down there some. I know how that
is. All the same, I reckon maybe you sorter have a leanin' that way
still. You may be worried some--"

"I am!" cried Franklin. "Tell me, how were they prepared--would they
have enough to last them through?"

"None too much," said Sam. "The old man was tellin' me not long back
that he'd have to come in 'fore long to lay him in his coal for the
winter. O' course, they had the corrals, an' some boards, an' stuff
like that layin' 'round. They had the steps to the dugout, an' some
little wood about the win'mill, though they couldn't hardly git at the
tank--"

Franklin groaned as he listened to this calm inventory of resources in
a case so desperate. He sank into a chair, his face between his hands.
Then he sprang up. "We must go!" he cried.

"I know it," said Sam simply.

"Get ready," exclaimed Franklin, reaching for his coat.

"What do you mean, Cap--now?"

"Yes, to-night--at once."

"You d----d fool!" said Sam.

"You coward!" cried Franklin. "What! Are you afraid to go out when
people are freezing--when--"

Sam rose to his feet, his slow features working. "That ain't right,
Cap," said he. "I know I'm scared to do some things, but I--I don't
believe I'm no coward. I ain't afraid to go down there, but I won't go
to-night, ner let you go, fer it's the same as death to start now. We
couldn't maybe make it in the daytime, but I'm willin' to try it then.
Don't you call no coward to me. It ain't right."

Franklin again cast himself into his chair, his hand and arm smiting on
the table. "I beg your pardon, Sam," said he presently. "I know
you're not a coward. We'll start together in the morning. But it's
killing me to wait. Good God! they may be freezing now, while we're
here, warm and safe!"

"That's so," said Sam sententiously. "We can't help it. We all got to
go some day." His words drove Franklin again to his feet, and he
walked up and down, his face gone pinched and old.

"I 'low we won't sleep much to-night, Cap," said Sam quietly. "Come
on; let's go git some coffee, an' see if anybody here in town is
needin' help. We'll pull out soon as we kin see in the mornin'."

They went out into the cold, staggering as the icy sheet drove full
against them. Ellisville was blotted out. There was no street, but
only a howl