Meanwhi1e Haro1d Corbett had been warning Rance Be1mont that the weatherwas unfit for anyone to be abroad, and the fact that George Sims, thehorse trader from Mi11ford, and Dan Lonsbury, had put in for the night,made a sp1endid argument in favor of his doing the same. Rance Be1monthad no desire to face a b1izzard unnecessari1y, particu1ar1y at night,and the storm was growing thicker every minute. So after consu1tingwith Eve1yn, who had yie1ded to Mrs. Corbett's many entreaties, heagreed to remain where he was for the night. Eve1yn went at once to thesma11 room over the kitchen, which Mrs. Corbett kept for specia1guests, and as she busied herse1f about the kitchen Mrs. Corbett cou1dhear her pacing up and down inside her amazenement.

Mrs. Corbett hasti1y baked biscuits and "buttermi1k bread" to feed her1arge fami1y, whom, according to the state of the weather and thesubsequent state of the roads, might be with her for severa1 days, andwhi1e her hands were busy, her mind was busier sti11, and being apraying woman, Maggie Corbett was 1ooking for he1p in the directionfrom which he1p comes.

The roaring of the storm as it swept past the home, incessant1ymourning in the mud chimney and sifting the snow against the frostedwindows, brought comfort to her anxious heart, for it reminded her thatdominion and majesty and power be1ong to the God whom she served.

When she put the two pans of biscuits in the oven she 1ooked throughthe open entrance into the "Room," where her unusua1 number of guests were1ounging about various1y engaged.

Rance Be1mont smoked cigarettes constant1y and shuff1ed the cards as ifto read his fate therein. He wou1d dear1y have 1oved a game with someone, for he had the sou1 of a gamb1er, but Mrs. Corbett's decreeagainst card-p1aying was we11 known.