Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-12-16

ed, and the little clock struck ten. At
the sound the old man arose, lit his
lantern. and prepared for his last visit
to the water-gates before retiring. As
he opened the door and gazed out into
the dim night, he thought he saw a
CLEAN Of light from below the dam. Was
it a light, or only the reflection of his
! lantern
With quick step he moved down the
| path toward the wall, peering sharply
before him, when suddenly his foot
struck rolling stone, he stumbled,
grasped at bush, missed it, and fell
heavily, extinguishing his lantern.
"Ah that miserable knee !" he groan-
ed, as be attempted to rise, and failed.
aIOan't get up. Jim! Little Jim r
The house was but few rod distant,
and the cry had scarcely rung out
through the still air when the boy was
at the window in the loft. "What is it,
Father? Have you fallen? Are you
| hurt ?"
''Not hurt much, guess. But come
here and help me up" replied old Jim.
Within three minutes his son was at
his side, and, having assisted him to
his feet, they slowly walked back to the
cottage, carrying the broken lantern.
| When the watchman had seated him.
self before the fire again, he said; 81
can't go to the gate tonight, Jim, for
that was a bad wrench | gave my knee.
l want to know just how high the water
is, an to have the gates shet. Will
you go? Kin ye %
"Yes, indeed" answered the boy,
springing up and seizing his cap. 81
don't need any light. I'll be back in a
minute an half'
And out of the house he darted, and
down the rugged path.
The night was clear, and the child
could easily perceive the objects about
him. Out upon the wall he ran toward
the levers that shut the great gates !;
closer yet, when just beneath him and
upon the bottom of the second dam. in
which the water was very low, he saw a
CLEAN of light. Instantly he stopped.
dropped upon the ground, drew himself
carefully to the edge of the wall, and
looked down. A man was below, in a
small boat, close to the lower paddle of
| the main gate, working with saw. In
his hand was dark lantern.
Jim's heart almost stopped beating
fora moment, and then began again so
loudly that he was sure the man would
hear it; and he drew back from the
edge in terror. After moment, howev-
er, he looked again. The man was
crouched close under the WALL working
steadily. cutting away the paddle hinge.
If that were once done, nothing could
prevent the great body of water in the
upper dam from rushing into the lower,
and perhaps from tearing out the wall.
/ As the child realized the danger, he
shrieked outright. With an oath the
man below turned his lantern upward
toward the pallid and CHASTITY face gleam-
ing down upon him from the edge of the
wall. Jim saw him plainly. 1t was
Black Brooks, and he meant to food the
valley
shut up, ye little fool, or I'll kill
yel" growled the desperado. And he
shook his fist toward the child. ..If ye
make another sound, I'll kill ye!'
For moment Jim lay as though
: turned to stone. Then. with a great
sob, springing to his feet, he sped along
the wall toward the signal lantern
Black Brooks discovered his purpose
} and. seizing his oars. he urged his boat
toward the shore. If the child hoisted
the light, the arlarm would be giver
, the people iu the valley aroused. Fas
and faster few the nimble feet; swift
, and swifter came the rocking boat. L
} was race for life. Jim knew it. Not
for his life only. but for that of hun
: dred sleeping villagers in the valley fa
below. Brooks knew it. For if th,
alarm was given and the infuriated peo
pie caught him, they would hang hin
t like dog. Both were doing their ut
: most, when suddenly, with crack lik
: a pistol shot, one of Brooks oars brok
| off, and his boat whirled about upon tn
r shallow water. The boy gave cry o
Joy, and the next instant was kneelinI
! at the foot of the signal-pole, hurried.
e lighting the lantern that bung ther
t waiting. As he struck the match an
s touched the wick he heard the man be
E low spring from hia boat and run splash
/ ing toward the shore. But be was to
! late, for up shot the great light. sway
e ing to and fro, until it reached the yer
1 peak of the tall bole, sending its warn
j. ing rays far down the darksome valley.
r Yet, even as the boys heart leape
a with success. there came another fas
II and sharp, ringing report, and th
s little arm that pulled the lantern to il
r place fell shattered at his side. Brook
y had shot him.