St. Landry democrat., 1882-07-08
IN THE RIVERS JAW.
A Tale of the Mississippi Flood.


1t was toward the close of last Feb
ruary that ! was making an eventful
horseback journey through the counties
of Arkansas bordering on the Mississippi
River under remarkable circumstances.
when, having just passed behind St.
v, thriving little river-town, about
fifty miles south of Helena, found my
self approaching the country residence
of an old friend-Colonel Lavigne.
With the exception of this particular
day of which write, it had been rain
ing for days with but little intermisson
the Father of Waters had already over
flowed his banks in many places, towns
had been invaded by the unruly ele-
ment, farms and plantations washed
out, whole regions converted into tmbid
lakes, and had daily observed great
gangs of laborers at work repairing and
strengthening the levees, which consti-
tuted the sole remaining reliance against
the inundation where it had not already
laughed such artificial barriers to scorn.
And now, after brief day of cloud
less sunshine, here it was beginning to
rain again. Increased gloom and APP
prehension were visible on the counte-
Gnance of every person | met, and, as I
rode up to the Colonel piazza, he came
out through the rain to meet me, with a
most dispirited look on his otherwise
agreeable and hospitable face. az
He greeted me warmly, however,
asked about numerous mutual friends l
had recently met il st. Louis, and, as
wewalked together from the stables to
the house, after my horse had been put
in charges of a groom, he hoped, he said,
that | had come to stay for week or
two, or, for that matter, till should see
"the upshot of the Internal flood that
was Threatening if it took a month or
two.' to use his own expression.
Hardly. so long as that, Colonel
said l, hesitating, and at the same in
slant pausing in the deep-set doorway.
of hot-house, just before coming into
view of the personsI had seen seated
on his piazza when passing. In fact,
but for this new rain coming ON, and my
not having any other acquaintance in
the neighborhood, l would have hest
tated before seeking your hospitality
even for tonight S&u'&
His brow darkened, and certain hard
look came into his face as he paused,
eying me narrowly.
care you no longer my friend?'
said he. "Do you mean to say
MERELY this, Colonel Lavigne," I
interrupted-''m merely that my circum-
stances and my worldly position are so
greatly altered since you and I used to
have such jolly good times in ST. Louis
together, that l am now nothing more
than private. detective on secret and
perhaps dangerous service in these
parts. t"E
1.-THE deuce you aret What! and you
have thought so meanly Of me as to sup
pose that ana change in man s for
tunes or position could effect change in
ma friendship after it had once been be-
slowed? By Jupiter, sir
I again interrupted him, and then
fastened to make my peace with him.
This was only accomplished with diff
Guilty; but after | had succeeded in mol
living him he was as urbane as | had
ever found him, and very curious as to
nv new vocation besides.
..Whom are you looking for?" said
he.
"Clint Morely, the last of the train
robbers of the st. Louis & Iron Noun
tain Railroad replied. "Our agency
has succeeded in running to earth and
arresting the other members OF the
gang, at various times and places in this