Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-06-24


lighted up with an affectionate smile;
II thank you, but must 60"
81 will come to your room this after
noon" said Denzil. I'm going back to
the others now, but think shall have
something to say to you then that will
alter your feelings"
The two boys shook hands warmly;
Denzil returned to the party on the
lawn, while Caleb went to the carriage
house where his bicycle was, and
mounting It, rode away at great speed.
Denzil Graham had invited number
of boy and girl friends to spend part
of the vacation at his fathers place, the
Mill Farm, situated in beautiful little
valley among the Laconic mountains.
Among Others, he had asked his class
mate, Caleb Orion, to come. Poor
Caleb had few friends, but Denzil had
learned to know what a sterling good
fellow there was hidden under the boys
uncouth exterior, and he believed that
the rest Of the party would soon come
to like him as warmly as he himself
did. But the result had been quite con-
trary to Denzil's expectations, and Ca
leb's first week at Mil Farm had been
one of the unhappiest of his life.
For a few moments, as Caleb rode
along the silent country road, his re-
Elections were very sorrowful; then
gradually he forgot his own troubles in
a discovery which he believed he had
made day or two before. The Mill
Farm had received its name from the
sawmill which stood some distance
from the house, on the bank of the
brook which ran through the midst of
the valley. Half mile above the
dwelling, heavy stone dam had been
built across the stream, making pond
of some acres in extent, which supplied
power to the mill Riding about the
country alone on his bicycle, Caleb had
found this dam, and had visited it fire.
quen:ly.
There had been heavy rainstorm at
the beginning of the week, and the
water in the pond had risen to the very
brink of the dam. The structure was
old, and the pressure of the water had
started a number of seams in the ma
sonry. This was Caleb's discovery.
He had spoken of this to Mr. Graham,
who had laughed at his fears, saying
that the old dam had lasted fifty years
and would last another fifty. But Caleb
had not been satisfied He had made
a journey to the pond every day, and
had seen that the cracks in the wall
were surely growing wider, while the
water was escaping in quantity. On
the previous afternoon he had found a
new crack in the stone work, near the
middle, from which small torrent was
rushing. Though Mr. Graham certain
ly ought to know best Caleb felt I'M
easy about it. He was sure there must
be danger of the old wall crumbling
away.
When he reached the pond, and leav-
ing his bicycle in the road, climbed
down to the foot of the dam, he was
startled first by loud roaring sound,
and then by the sight of mass of
brown water pouring through a large
gap in the wall which had not been
there on the day before. Wide cracks
scanned the masonry in every direction.
AS he rested his hand against the stones
he felt them tremble as under a sue
cession of heavy blows.
While he stood there aghast, there
came loud report, and another crack
opened in the wall, from top to bottom.
Almost at the same moment a huge
block of masonry fell out, followed by
tremendous rush of water. Every in
slant smaller pieces crumbled down and
new Jets of water burst forth. The
dam was going
Poor, slow Caleb stood clutching a
sapling, wondering what he ought to
do. He knew that the Mill Farm
dwelling was in the very center of the
narrow valley, and If this great mass of
water were to rush down upon it sud.
denly, it must surely be swept away
with all in or near It,
In the midst of his doubt and terror,
another section of the wall gave way,
and, driven by blind impulse, Caleb
climbed the bank, mounted his bicycle
and raced down the road like the wind.
Behind him he could hear the deepen,
ing roar of the water, and as he turned
into the gate at Mill Farm, shaking
with fatigue and alarm, there came a
dull, heavy boom, that seemed to shake
the pond. The dam had given wayl
A number of the boys and girls were
sitting upon the porch. lie did not
pause to see who they were, but mounted
the steps, shouting:
Tho dam, the dam! II has burst
Run for your lives"
In moment all was confusion. Girls,
boys, servants and inmates ran hither
and thither, crying out in vague terror,
and utterly incapable of caring for their
own safety.
Caleb seemed to be the only one
there with presence of mind, Raising
his voice above the uproar, he shouted
Run for the top of the hill! Quick
don't wait for anything"
With a courage and GOODNESS fol
which no one had ever given him credit
he got the frightened crowd together
and started them up the hill, following
behind to urge them on. They had
nearly reached the top, when Calet
stopped and looked back.
where is Denzil?" he cried. "He is
not here
81 saw him down by the brook few
minutes ago" answered one of the
number,
go on, then" answered Caleb; 'yor
are safe now"
what are you going to do?' asked a
terrified voice.
ITO find Denzil," replied Caleb, turn.
ing back and running swiftly down the
hill.
The water was now swirling ant
roaring down the middle of the valley