The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1893-10-25
THE BOY ORATOR.

'If the weather keeps up, I'm afraid
Jack can't get here" said Albert Hal
stead. He was sitting in the window of
his room in Junior hall" and staring
out on the campus, where the rain was
pouring on the muddy pools and patches
of sodden grass. 1.-The ticket agent says
trains can't cross if the Macoupin rises
much more"
"Rise or no rise, Jack buckles II be
here on hand when there's debate on
foot" Dick Arlington spoke from the
bed. He was buried in pillows and a
dog cared copy of Horace.
He'd come through fire, to say moth
ing of water, to save our noble Philos
from defeat at the hands of the base,
craven Linophiliansl The very mention
of the hated name stirs me hearts ber-
loodw' and Dick sat up and looked ora
torically warlike.
"Well, he'll have plenty of water to
come through Our chances are pretty
slim without him. Gardiner can never
hold up against Brooks and Guthridge,
with all the Limos back of them. don't
see why Jack couldn't have put off 60
ing to st. Louis till next week"
my child" said Dick, throwing the
much abused Horace on the center table,
where it bumped its venerable head
against a solid geometry and fell to the
floor, show often must / tell you that
business is businessp Even contest de-
bate must stand aside where bust
ness"---
"Shut upi The thing is we don't want
those fellows growing over us. They're
going to have a great spread If they do
win, and Guthridge has promised to ride
Gardiner around the campus if they
don't, and you know how heavy Gardi-
ner is. l saw Brooks-Come in. Hello,
Gardiner; what's the newsY
Gardiner stood in the doorway, letting
the rain drop from the ferrule of his UNI
brella in pool on the carpet. "I've just
been down to the station. The Macou-
pin is over the long bridge and is still
rising-no more trains this evening""
"Jovel" Dick was walking up and
down, hands in pockets. "That looks bad
for us Philos. 'spose there is no news
from Jack2'
"Yes-telegram. He says he'll leave
st. Louis ON the o'clock train"
"Then he's at Macoupin station now"
said Albert. 1.-TWO miles from school
and no way to cross a miserable little
brook that is dried up most of the year.
Can't postpone the debate, can WEI"
mo. Guthridge and Brooks have to
leave tomorrow, and the fellows from
Springfield are going home tonight"
"Well, perhaps Jack'll come. If he
doesn't, we'll all stand by you. Gardiner,
and do our best"
twas raining when Jack left st. Louis.
East st. Louis looked more forlorn than
ever, and the country beyond was fairly
drenched. He was deep in his speech for
the evenings debate when tho train
reached Macoupin station. He finished
the argument and looked up.
"What are you stopping SO long for?"
he asked of no one in particular.
1.-THE conductor says the creek is up
over the bridge and the train cannot
cross. He has wired for ORDERS" an
swered man who had just entered the
car.
All but the first few words fell on
deaf ears, for Jack had dashed from the
car, and was holding an excited parley
with the conductor on the platform of
the station.
"The waters high enough to put out
the fires, and the bridge isn't SAFE" said
the blue capped official.
Jack fairly danced with excitement.
"But l must crossi Why, have to-
oh, just must get over to the college
even If have to swiml Can't you try to
CROSSE"
mo. And here's orders to pull back
to East st. Louis. And, young fellow,
take my advice and don't try 4wimmin
when ole Macoupin is a-boomin. All
aboardp
But Jack didn't go aboard. He watched
the train out of sight down the long, wet
perspective Of the rails. Then he went
into the station.
'Say," he said to the man in charge,
''can get hand car or o boat or some
thing here? l have to get across to Car
linville tonight"
The station agent looked at him medi.
tatively.
"Hand carr" he queried. ''There's
nary hand car on the place, an ole man
Dorsey, he's got the only boat on the
crick."
"Where can / find him?" asked Jack.
"Who? Lige Dorsey? WAL, now
KANT say. Likes not in bed. Broke his
leg last week."
3 "Where is the boatY' Jack was grow
ing impatient. The man was 80 provok-
ingly deliberate.
"Boatl WAL, now. you've got me.
Last hearn tell of it, man five miles
up this here crick he'd it, else Dorsey
snapped it to man over in Jersey coun-
ty, an don't jist remember which,"
"Can't you suggest something" asked
Jack.
"Oh, yesl Ireckon the bes' thing you
kin dos to wait till tomorrow. Eff II
don't rain no more, the crick's mighty
likely to go down SOS you kin cross on
the train"
II suppose I couldn't walk acrossr
ssWalk? WAL, not unless you've got a
power Of spunk an muscle. wouldn't
go artrying it, less wanted TO git my
self drowned"
Jack walked up and down for mo-
ment In silence. Suddenly he paused.
"See here" he said, "Im going to try
1t. There's my card and'---
walk? WAL, now
But Jack was gone.
The rain had slackened to a cold steady
drizzle, and as he walked down the track
Jack could hear the creek rushing and
roaring along far beyond its banks,
booming and eddying nearly mile wide,
The water near the edge was compar.
atively calm, but out in the channel the
current, marked by driftwood, was dash.
ing and foaming furiously.
The trestle work of the bridge was out
Of sight.
Jack stopped. 1t was growing dark.
Through rift in the clouds the sun had