Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-11-02
broos 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 the 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 a 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 must cross! Why, have to-
oh, just must get over to the college
even if l have to swiml Can't you try to
cross"
''No. And here's orders to pull back
to East st. Louis. And, young fellow,
take my advice and don't try swimmin
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 boat or some
thing here? 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 msn
Dorsey, he's got the only boat on the
crick."
"Where can I find him?" asked Jack.
"Who? Lige Dorsey? WAL, now;
KANT say. Likes not in bed. Broke his
leg last week"
"Where is the boatw Jack was grow
ing impatient. The man was so provok.
ingly deliberate.
"Boatl WAL, now, you've got me.
Last l hearn tell of it, man five miles
up this here crick he'd it, else Dorsey
swapped it to man over in Jersey coun-
ty, an l don't jist remember which"
Cant you suggest something" asked
Jack.
"Oh, yes! reckon the bes' thing yor
kin dos to wait till tomorrow. Eff il
don't rain no more, the crick's mighty
likely to go down SOS you kin cross OF
the train"
II suppose couldn't walk across?"
Walk? Waal, not unless you've got :
power of spunk an muscle. l wouldnf
go a-trying it, less ! wanted to sit my
self drowned"
Jack walked up and down for mo
ment in silence. Suddenly he paused.
"See here" he said, "rm going to tr.
It. There's my card and"--
"Walk2 Waal, now"---
But Jack was gone.
The rain had slackened to cold stead
drizzle, and as he walked down the trac
Jack could hear the creek rushing an
roaring along far beyond its banks
boomingand eddying nearly a mile wide
The water near the edge was compal
atively calm, but out in the channel tn
current, marked by driftwood, was dash
ing and foaming furiously.
The trestle work of the bridge was ou
of sight.
Jack stopped. It was growing darl
, Through rift in the clouds the sun ha
set red, and the reflection made the cree
, more horrible. Here and there tall syC
amore trembled in the water, white i
, the rapidly deepening dusk.
: OF course to attempt to cross was TO
ly. Suppose the Philos did lose-wha
theni What did 1t really matterf The
he seemed to hear the shouts Of the viz
! torious Limos Guthridgs's triumphau
cheer and To SEQ his own society sittin
crushed and sileat.