Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1893-10-31
THE BOY ORATOR.

THE BOY ORATOR.
"If the weather keeps up, Pm 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. "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 a 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 noth~
ing of water, to save our noble Philos
from defeat at the hands of the base,
craven Linophiliansi The very mention
of the hated name stirs me hearts ber-
loodr' 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 GO
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 solid geometry and fell to the
floor, chow often must tell you that
business is business? Even a contest de
bate must stand aside where busi-
ness'-'
"Shut upl 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 ferruleof his UNI
brella in pool on the carpet. Eve Just
been down to the station. The Macou-
pin is over the long bridge and is still
rising-no more trains this evening""
"Jovep Dick was walking up and
down, hands in pockets. "That looks bad
for us Philos 'spose there is no news
from JackY'
Eyes 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 yearI
Can't postpone the debate, can weY'
mo. Guthridge and Brooks have to
leave tomorrow, and the fellows from
Springfield are going home tonight"
"Well, perhaps Jack1l come. If he
doesn't, we'll all stand by you, Gardiner,
and do our best"
Itwas 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 forf"
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
with the conductor on the platform OF
the station.
1.-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 crossl Why, have to-
oh, ] just must get over to the college
even if have to swiml Can't you try to
CROSSE
'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
aboardT"
But Jack didn't go aboard. Hewatched
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 statioa 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 himY" asked Jack.
"Whos 'Lige Dorsey? WAL, now;
kaln say. Likes not IN bed. Broke his
leg last week"
''where is the boatg' Jack was grow
ing impatient. The man was SO provok-
ingly deliberate.
'tBoati Waal, now. you've got me.
Last hearn tell OF it, a man Eve miles
mp this here crick he'd it, else Dorsey
swapped it to a man over in Jersey coun-
ty, an don't jist remember which"
Cant you suggest somethingr asked
Jack.
''oh, yesl reckon the bes' thing you
kin dos to wait till tomorrow. Eff it
don't rain no more, the cricks mighty
likely to go down SOS you kin cross ON
the train"
'1 suppose couldn't walk acrosss"
WALK WAL, not unless you've gota
power of spunk an muscle. wouldn't
go a-rying it. less wanted to git my
self drowned