The herald., 1893-11-12

ALI Dut the nrSC rev words Tell 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 have to swim! Can't you try to
cross?"
mo. 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
aboard"
But Jack didn't go aboard. He watched
the train out of sight down the long, wet
perspective of the rails. Then he went
I into theHstation.
III tSayg7ihe said to the man in charge
.scan / get a hand car or boat or some
thing here? l have to get across to Car
linville tonight"
The station agent looked at him medi-
tatiyely,s;s
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." $500
"Where can l find him?" asked Jack.
"Who? 'Lige Dorsey? WAL, now;
kain't say. Likes not in bed. Broke his
leg last week."
s,f To- o1-
ing impatient. The man was so provok-
ingly deliberate.
'sBoatl Waal, now, you've got me.
Last hearn tell of it, a man five miles
up this here crick he'd it, else Dorsey
swapped it to man over in Jersey coun-
ty, an don't jist remember which"
Cant you suggest something's" asked
Jack.
''Oh, yes! reckon the bes' thing you
kin dos to wait till tomorrow. Eff it
don't rain no more, the crick's mighty
likely to 20 down SOS you kin cross on
the train"
Il suppose couldn't walk across?"
walk? Waal, not unless you've got a
power of spunk an muscle. | wouldn't
go a-trying it, less | wanted to git my
self drowned"
Jack walked up and down for mo-
ment in silence. Suddenly he paused
''oee here," ne SAID, IA III going to try
it. 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 a mile wide.
The water near the edge was compar-
atively calm, but out in thc.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
set red, and the reflection made the creek
more horrible. Here and there tall syc-
amore trembled in the water, white in
the rapidly deepening dusk.
OF course to attempt to cross was fol-
| ly Suppose the Philos did lose-what
then? What didit really matter? Then
he seemed to hear the shouts of the vic
torious Limos -Guthridges triumphant
cheer-and to see his own society sitting
crushed and silent.
He would try it.
He looked back for moment at the
station and the light dying in the west
behind it. Then he tightened his grasp
on his cane, tho pride of his juniors
heart, and stepping upon the stringers
at the side Of the track he began.
The water was an inch, then ankle
deep and icy cold. He could scarcely
see the ties, but he felt with his cane
along the edge of the beam.
Farther out the track sloped and the
water deepered. Jack could not see the
stringer, but he felt for each step care
fully. 1t was growing SO dark he could
| not see the farther shore. He did not