The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-01-26
miscellaneous.
THE BOY ORATOR.

Jack can't get here" said Albert Hal
stead. He was sitting in the window
of his room in Junior Hall'' and star
ing 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 III be
here on hand when there's a debate
on foot" Dick Arlington spoke from
the bed. He was buried in pillows
and dog cared copy of Horace.
He'd come through fire, to say
nothing of water, to save our noble
Philos from defeat at the hands of the
base, craven Linophilians The very
! mention of the hated name stirs me
hearts berlood p and Dick sat up and
looked oratorically warlike.
'Well, he'll have plenty of water to
come through Our chances are pref
ty 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 going to st. Louis till
next week"
MY child,' said Dick, throwing the
much abused Horace on the centre
table, where it bumped its venerable
head against a solid geometry and
fell to the floor, "how often must ]
tell you that business is business ?
Even n contest debate must stand
aside where business
shut up The thing is we don't
want those fellows growing over U.S.
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 Gardiner is Isaw Brooks
Come in. Hello, Gardiner; what's
the news?' %
Gardiner stood in the doorway, let
ting the rain drop from the ferrule of
his umbrella in a pool on the carpet.
I've just been down to the station.
The Macoupin is over the long bri dge
and is still rising-no more trains this
evening""
"Jove!' Dick was walking up and
down, hands in pockets. THAT looks
bad for us Philos. 'spose there is no
news from Jack -
"Yes-telegram. He says he'll leave
st. Louis on the o'clock train
'"Then he's at Macoupin station
school and no way to cross the miser-
able little brook that is dried up most
of the year! Can't postpone the de-
bate, can we?''
mo. Guthridge and Brooks have to
leave tomorrow, and the fellows from
Springfield are going home to night"
well, perhaps Jack IL come. If he
doesn't, We'll all stand by you, Gardi-
ner, and do our best
1t was raining when Jack left St.
Louis. East st. Louis looked more
forlorn than ever, and the country be-
yond was fairly drenched. He was
deep in his speech foI the evenings
debate when the train reached Ma
coupin station. He finished the argu-
ment 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,n 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.
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 cross Why, l have to
oh, | just must get over to the col
lege even if | have to swim Can't
you try to cross p
back to East st. Louis. And, young
swimmin' when ole Macoupin is
N haorpin A II 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 into the station.
Say" he said to the man in charge,
lean | get a hand car or a boat or
something here? have to get across
to Carlinville tonight"
The station agent looked at him
meditatively.
"Hand car - he queried 'There's
nary hand car on the place, an ole
man Dorsey, he's got the only boat on
the crick.n
where can 1 find him ~ asked
Jack.
who? 'Lige Dorsey? Waal, now
KANT say. Likes not in bed. Broke
his leg last week"
Where is the boat - Jack was
growing impatient. The man was SO
provokingly deliberate.
Boat Waal, 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 a man over in Jersey
county, an l don't jist remember
which"
Cant you suggest something ?"
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 go down SOS you kin
cross on the train"
II suppose | couldn't walk across 2"
walk? WAL, not unless you've
got power of spunk and muscle. |
wouldn't go a-trying it, less wanted
to get myself drowned"
Jack walked up and down for a mo-
ment in silence. Suddenly he paused.
''See here he said, Pm going to
try it. There's my card and
walk? Waal, now
But Jack was gone.
The rain had slackened to 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 near
ly a mile wide. The water near the
edge was comparatively calm, but out
in the channel the current, marked by
driftwood, was dashing and foaming
furiously.
The trestle work of the bridge was
out Of sight.