The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1896-11-06

these implements they hauled in quite
a collection of miscellaneous articles.
''IIil look darI'' cried Tom Pete. sud
denly. Oars de Pelton boys doghouse
;,-comin' down de stream. Is you gyyine
to ketch dat?''
NO; let it CO. said John. with a
scowl I'm not going to save his old
doghouse for him-yes. l Will, too!''
And impulsive John reached out his
pole and drew in a gaily-painted kennel.
which he had at once recognized as the
habitation of Tracy's favorite hound.
1t WAS a cumbersome article to man.
age, but the two boys contrived to get
it on the housetop by dint of stout tug
ging. As John Strengthened up after
the lift, he remarked, with an apollo
getic accent:
1T cost Mr. Pelton three dollars 20 get
the old thing painted, and L haven't got
anything against him."
At this moment Tom Pete gave utter
ance to another excited Hi"
Oars a hull raft oh stuff a-comin'
down FIN Pelton's place" he said.
''Sumfin's done busted ober dar!''
'.Must be their ginhouse; father said
he was afraid ii wouldn't stand" replied
John. gazing regretfully at the mass of
boards and timbers which came swiftly
down the current Il hope all that lum-
ber won't come humping against this
house, he added, with a look of APP
| prehension-
IF we do we'll bust up, too. TO sho',"
said Tom Pete, sagely- 1T amt a-gwine
to hit US, dough-it's gwine to pieces
In fact. the mass of timbers began TO
fall apart and drift away separately.
and John got ready with his pole to pull
| in the boards as they were sweeping
| past. All at once, with a great start,
he exclaimed:
Tom Pete. there's somebody hanging
on to that board out yonder,"
Its dat ar Pelton boy" cried Tom
Pete. Hell git drownded. sho'i''
Before Tom Pete spoke, John had be
come aware that il was Tracy Pelton
who clung to that drifting board, and
his whole generous heart went out 10
his helpless foe in a moment
tom Pete. you hold onto the rope"
he said. hastily twisting a coil of il
around his arm as he spoke. I'VE can't
reach him with the pole. and he don't
know how To swim. I'll have TO 60
after him
us you gwine TO drown'd yo'self 70
! dat kim oh a feller2'' Tom Pete de-
WITH uASdpi1EpNal
''Of course not. I'm going to save
him.
''He amt wuff savin'," declared Tom
Pete. contemptuously.
What are you talking about" said
John. with flashing eyes Hes the
pluckiest fellow TO fight that ever saw.
Do you suppose I'm going to let him
drown because he doesn't happen to be
| h.. F,Sa 4
take me for. anyhow
Don take you fo' nuffin'," said Tom
Pete, with scared look. and Fastening
to clutch the rope, as John impetuously
added:
Hang on to that rope now, and help
me haul him in If he gets away I'll
pitch You after him
And John. with shout of encourage
ment to his imperiled foe. flung himself
into the water. and struck out to Tracy's
aid He was n sturdy swimmer. and in
few moments he came alongside of the
board to which Tracy was elinging, and
fastened his rope to it,
Tom Pete began to haul in the rope
with great zeal, while John. putting one
arm under Tracy's shoulder, and swim
ming with the other. aided in propelling
him to the housetop, where they quick
~ drew him up, wet. weak ard shiver-
ing, but by no means devoid of the
courage and pluck" which John so
much admired.
John Hartwell. you're n good fellow.
said he, clasping Johns hand. with n
look that spoke more than his words.
Il thought / was gone when the gin
house went, and / can tell you / was
glad when you called out to me. You
have saved my life, and 1 shan't for
get it,
How came you on the ginhouse2 !
thought your folks had all gone to the
hills asked John.
Father and ! came down To feed the
stock over on the high KNOLL" answered
Tracy. Il thought | should be safe
enough on the cinhouse. while he Went
over there with boatload of corn and
hay. But it gave way, and went over
like pile of chips. This current yyas
too much for it. 1t Will cost father Z
pretty penny to build a new ginhouse,'
he added. ruefully-
When Mr.. Hartwell came back TO get
the boys, he was very much surprised
to find Tracy Pelton in their company
and when Mr.. Pelton discovered what
had happened. he was too grateful for
the rescue of Nilsson TO complain about
the loss of his ginhouse.
When the waters had finally subsided
so that people could return To theil
homes. the two planters, like all theil
neighbors. found themselves mucf
poorer for lost stock and injured prop
erty: the flood had one good result fol
John and Tracy-it had made then
friends-Golden Days