The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-07-23
The Hero of a Flood

JACK was a boy who had turned up
al from nobody knew how and no.
body knew where. 1t was known
from things he had dropped in
conversation that he had come with q
party across the plains and that in the
course of the long, weary journey his
mother had died. 1t was guessed that
his father must have cast off and for
saken the boy as an undesirable bur-
den.
All the summer he had been hanging
about the different small ranches in
the neighborhood, living as best he
could by what he received for chores
and odd jobs, and sleeping in sheds
or beside a stack of sweet alfalfa hay.
but in the lovely California climate
Jack, happy in the light-heartedness
of boyhood, thought it no hardship.
Winter was approaching. weve
with its heavy rains and chilly nights.
1T was a bad job" said Martin II
day, gazing at the slight foundation
of his house. Il hadn't ought to built
so near the canyon. But the land was
so good l thought I'd save all could
of it for the fruit trees. That comes
of bein' too savin'."
Never mind,' said his wife, we're
goin' to build better next spring"
"Yes. It's been a good year, and I'm
no end thankful for it. But l must
say | wish we'd got through the rains
all safe. 1 guess me an JackIl bank
up a good bit this week"
The first rain had come-not a very
long or cold one, as would be the case
in the winter. Jack still slept in a
shed and Mrs. Martin was troubled
about it, but the tiny house seemed
to afford no corner not already filled.
so she was obliged 20 content herself
with giving him such bedding as she
could spare, and with Jacks laughing
assurance Its good enough for bet
ter folks n me-"
AS the leisure season was now on,
Mr.. Martin was glad to hear of gov
eminent works going on some miles
distant above him-a reservoir being
built to hold the overflow of water
with a view to storing it for irrigation
of the lower lying lands. In addition
to the promise of security to his house,
it gave opportunity for getting work,
of which many of the poorer ranchers
were glad to avail.
I'D rather like you to stay about
while Tn gone, Jack" he said. and the
boys heart swelled with pride as he
added: Il want you to look after
things I'm sure you'll do it good and
faithful"
Another long rain set in. Every day
Jack banked mp his good and faith
filed after the long summer drought.
was each morning dismayed at the
inroads made by the water.
Jack" said Mrs. Martin n MORN
ing, I'm gettin' a little uneasy at the
way things looks"
I'm feelin' that way myself" agreed
Jack. who had just come in with dis
may in his heart from a look at things
outside.
1--WE a great mind to go over to
N~eighbor DavidsOn's to ask if they
won't let us stay with EN- for a few
days, till the next time Martin comes
home. I hate 20 stay without him"
Couldn't / go?" asked Jack.
well. I'd rather ask it myself. But
I don't quite know what to do about
Kitty. It's toe far to carry her-even
IL you went to help me-"
Leave Kitty with me. She'll stay
all right-won't you, Kitty"
Kitty replied with a crow and a
spring into his outstretched arms.
Thus encouraged, Mrs. Martin soon
after breakfast took her departure.
saying in anxious tones: watch
them banks well, Jack. And l know
you'll be real good and careful with
Kitty. I'll be back early this even
ing"
An hour later Jack wished with all
his heart that Kitty was with her
mother. as he went out to resume the
constant work of banking up" At
once he saw that a new condition of
things had set in. The house near the
canyon stood on n kind of knoll, the
ground on the land side of it sinking
slightly. The water in the stream was
higher than he had before seen it, and
he now noted with alarm hat at a
short distance above the house some
of it had left the main channel, and,
turning into the low, shifting sands,