Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-09-05

old Gabe Somers. And they say he's
sure to drown"
A cold hand was laid upon the post
masters. He turned around to con-
front Dolly Worth.
Cant you help-can't you men do
anything? Must he-must they both
drown and you standing here looking
onT"
There's no boat handy. There's no
time to do anything. Gabe's cabins in
the current now"
A supple figure shot away from the
crowd, sped swiftly along the shore.
Far down, near the breakwater, which
jutted out considerable distance into
the river, lay some boats-skiffs that
were regarded as worthless, small flats,
waterlogged now, and planks with
cleats nailed across them by the boys,
who used them when hunting crabs.
The swelling crowd on the shore had
barely sufficient light now to discern
Dan Graham jamming his skif against
Gabe'S cabin. Some cried that they
saw old Gabe; then darkness swal-
lowed cabin and skiff. The fate of the
rescuer and the man for whom he
risked his life was in the hands of the
Almighty.
If Dan succeeded, he might manage
to head his skiff in above the break
water. 1t was one chance in a thou
sand, one in a million. The people on
the shore ran headlong toward the
breakwater. With the darkness of
night settling around him Dan Gra-
ham gathered up his strength for one
supreme effort.
Old Gabes cabin was stronger than
anybody could have credited. The
framework held together amazingly
The floor crumbled and floated away
beneath his feet, but the sinews of age
still enabled Gabe to grasp with a
drowning mans clutch the frame Of
the window.
In VAN Dan urged him to draw him
self up and drop into the bow of the
skiff. Afterward Gabe told how, see-
ing the old man either could not or
would not loosen his grasp on the win
dow sill, Dan dropped his oars, reach.
ed forward and lifted old Gabe by
main strength out of the window and
deposited him in the bottom of the
skiff.
At that moment tree trunk struck
the skiff. The jar almost knocked
Dan into the river. He recovered his
balance, however. and turned the
boats head shoreward.
And now it was pull for life. The
blackness of Il cloudy night enveloped
him. His sole guide was the light on
the lot in front of the postotlice. And
how could he gauge distance by that?
He might be above, opposite or far be-
low the breakwater Was he half
way out in the river? Everything de-
pended upon his distance from the
shore.
He felt as if every moment must be
his last effort. His temples throbbed.
His muscles, now so rigid, might relax
any moment. Human endurance could
not last much longer. Then a voice
shouted his name.
"Dan! DAM"
He dared not answer If he could. All
his breath was required to make the
breakwater.
"Ho-oo- 600, Dan! This way. I'm
here-Dolly! Dan"
A few more strokes, and he beard
laugh that made him shudder
"Oh, thank God-thank God! Pm
here, Dan. This way. DAN"
Then he knew he was above the
breakwater. He looked around. He
could barely discern Dolly in the dark
ness. Voices were heard on the shore.
"Catch the pole. Dan-quick."
Another pull, then Dan reached out a
hand and grasped the pole. AS he
grasped it a heavy log struck the skilf.
The next moment he was in the water.
Dolly shrieked. Dan put his left arm
under old Gabe and struck out with
his right. contending now with the
hungry waters for old Gabe's life.
Save yourself" said Gabe But Dan
compressed his lips and swan to Dol
ly's side. Dolly held her pole out until
he had Il firm grasp on it. With won
derful presence of mind he swan be-
low the waterlogged fiat Dolly had
pushed out from the shore. Now 9th
ers were near at hand, crying out to
them to take heart; help was at hand.
When Dolly Worth stepped out of
the fiat, she was greeted with cheer.
Torches were flaming now; women
were there. too-women with tears in
their eyes-and big rough men We're
there. whose eyes were moist as they
grasped Dan Graham's hands. They
were proud of the "stay at home"