The National tribune., 1902-05-22

Their lake in Their dark" he said. "Ye
might go home long of me, and in Their
mOrnin' my boy Kenneth would see ye
safe home"
Indeed, no; there is not the least dan
GER she cried quickly. Il am used TO
the lake and the woods"
Dye live fur?'
mo; just beyond the south shore of the
lake"
"Oh, very well. But, say
Yes, Mr.. Hawser."
81 want We ter remember one thing" he
said, with grim solemnity. '.Yeh won't
take no money, but I'm grateful as kin be,
and eff Their time ever comes when | kin
aid We in any way. I'll do it eff it takes an
arm. Now, don't forgit. Kate, my gal,
and goodnight to yeh."
He released her hand. She returned his
goodnight and FASTENED to her canoe. In
the dusk Of night she padded away.
The rain was falling in torrents. Such
a downpour had not been known on the
Basshawk within the memory of the old
est inhabitant.
We're bound to have a freshet as sure
as anything" declared Silas Goodwin, as
he scanned the heavens with clouded brow
and an ominous shake of the head.
Would there be anything serious in
that asked Kate Standish, the lumber
mans niece, who had been watching the
troubled face Of her uncle with consider
able anxiety.
ut might be serious There's the dam,
you know, and the logs in the pond.
Should the rain hold up by noon all may
be well, but | am mighty 'fraid it won't.
We're letting out about all the water now
that the waste gates will carry" The
speaker walked hastily from the yard,
turning his steps toward the dam which
spanned the interval between the hills on
Beaver Creek. said creek emptying its wa
ter into the Basshawk some rods below
the mill
Beaver Pond was the property of Silas
Goodwin, and it was now covered with
pine logs, the result of a long Winters
work. Below the DAM and connected with
| the pond by a flume, was the saw and
shingie mill, through which the Winters
| output Of pine was destined to pass while
being manufactured into the marketable
product.
The Spring freshet threatened the de.
struction Of the dam, and with that the
! loss of all the logs. Truth to tell, on the
| safety of the dam hung the worldly future
Of MIR. Goodwin, and it is not to be won.
| dered at that he scanned the skies with
| anxious eyes, hoping for a break in the
| lowering clouds. The break did not come
! Every gate was open, and the water rush.
| ed with mad roar through the great
waste-weir, filling the structure to its full
est capacity. Through the mill-flume also
| the water poured an unstinted stream
| flooding floors and outbuildings. Every
| available outlet was open; still it was not
enough. Slowly, yet surely, the water rose
in the pond. Minute by minute it crepi
nearer the top of the dirt dam. Once an
| opening was made, no earthly power could
| stay the destruction sure to follow. Mr.
| Goodwin summoned every man and every
team on the premises TO do battle for the
salvation of his property.
The men eXcayated the hillside loading
wagons with dirt, which was conveyed u
the dam to strengthen the weakest spots
and build up the low places. With hercu
lean efforts every man did his duty, while
| the rush and roar Of waters made Il dir
almost terrifying in its nature.
Sias stood near the waste-gates, watch
ing the water. The misty splashes damp
ened his clothing, his hair, his face and
! hands; but he needed it not. His white
drawn face was bent above a thin notched
shingle set in the edge of the water Notch
after notch disappeared beneath the rolled
waters of the pond, although the rain had
ceased to fall.
''Ah, if we can hold it for only an hour!'
groaned the anxious man. But / fea,
we can't do it. The dam is long and my
men are getting tired under the strain
sound Of rapid hoofbeats interrupted
his soliloquy. Kate had ridden up from
the direction of the house on the back OF
her brown mare. Bess
What is the outlook, Uncle Silas?" sh,
asked. bending from her saddle with batec
breath.
BLACK, Kate, Blackr' groaned thu
white-faced mill owner "If had few
more teams and men-but that is not tc
be thought Of"
There's Wick Hawser's crew
Don't mention the old villain, Kate
He'll laugh at my ruin"
Does the destruction OF your dam near
so much, Uncle Silas?"
1t means total ruin for me-" greaned
he, with dropping head and limp figure