The Lamar register., 1902-06-04
The Terror OF
TankerVi11o
- s.oee. "A. s.sy.

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THROU0H the mist which hung like
pail above the waters of an un-
familiar sea, the sun appeared blood
red and angry. In the high valley,
away TO the westward, the pillows of
. new river were still rushing madly
towards the inundated lowlands in
ths wake OF the first great wave which
the trsaeherous wall of hillside
reservoir had set free IN the darkest
hour before dawn
In the bed of the River OF Death lay
the demolished town of Tankerville.
its submerged streets still illuminated
BY the glow of dozen incandescent
Tampa. which distorted into weird
shadows the many gruesome objects
just beneath the surface.
And, high on the hillside, the en-
gines of the Generating Station were
still sianking noisily. for the engineer
had long since fed from his post to
gaze In silent horror upon the strug-
Cling forms which foated by, in twos
and threes, on the relentless tide be-
low.
In tAs center OF floating table
man eat taiior-wise. grasping re-
volver IN his right hand. His face,
framed by q long tangled beard and a
mass of unkempt hair, was cynel and
rspulsivs. His shirt. open at the front.
showed . nswly-infiicted wound on the
breast. The human derelict was an
outcast and felon who had been 10
~ A-.>-lh~l h-~ r.. ~,
terror Of Tankervills" that he was
Known n the district by NO other
name.
The frsn rsEt span like q top on the
sddying tide; but the outcast elung
tenaciously with his bare feet to the
few yards Of wood which formed the
deck OF his craft. holding the shining
thing In his hand high above the reach
of the water.
A hand shot out suddenly from the
center OF the whirlpool. and three
fingers graspsd the narrow ledge of
me table top, causing the raft TO heel
over dangerously. The three fingers
worked eonvulsively for q moment.
and The fourth, mere stump. moved
h nervous sympathy with the others.
he pistol spat viciously towards the
submerged side. and the raft gently
righted itself. In the whirlpool astern
. white face revolved slowly for mo-
msnt and then disappeared.
A child's voice rose, clear and shrill,
shove the roar Of the rapids and the
crash OF grinding wrsckage. The man
with the pistol lowered his weapon
Tor The hrst time, and turned cautious
y round In the direction of the sound
AZ the same moment some floating
vessel. IN the shape Of large bath or
cistsrn. struck sharply against the end
Of the raft and capsized, leaving n
tiny form struggling on the surface of
the water. within arms' length of the
outeasA.
Ths engineer on the valley side shnd-
I'd his eyes. for the sun had changed
from blood red to gold. and the float
ing objects on the great lake were
bashsd in dazzling white light. For
. moment the raft appeared indistinct
and shadowy; then it glided down the
ssrssm on silver ray, and the figure
Of . man and q child stood out In bold
rsaasf against q dark background of
brssken and nr.
Whsrs are we goan' TO, grandad 2"
asksd Me child. gazing up at his
strange companion with q patifM
smile.
ITO Kinedoa coma, mos Nkely!"
replied the Terror" srimly. Hold
on tight. an don't git askin' me quss.
tAons, an'-an' don't call me your
grandad, COS I amt"
Il always call old men 'grandad,' u"
sid the boy. conhdentially. 'I had
real grandad once. an he was some
thin like you-but prettier; yes, ever
90 much prettier! s'pose kingdom
comes 9 long way OFF,"
"Not so very. tudgin' b. appear
ances.s
':Is IL the same Kingdom come as 1
say in my prayers. jas bsaose Thy
VIII Be donef'"
"Nebbe It is"
els II comsorAahAe pAncA nks
homer"
"It cousdn't BE- much wuss nor thA.,
anyway"
.Win dad an nam be there, toor"
Il reckon they've arrove slready.