The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-10-17

county'd risk what Dams rsking" said
the neighbor standing behind the post
master; mo, nor In the state. And all
for poor old Gabe."
A little knot of women had gathered
near the river One OF these. overhear-
ing such expressions fastened back to
her ncighbors.
ITS Dan Graham trying to save
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"
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
WIG lVEul uo WI llllSSo, hdlS,
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 skiff against
Gabe's cabin. Some cried that they
saw old Gabe; then darkness swal-
l,i, IL s., b.
rescuer and the man for whom he
rislied his life was in the hands of the
Almighty.
If Dan succeeded. he might manage
TO head his skitf in above the break
water. 1t was one chance in a thou
sand. one in million. The people on
the shore ran hcadlong toward the
breakwater. With the darkness of
night settling around him Dan Ora
ham gathered up his strength for one
supreme effort.
Old Gabe's cabin was stronger than
anybody could have credited. The
framework held together amazingly
The floor crumbled and toated away
beneath his feet. but the sinews of age
still enabled Gabe TO grasp with Il
drowning mans clutch the frame of
the window.
In vain 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
Il .,,4 IL vi, 1,
main strength out Of the window ami
deposited him In the bottom of the
skiff.
At that moment tree trunk struck
The skii1. The jar almost knocked
Dan into the river. He recovered his
boats head shoreward.
And now it was a pull for life. The
blackness of a cloudy night enveloped
him. His sole guide was the light on
the lot in front of the postottice. 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 dc
pended upon his distance from the
shore.
He felt as IL 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. Dan"
He dared not answer II he could. All
his breath was required to make the
hreaEwater.
"Ho-oo-ooo. Dan. This way. Pm
here-Dolly. Dan"
4 few more strokes. anu he beard
laugh that made him shudder.
"Oh. thank God-thank God! I'm
here, Dan. This way. Dan"
Then he knew he was above the
breakwater. He looked around. Fl"
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
hand and grasped the pole. AS he
grasped it IL heavy log struck the skitf.
The next moment he was i'll 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 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 ut hand, crying out to
them to take heart: help was ut 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 Ill
their eyps-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