The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-24

tree. InlS was luck. lie would nave q
clear field and no danger Of discovery.
The men passed out Of sight, and Shorty
was just preparing to slip across the road
when another figure ran down the steps of
the house calling: Uncle John, wait! I'm
coming too!' It was the coloners nephew,
boy Of H.
He looked up and down the road. He
wanted to find his uncle, but this awful
noise frightened him. He hesitated for
moment, and then, drawn by curiosity he
crossed. the strip of sodden lawn and drew
near the edge Of the waterloo near,
Shorty thought, but what could he do?
Suddenly shrill cry rang out above
the roar Of the stream. Shorty sprang
out from his hiding place. The boy had
disappeared with portion Of the treach-
erous bank.
Shorty's brain was working actively.
He could secure the money easily, and
in the horror and excitement of the boys
death the loss might not be discovered for
days.
But could he leave the child to die
alone? Would he ever forgive himself?
Would Maggie forgive him if she knew?
Two he1plessly imploring hands raised
above the water decided him. He let
himself go, reaching out as he fell for the
childish fingers.
Colonel Hawkins and his companions
had been returning when that wild cry
rang out. They were just in time to see
figure plunge into the pool.
In the darkness they could dim1y make
out the struggle. Hawkins had eyes only
for the boy. He saw that he was in the
grasp Of a man who fought to keep from
being carried into the current. The eddy
bore the two figures to the edge Of the
rushing water. For a moment it looked
as If they would be swept past the danger
point into the comparative quiet of the
in h11f Of to Ia
Fight as he would, Shorty was unable to
shake off the clutch of the hungry current.
A wave broke over them, and as he
wrapped his arms about the boy he felt
himself drawn bodily into the whirling
tide.
II will lift up mine eyes unto the hills
from whence cometh my strength
At such rare moments as his face came
above the smother, Shortys eyes were
fixed longingly on the dim heights above
him.
Where had he heard those words? Why
did he think of them now?
From whence cometh my strength -
from whence cometh my strength"
Once more for blessed moment he saw
the hills above him. They were more
distinct than before, more like the hills
he loved-the hills where he had met Mag
gie-where she would be waiting for him
tomorrow.
He tried to open his eyes that he might
see her more clearly, but they would not
open.
On the fiat in water up to their knees
three men stood waiting with streaming
eyes for the bodies to drift down to them
It was Clancy who started forward with a
cry and, rushing In waist deep, grasped at
a dark mass in the hurrying foam.
AS quickly as possible the two forms.
the smaller one still held tightly in the
others arms, were drawn ashore. The
colonel, grasping the little figure to his
| breast, started on a run for the house,
| leaving the other men to follow with the
| heavier burden.
AS the full light of the moon fell on the
white face Clancy started back with g.
cry 1t was McGovern whom he had
pulled him from the water. McGovern, the
burglar-his enemy, his rival, this man
who had given his life for a child.
Just after the sun rose over the noun
tain and while the mist still hung in the
valley, Clancy came out Of the house. He
was very til ed, but he wanted to breathe,
and he wanted to think.
| A coat lay on the grass, and as he
| picked it up something dropped to the
ground and lay shining in the sun. Clan
cy stood locking at it. Then he felt in the
pockets and collected quite pile Of finely
made tools and small lantern. He
looked at them for some time and then he
looked at the rushing, leaping water.
| Slowly he gathered them up and one at a
time cast them into the deepest part Of
the pool.
He picked up the coat and walked very
thoughtfully toward the house.
At the steps he met the justice. -
Say said that gentleman, this
things pretty tough arter last night
| Can't you hush it up?'
There's nothin to hush up" said Clam
| cy roughly. i've made mistake. He's
not the man thought he was
Bad news travels fast even in coun-
| try with read we'll nigh impa ssab1e and
bridges down. To the girl on the hill the
! word that came to her in the morning
seemed a fitting complement to the storm
of the night before. 1t was another phase
! of the desolation that had fallen upon the
| smiling valley and, like the man she loved,
her strength came from lifting her eyes
to the untroubled hills.
Like him she bore herself bravely when
| the test came She chung to her ideal OF
| him even as he had chung to the boy in the
| great fight Of his life. He had proved him.
self worthy before the world. He would
be remembered as hero-her hero. She
| thought Of him always as on that first
and last afternoon on the mountain side,
| standing with the new look In his eyes
| and calling a gay Tomorrow.
SALAMANDER AND SUCKER.