Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-09-22

(7 The stout lumberman who spoke
~ to the foreman Of the Wolf Greek
Lumber Company used a tone which
made Dave Rhodes pause, bride In
hand, and ask in reply:
YES. Why not?'
ooh, nothing much. Only l don't like
the looks of those clouds up yOnder.
that's all"
Dave turned his gaze to the mountain
peaks above him, where ragged fringe
of gray cloud had begun to gather. He
smiled and shook his head lightly.
You're easy to scare, Tim. l see
nothing up there to worry about"
well, may he there is nothing. But
you remember last springs flood,
Dave?'
Rather. 1t made us trouble enough.
1t is too early for the floods now,
Tim"
''Sorter early, that's true. But l tell
You. Dave. the sky night before the
dam busted looked just like that sky
up yonder. You sleep with your eyes
open tonight, ana if it begins to rain.
just you get down fast as Billy can
fetch you"
'All right will. Look after the
night gang. Miller. and see that the Rol-
Inns order gets out first thing in the
morning. l may not be down before
noon"
II will, sir"
AS Dave rode on up the steep road he
was thinking:
Il know what Tim Mller's notion is.
He thinks the dam isn't safe, and be-
lieve he's right. I'll set a gang to work
on it tomorrow. before anything does
happen"
When he reached the upper dam he
sprang from his horse, tied him to
sapling, ana made a pretty close exam
ination.
Better than thought" said he.
''still If the Old Wolf did get on tear.
away she'd go. III have it fixed right
away"
He resumed his ride. and gained the
little cabin at the top an hour before
nightfall in good time for his duties.
There were no men ut work on the
upper shift just now. so he was alone
on the mountain. without companion
save his faithful horse, Billy. What it
was that prompted him TO give the little
fellow an extra rundown AMI an extra
feed before he left the little log stable,
Dave never knew, but something did
Billy was unusually we'll cared for
when his master went to get his own
supper In the cabin. which was nothing
more than a little room with fire
place added onto one end of the stable.
After he had his supper Dave smoked
pipe or two by his tre-thc mountain
air Is chilly at night. even in midsum-
mer. Then. weary with his days work.
he spread the blanket on the cot in the
corner and prepared to go to bed. A
deep sigh Of the wind through the trees
caught his ear. and he listened a mo-
ment.
Maybe Id best take look about be-
fore turn in," he said, and went out
side the cabin.
The wind had risen. but the clouds
were not heavy and Il misty moon now
and then peeped through their ragged
edges.
Don't think it will rain" he NUT
tered, though don't like that sigh in
the timber. 1t usually means trouble.
However, there's no use running after
bad luck. May as we'll go to bed and
get rested for it, IL it comes-which
probably 1t will not
He returned to the cabin, drew Off his
boots and his coat. and lay down. still
prompted by that queer feeling to I'm
dress no farther He slept soundly for
hours. and was awakened at last by n
peal Of thunder which reverberated
through the mountain gorges until the
solid hills shook.
But it was not the thunder which
made Dawes heart stand STILL and
brought him to his feet with Il swift
spring 1t was Il sound as Of mighty
rushing waters. the sound lumberman
most fears in the springtime. Dave
listened intently as he hurried on coat
and boats, and snatched his hat from
his peg. He took out his watch struck
a matched and looked at it.
Three O'clock-the men at the camp
two miles down Wolf Valley would be
asleep for an hour yet. and no one
ready to warn them of the danger rush
ing upon them. II the rain was as
heavy as he feared. there would be
danger, and he might even now be too
late.
He flung open the cabin door and
stepped out into the water almost to
his bOot-tops
Rain. Great God. If is cloud
burst" he cried. and dashed to the