The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-02
A DANGEROUS FILTRATION
BY BRADFORD K. DANIELS.

tcopyrisht. 1904, by Daily Story Pub. Co. John Drew shut the stable door with bang that made Be&s, the gray marc. snort in her stall. ''fhcrc they are again!' he growled, as he got a giimpso of dainty form in white muslin thro,igi, the shrubbery across the way, and .hea I'd hearty masculine laugh. They're play. ing croquet, and he's stepping round in his patent-leathcr shoes and high col. lar putting on all his fine airs, and she's comparing him to me, I saw her lool, at my shoes and then at his when l called for her Sunday, and. she histed that I'd better send my collars to fine steam laundry instead of letting mother do 'em up."
 Two hours later, John crossed the road m the gathering darkness, and started up the path to Mamleis home. "i used to hke to cal for Mamie. but now It's worse than pulling teeth, with that dandy look. ing at me as If I'd just come out of the ark" he said.
 In moment the sound of singing reached his ears. and l,c paused to listen.
 Yes they are singing together She nev. CT Wouiu sing With me; said l couldn' keep in tune" he added, bitterly.
 Going round to the window. John look cd In Mamie was seated at the organ. and MT. de Pledge was standing beside her turning the music. Once he stooped so low to look at the sheet that John was sure Mamfes yellow curls touched his cheek. With an oath the jealous ioycr turned away and strode biindiy across tne nower beds and out to the road. Then he suddenly stopped as if possessed of a new idea. He sha'n't have her. curse him! I'll teach him to come between, me and Mamie" And he hurried ST to his own house. In few minutes he ap- peared at the back door with a saw un- uer ms arm. looked cautiously about, and then slipped along in the shadow of inc fence till he disappeared snaoug inc naples in the direction of the reservoir.
 IT you care to, you may take my easel ana try another sketch this morning. MISS PayEant; I've got to run up to inc city You do wonders, considering how little I've shown you. I wish you'd fry those gnarled old trees in the ravine be. low the reservoir; they are so pictur. esque."
 "oh, thank you. MT. de Pledge. It's so Kind of you! When do you think the light will be best7'
 This morning, think. I've been work Ing there myself every morning for a week, and I've found the light at its best about ten."
 Then l must hurry off. for It's after nine now" And Mamie hustled about and finished her mornings work, and was soon on her way to the ravine. willow Gap" as the ravine was call ed' was a deep cut through a hill, made by the ceaseless wear of d brook which emptied into the river beyond. Willows wlth gnaried roots clutching at the stream fiourished in this deep recess, which, since the two great reservoirs had been built above 1t for the towns SUD- ply of water, was almost dry through the summer months.
 Mamie was, hardly out of the house oc- Tore Louis de Pledge. the young artist who had come up from New York in search of a few weeks quiet in the coun- try and was boarding with the payzants. 1 started for the railway station. Seeing l that he was likely to miss his train if he went round by the road. he decided to l take a short cut over the hill past the l reservoirs. As he approached the upper reservoir he saw something flash in the | sunlight at the end of the siuice, and, | looking more closely. saw a hand grip | ping something bright disappear behind a projecting buttress. In a moment there
 was crash. as the timbers which sup ported the massive gate of the sluice gave way; the water came througi, with | mad plunge, and at the same time John Drew leapt nimbly up to safety, l the saw with which he had done the das- | tsrdly deed still in his hand. He wheeled suddenly round. and when his eyes rest cd upon, tho artist they seemed to start from their sockets.
 You here@' he asked in a husky voice T thought saw your easel down in the rRvine minute ago.
 Very likely" replied de Pledge, eycing the ruined sluice, through which the wa ter was now laundering into the lower reservoir. Miss Payzant took my easel few minutes ago, and has gone to the ravine to do some sketching."
 I've cut the timbers in the lower sluiee!" exclaimed John Drew. and dash ed down the slope toward the ravine. He had not gone five rods before the weak ened gate gave way. and with a dea fem ing roar the water poured into the rav- ine.
 For a moment Louis de Pledge stood in blank astonishment, thinking Drew mad.