The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-05-16

You fell I'm the river once. didn't
you"
YES"
'And you had a fight with . light
MIN rod man?"
"Yes."
"And a mad dog chased you up q
ladder?'
"But what does all them things
amount to agin Injuns and murderers!
l want to be a hero, same as other
folks. If I'd ask Skinner to trust me
for ten pounds Of sugar all to once
he'd drop dead"
"Waal." said the wife as she rose u?
to prepare for bed, you are dom all
you can, and nobody can't do any
better. If you live long 'nufr mebbe
your chance will come"
1t was on the road and only two
weeks away. A millionaire had his sum
mer home on the bank of the river run.
ming through the village. His eighteen.
year-old daughter was fond of rowing,
and it was an almost everyday sight to
see her skimming along In her boat
There had been heavy midsummer
rains, and the river had gradually risen
until the water poured over the dam
like a Niagara There was a drop of
twelve feet. with three or four waves
at the bottom rising up and curling
over in a menacing way. One day, at
the highest stage of the water, three
young ladies appeared ON the pond in
a boat. The rich mans daughter was
taking company out for row. Two
hundred feet above the dam, as she
attempted to turn and go back, one OF
the oars snapped, and in her sudden
panic she lost the other, while the
boat turned broadside to the stream
To 60 over the dam in that fashion
meant death to all.
Abe LangfOrd had been salvagin2
sawlogs and boards from the rivel
with rope and hook and stood on the
bank when the disaster to the boat oc
CURED. There were others higher ur
and lower down who were startled by
the screams Of the girls, but rot one
of them grasped the situation. 1t was
left for Abe. OF came his coat, vest
and shoes, and In he plunged. A score
Of men called to him that he could
never hope to tow the boat ashore, but
that wasn't his plan. There was just
a chance that If the girls kept quiet
and the boat was guided over the dam
bow first she wouldn't fill or be upset
Abe caught it when it was yet fifty
feet from the plunge, and, whirling ii
about, he hung on to the stern and got
the bow pointed straight. Then he said
to the girls:
1--WE have got to go over the dam.
All of you crouch down and hang on
for your lives. If you make one move
we shall all be drowned"
There was screaming and yelling and
shouting all along the banks, but Abe
Langford was not ratified. Two of the
girls had tainted away. and the other
was dumb with fright. The boat half
filed, but foated through to safety.
and, guiding and swimming, Abe
brought her to the bank. He had done
brave deed, and his fellow towns
men were unstinted in their praise
He took it all in his humble way, and
as soon as he could escape them he
went shivering home.
Good lands, Abe Langford, but
what's the matter?" exclaimed the
wife on beholding his saturated con-
dition.
"Just saved three gals from drownd-
In" he replied.
'Then you are hero at last?'
"Durn the luck, no! In all the sto-
ries I've ever read the hero marries the
gal whose life he saves. There was
three of 'em, and what am 1 goin' to
do about it? Besides, If there wasn't
but one I'd be married to you just the
same, wouldn't L? I tell you luck is
agin me, and shall never have a fair
show"
"Waal. git off your wet clothes and
mebbe you'll be chased by mad bull
tomorrer," said the motherly wife as
she began drying his wet hair with a
towel