Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-21

Jacks horror, there was less than a foot
OF the pole showing, and the water had
washed under the bank to such an extent
that he found going near to the pole out
or the question, for there would be dam
ger OF the ground-a soft clay-giving way
beneath him and letting him into the rag
ing current below. Then Jack made q trip
TO the further end of the cave, where the
banks were lower and less able to with
stand the rush of wild water. He was
frightened to see that the water had cut
Its way far into the land, making what he
termed an inlet He hurried back to the
house to repeat the news to Marie and
Aunt Jane.
But nothing less than danger right un-
der her nose could brighten the old woman.
who declared that had there been any
thing to fear Mr.. Brown would not have
gone away that morning. THAT old Mis-
soury is always rampaging. sonny" she
said calmly. but she had never done the
Browns any harm. An, what's more, she
won't; that's my private opinion publicly
expressed" Then the old woman, with
candle in hand, went upstairs to bed, al
ways retiring with the sun.
But Marie saw from the serious expres-
sion In her brothers face that peril was
the lower end OF the curve and saw what
had so worried him. Yes, the water was
trying with all it's strength to break its
way through the land and cut off the little
promontory point on which the house and
barns stood. Marie took IN the situation
Immediately, Turning to Jack, she asked
Gould IL possibly break through within a
week."
within a few hours maybe" said Jack.
you see It is rising very rapidly-I never
saw anything like it. Just look at the way
It is comlng-rushing like a whirlwind and
beating against the soft clay banks like a
rain of cannon balls. If It keeps on rising
and bearing inward toward the house. by
tomorrow morning Wen wake to find our
selves cut of from the. mainland. This
little point will be an island, crumbling
away into the water. I half wish papa
and mamma had not gone away"
why not you go to the telegraph sta
ton and send a wire to papa?" asked
Marie, becoming very uneasy over the
prospect presented by her brother
You forget that the telegraph station is
closed at O'clock" said Jack. And it's
the same at the other end-where papa and
mama are. 1t Is out Of the question to
warn papa OF what I fear. before tomor-
row morning"
well, all we can do is to hope for the
best" philosophical Marie
mo, sister, we must prepare for the
enemy" declared Jack.
Prepare to fight the Missouri rlver!''
exclaimed Marie in wonder.
Exactly" replied Jack. That is, II
fighting the Missouri means to outwit her
In regard to what property is movable"
Together the children returned to the
house and Jack explained his plan as they
went along. He went TO the barn and
hitched up the horses to the big wagon
Then he and Maize began loading into II
the most valuable things in the house. theiI
fathers private papers and accounts the
sllverware, best clothing, fine linens, small
personal belongings that were cherished
by the owners and their mothers besi
bedding.
'Wenl save all that it's possible &c
save" said Jack. "Of course. the furniture
can't be moved"
Yes, some OF II can" declared Marie
~ we see there is need of doing so. But
TO be on the safe side Wen take this load [,
a safe place over in the big eoraheid anc
leave Il there: then come back for more"
It was now about o'clock and Mari,