Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-05-31
Continued from last week

dluOSl dnuudl TtCuETtuCt, anu
4 L the town had come to expect
them each fall As the Hon. Jeb Bar
rows remarked with cheerful optimism,
voicing a popular belief, II It was in
tended Antioch should go that way Il
would have gone long ago.
But this summer the drought had
been OF longer duration than usual. The
woods were like tinder, and the inev
liable wadding from some careless
hunters gun or the scattered embers
from some campfire far up In the
northern part OF the state had started
conhagration that was licking up
miles OF timber and moving steadily
south behind a vast curtain Of smoke
that darkened half the state II was
only when the burned out settlers from
the north began TO straggle in that An
tloch awoke to proper sense OF its
danger.
II was then that Antioch sent out It's
first call for help. 1t needed fire en-
gines and hose, and II needed them
badly, especially the hose, for the lit
tie reservoir from which the town
drew Its water supply was almost
empty.
Antioch forgot the murder OF Ryder.
II forgot Roger Oakley, the strike and
all lesser affairs. A common danger
threatened its homes, perhaps the lives
Of It's citizens
A score OF angry men were stamping
up and down the long platform across
from the shops or pushing in and out
Of the ugly little depot, which had
taken ON years in apparent age and
decay IN the two days during which
no trains had been running.
They were abusing Holt, the railroad
and every one connected with IL For
the thousandth time they demanded 10
know where the promised relief train
vas--if II had started from Buckhorn
Junction. and. II II hadn't started. the
reason OF the delay.
The harried assistant treasurer an
svered these questions as best be
could.
~Are you going TO let the town burn
without making a move to save itr'
demanded an excited citisen.
'You don't think l am any more
anxious to see Il go than you arer'
pstorted Holt angrily.
Then why don't your road do some
thins to prevent itr
The roads doing all II can. gentle
nsA"
| esVvxaei. b.. - N.ss
We are cut or said Holt help
isssiy. Everything IL ted w tight"
You can wire, can't your
Yes. l can wire; I have wired
well. where's the relief train, then p
ITS at the Junction"
It's going TO do Us a lot Of good
there, amt ity'
they'll send Il as soon as they can
gst together a crew"
| Stir them up again, Holt. Tell 'em
w got 10 have that hose and those en-
gines or the towns gone. It's matter
Of life and death"
Holt turned back into the depot and
the crowd dispersed.
In the ticket office he found McClln.
took, who had just come In from up.
town The master mechanics face was
unusually grave,
II have been investigating the water
supply with the city engineer. Things
are In awful shape. The mains are
about empty, and there isn't pressur,
enough from the standpipe TO throw o
thirty five foot stream"
Il wish oakley was here" muttered
Holt
80 do |. Somehow he had knacs
at keeping things moving. l don't
mean but what you've done your level
best. Byron.' he added kindly.
They've laid down ON me at the
Junction" said the younger man bit
/ terly
lie stepped TO the door, mopplng his
face with his handkerchief, and stood
| looking down the track In the direc,
tion OF Buckhorn
They made It so Oakley couldn't
stay. and now they wonder why the
relief train is hung up, All Durks says
is that he can't get a crew. tell you
II Oakley was here he'd have 20 get
one"
1t was u mistake 10 send the yard
engine up TO Parker's Run. II we had
II here now
How WAS | to know we'd need ~
l had 10 try 10 save those ties, and we
thought the wind was shifting into the
south" in nercc Justification ot his
course
That's 50. all right" said McClin.
took. We did think the danger was
past Only we shouldn't have taken
any chances"
AT this point they wee Joined by Dr.
Emory,
Anything new from BuckhornT' he
inquired anxiously,
NO; It's the same old story. Durks
aln't got nybody 20 send"
The doctor. like Holt. fell 90 mopping
his face with his handkerchief.
Don't be know our dangerf Don't
be know we cau't fight the hre with
out engines and hose that our water
supply Is about exhausted and that
well have 10 depend on the riverr'