Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-10-17

he replied as he refilled his pipe.
But the tide WAS near half way up
her keel, and tits three hours off high
water yet. amt never seed such a
tide up the creek. I'm thinkin' twill
top the wall in bout nour'n a half
TOP the wall" echoed Mrs. Dow.
sett with a frightened look on her dull
face. "You be fool. sam. I amt new,
er heard Of the tide toppin' the wall
of Cons
well, mebhe you'll hear of it
t'night," he replied grlmly, "and if
weren't for the lass upstairs, I'd put
ZEE in the old dinghy and row zee to
the smack. IT'S chance We'll be
washed out Of our beds tonight"
'Tis a good WALL" murmured Mrs
Dowsett doubtfully. "a powerful good
wall"
GAY, if wall holds, tits all right
lsure enough. The house'll hold, tho
I'm thinkin' We'll have foot or two
of water in the kitchen"
"'Tis a stone wall" she reiterated
doggedly. Come and lend hand with
things in the plaror. I wouldn't have
that new carpet spoilt for all the
boats in Christendom.'
The words contained the simple
creed of her existence She was not
concerned with her own life, or the
danger which threatened 1t. All he1
thoughts were for the few things
which represented the savings OF
years, the hardly-earned trifles which
formed her worldly wealth.
The man rose to his feet without
a word, and they both occupied the
next hour in removing their treasured
work was done swiftly, but quietly, sc
as not to disturb Laura from hel
sleep. A separate staircase kind
Of glorified ladder led up from the
parlor to their own bedroom, and ur
| this steep ascent Sam Dowsett stag
gered with load after load of house
hold treasures. They stripped the
room Of everything that the water
could possibly damage. Carpets. cur
tains. stuffed birds. books. woolly
mats. china dogs, wax flowers. chairs
| fender. rug, cushions were all remov
ed to place Of safety.
When they had completed thei
task Sam Dowsett looked doubtful!
at the he'd, which was heaped higl
| with books and china.
I'm donhtin' where we'll sleep" HI
said after pause.
| "Mebbe there won't be any sleep 70,
us tonight" his wife replied GIVE tht
| lass to watch, and I'm thinkin' 20,
may be busy"
They looked at each other in 81
lence. Their minds had been entirely
| id NTH "a tn nf that
little worldly treasures. But now boil
the man and woman had themselves
to think Of. and the presence of ;
HELPLESS stranger did not sweetel
their thoughts. The same idea was il
both their minds. and there was thu
same mute question in their eyes.
"'Tis a good wall" said the man
Then he paused and listened. A long
ancholy howl rose above the dii
and clatter Of the storm 1t sounded
faint and far away. but mans shou
might have done the same in that tn
multi of wind and sea-
"'Tis the marsh dog Whispered
Mrs Dowsett in a frightened voice.
amt never heard him vet. though
father seed him once. Hem as big a
a horse, and black as a lump of coal
and when he bowls. it's sure sigl
OF evil"
Don't be a fool" replied Sam
angrily. "'Tis old Ripper howlin' il
his kennel"
But, as If in contradiction to hi
words, there came loud, angry bari
from the back Of the house and
was answered by another howl, loude
and more distinct than the last.
"'Tis the marsh dog" said Mrs
Dowsett making her way down tn
ladder. 81 do hope he won't find GU
Kinper."
Sam followed her down the ladder
and, as they made their way to tn
kitchen. they heard the bowling clos