Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-22
" been prevented from returning b:

tuc uOOu. rs
Ralph advanced to the window and
waved his arms reassuringiy to the
girl. She responded. Quickly he turn.
ed OF the light. Gathering up the ap.
paratus in his arms: he hurried from
the room cut into the rain again and
to the boathouse.
The frail little launch had been TAX
- from the house when the river be
gan to rise and moored alongside 1t
Now the house was wholly under wa
Ter, and Ralph. was forced to swim to
the boat, hoidi;lss the searchlight as
well as he could.
In the boat he started first the light
and then the engine and put out into
the swollen stream. The little craft
was sadly buffeted by the sticks and
the waves and time and again ship
ped water as Ralph sturdily headed
for the opposite shore.
The searchlight disclosed the Well
man home with the water now a little
above the second story. In the win
dow stood the girl, waving her hands
encouragingly..
At length Ralph managed to catch
aold Of the window. Inside the room
the girl stood nearly waist deep in the
water.
"Quickw cried Ralph. "Get into the
boat.'
Silently the girl obeyed. Just as she
was safely seated Ralph's grasp was
broken. The water dashed them furi-
ously away and then against the
house. Something snapped. With a
Auttered ejaculation Ralph looked to
his engine. Nothing seemed to be
smiss, and he threw the throttle for
ward. The engine raced terrifically
md he quickly jerked the throttle
| back.
"The propeller shaft is broken" he
announced In a voice that strove to
be calm. Wen have to float down
| with the current and try to land some
| where"
| The girl was startled, but also tried
to appear unccncerned
That's too bad" she said, with 9
little catch in her voice 81 was never
never going to talk to you again, bu
/ suppose I'll have to now"
"Oh, I'll not force you tor growled
Ralph as he puttered over the ma
chine.
do you know" went on the girl, q
think your horrid old cows are tn,
cause Of all this? 1t was only aftel
they trampled over my garden tina
the river came up. 1 know 1 can neve
forgive Them
And incidentally never forgive me
I suppose" mumbled the man.
The girl said nothing. Then sudden
~ she lifted up her feet with an ex
rression of dismay.
Gracious, the boats full of water!
she cried. I'm so wet, anyway, tina
l didn't notice it before"
Yep" replied the man shortly
She's sprung a leak. We've got I
make a landing, sure"
| With the powerful searchlight, whic
stiil burned undimmed, he swept th
waters.
Look. he cried. EFF those aren
cattle I'll eat my hatw
Ahead of. them the light reveale
come three or four heads rising out {
The water and steadily moving frol
the center Of the stream.
They're walkingw cried Ralpl
"They can take us ashorev
He sprang to the steering wheel an
skiilfully Unanswered the boat so tn,
. t. passed near the beasts. The ri
saw his intention. and as they passe
] 10th jumped, landing safe on II
e sturdy animals.
Almost undisturbed and unswaye
: by the rushing waters, the Gait
+ 9lowed steadily onward. Gradual
they came into shallower water, ar
thankfully Ralph and the girl 81
from the beasts backs. Hand in har
they struggled along now, faster ths
s the CATTLE.
why, they're miner he cried. That
q Bess, and there's Doll! Why, Clar
It dear, do you realize that the Gait
you thought had caused 1t all ha,
d saved us?"
l. "Ohv' cried the girl and turned
e him.
N "And look therew cried Ralph. poir
y ing ahead. See what they've brong
D. us to. See: that's the Rev, Sturgi
home on the road to your house, al
'e look there-he's opening the doc
y Look, look, dear, your father al
e mother are with him!"
u The girl looked. and then, sobbil
&c piteously, she threw her arms aroul
10 Ralph's neck.
"Oh, dear. dearw she cried. II fl
u give your cows, I forgive you, and
&c she added ungrammatically, but Sol
4. fully, as she, chung to Ralph and
a. held her close, I'm never not goi
a 20 speak to you again"