The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-01-21
THE POND THAT
WENT TO SLEEP
Bv MARIE BEIDEN JAMES
Copyright. By Shortstory Pu


presidents telegram in his hand, look
ing down at the smooth, dark surface
of the pond that was in the way. He
dropped a little pebble into the water,
Just TO assure himself that it was not
a floor of hard dark wood, and he was
relieved to see little ripples start,
though the curved shapes they took
reminded him of the granting on a
heavy oaken door. Then he read the
yellow message through slowly once
more: Train must be run from
Friedland to Essex over prescribed
route before eight tomorrow morning
or franchise is forfeited. Knox
What a fool | was" reflected the
superintendent morosely. why didn't
90 on and bridge over the place in
stead of writing to Knox that the
franchise ough, to be changed so we
could go around it? Now here | am
with all material for a bridge 90
miles off. and tho franchise lost II
don't run a train over here in the
morning"
ne lOOktu at Nhc i"''S $780,
were laid right up to the waters edge
on each side, and at the dull, empty
surface which divided them. And the
damned pond in the way he said out
loud
Easy on the pond, Boss. It's not
SO bad after you know it, An old
man with wrinkled, smilelesS face
stood at the superintendent's elbow
and watched him with a curious CLINT
in u pair of narrow dark eyes. we
this pond" he added There was a
note of cool seriousness in bis voice
that interested the superintendent in
spite of his trouble.
indeed" he said. Why"
It's haunted replied the man
calmly.
The superintendent turned away
scorntully. It's warm night he
said, looking at the hot, red sunset
sky, Il think I'll be getting home.
Then he felt the man looking at him
and he turned back impatiently
We'll. how is it haunted" he asked,
annoyed and puzzled with himself for
asking.
We call it, The Pond That Goes 10
Sleep" said the man, because they
say that in summeT-even in weather
as hot as this-it sometimes freezes
solid You know it's only three feet
deep"
The superintendent laughed, an un-
pleasant enough laugh Good lie
he said harshly. What a pity that il
couldn't f~eeze over tonight. We
could lay rails along on the ice in
half an hour-and one train over
would ksep us the franchise
Again he turned to go, but this time
the other stopped him alertly Then
there is danger of your losing it, he
asked.
IT'S lost already" replied the su,
perintendent, scarcely caring what he
said, as he realized his trouble. IF a
train isn't run across this pond by
eight o'clock tomorrow, It's all up
oh, that's what they did then, "
the man stood looking steadily into
nothing for moment. Then he spoke
with decision that surprised the SUI
perintendent
why don't YOU dsain out the water
it isn't much he said, and lay
rails on the bottom"
Il had thought of that" the railroad
man answered, but it wouldn't do
The water would go right down this
hill and flood the back yard of Will
mer, your mayor and then there'd be
the devil to pay. He's been opposed
TO the railroad all along, and he'd
take hold of anything"
so he woud-you're right" broke
in the man. We'll, I'm not opposed
TO it, My name is Doyle. | live over
there" He pointed to the only house
on the hill, "A hundred rods distant
And If | can do anything-'
You cant, thanks" returned the
superintendent gloomily, unless the
pond should freeze tonight he added
with "A spark Of humor2 In that case
You might let me know. My name 5
Revell. I'm boarding at Aus Smith s.
I'm watch it close agreed Doyle
soemnly. And say, if it does freeze
after you've run your train through
will YOU let me have the ice? That 5
my ice house-that big thing up there
ana / didn't get IL as full as Id have
liked last winter"
"Oh, sure. sure said the railroad
man abstractedly, and he walked slow
ly of down the HILL his hands in hi!
pockets and the yellow Telegram
crumpled in one of them.
When he reached his economical
boarding place he found Aus Smith
latter and consequently hotter thar
other people, sitting tanning himsel
on the steps. Revell, drawn by a de
sire to escape from his own thoughts
spoke to him,
What do they call that pond NJ
there by the railroad" he asked idly
resting one foot on the lowest step"
"Why--they do call 1t the pond tina
goes to sleep, replied Aus an
stopped overheating himself with tn
violent eXertion attendant upon mo>
ing a palm leaf fan, though that ain
its real name. They call it that BIZ
cause there's n story that it'll freez
| any time winter or summer, an
| some fool said that 1t only got tire
! and went to sleep. But nobody b,
| Hcyes IT," he ended, and began far
| MING again convinced that he ha