Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-08-21

side world 1t had vanished; unquestionablv swent
entirely away by the flood
10 the west and south broad rolling lands with
only the long shining rails OF steel to reclaim them
from the primitive state, and TO the east the great blue
treste stretched from her very feet toward where her
home lay. miles beyond the horizon.
Down where its massive piers met the water loos
and beams barrels and debris of all sorts tossed and
fought Tor supremacy like living things The bridge
had proved at first obstacle to manv of the drifting
objects. and while they halted at the unvieIding bar
across their path others had hurried behind them
grappcd with and crowded them until at last bar
Tier had formed that defcd the passage of every
irg thing except the tossing, oaming water that
rushed over and under with total disregard for
everything but Its own mighty power.
Further up the river great trees had torn loose from
their soil and Joined the motley crowd on the river
In the center OF the stream fallen monarch shorn
OF lis magnificent dignity lay with its roots like great
cet kicking rdiculousy into the air at every surge OF
the waters and its branches laden with strange fruit
Tor much OF the tiotsam and etsam had found lodg
ment among them. By steady continued pressure
some OF the swaying limbs had found grip in the
strange vancouver had thrust itself up between the
seepers OF the trese There SCARED by its constant
ret against the rail crushed by the tremendous press
urc behind it and the unyelding steel before it great
section had broken off and lay parallel to the shining
rail
Eizabeths little scaret-coated figure still drppinp
IRON the river and Terry at her elbow were the only
living things in this scene OF desolaton An awful
loneliness surged her SOUL and her throat ached
with the Sobs that she stifled.
She had been trained carly to habits of action and
courage, and looked about her again for Inspiration
With the instinct that guided Terry in his runaway her
eyes chung nsstentiy TO the east and home and it was
as she stood and gazcd. that the sight of the great
limb the track flashed its message OF danger to her
tired brain 1t directly in the path OF the east
bound train and
She turned about As she did so long shrill whistle
sounded he tram was that the engineer had
seen her on the track and blown warning the roar
OF the waters below had drowned the sound OF its
coming!
There was just instant for decision
In flash her Jacket off Chat little scarlet Jacket
that father had INSISTED upon her wearing when she
rode so that he might her long way Off and she
was waving 1t frantcaly.
The . train was coming, at high speed Could oh.
to meet 1t, still waving and gestcuIating
The wheels and brakes were screaming and sparkling
now 1t was stoppingAit had stopped
he engineer had jumped down beside her and she
was explaining to him what the trouble was but some
how she felt very vague and indefinite now and this
didn't sound like her voice at all!
Then passengers came crowding out to see what was
wrong. and things began to blur before her ewes
Faithful Terry still stood beside her. and she leaned
against n, him for support When suddenly. from amid
the throng OF passengers Rlightng came the sound OF
the dearest voice in the wprld--her fathers Eliza
BETH it said And with wide glad eyes. and low
happy cry she reached out her hands and sank into
her fathers arms '''sS