The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1910-10-06

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side road parallel with the stream. 10
hve minutes Gordon was abreast Of
the swiftly floating bridge. He leaned
out and called al the top Of bis voice;
Hold fast; III get you on somehow.
The woman feebly waved q hand q
signify that she had heard him The
team went on AZ the speed Of the
wind Half q mile down stream be
ierked his horses 70 a sudden stop and
sprang out on the spongy sod. A
hundred yards above the bridge had
become entangled In q tree top and
was swinging out Of the main current
toward shore Il paused dizxiiy IN an
eddying circle. Gordon could see the
woman IN the same position that she
had a. arst occupied. He looked
about for material for an improvised
raft Nothing was 10 sight and he
was about 70 pull on his coat and
swim 10 the rescue when the bridge
again swung out and went on.
Gordon sprang back TO his vehicle
and followed IN pursuit. calling as be
went: Keep up your courage; there
IL siill hopei"
A half mile farther on. the bridge
grounded against an island OF bushes
on q slight elevation 10 a moment Il
swung nhoreWard aud came 70 a dead
stop. Gordon could see the woman
lying face downward across the rough
limbers. He plunged into the seething
waters a hundred yards above with
the determination 70 reach the wreck
age. He had given himself that dis
lance a. q leeway against being
beaten down By the current Wading
obliquely with the current be vas
soon waist deep. then shoulder deep IN
u tumbilng. driftIaden waters. He
kept his feet with dlfnculty and was
In the act Of taking q long breath for
the final plunge when q section Of
board fence hoated against him. He
grasped Il with both hands and braced
himself 20 stop Il. Il swung IN be-
low him and bodied lightly 10 the less
agiiafed water. ClingIng 70 the raft
with one hand and holding onto some
bushes With The other be looked about.
He had bis raft but be lacked means
o. propelline a. Looking up and
down. he saw a long fence-siake ioat'
ing nearer shore. Pulling the rant 70
where the water was less than knee
deep. be secured the stake. stepped
on the raft and pushed out. polling with
AZ BIS might The raft carried him
safely enough bat was being swept
49,. A. - ...a....a -. ...IIaI.. aIna
he feared be would miss the bridge.
Setting the end % the pole IN the soft
ened earth. be braced himself and
sent the frail craft forward AZ good
speed he Was within a few yards Of
tho end % The bridge and was float
Ing BY AZ an alarming rate % speed,
Once more be thrust the pole down.
Ills heart almost stopped for be could
not reach bottom. AZ that instant
there vas a acraping sound AZ hia feet
and he raw the top branches Of a.
napling raklng b.. Dropping the pole
he ciutched ono Of the branches and
lying Eat on The rafl be held % with
set teeth. Tho shock 81 The sudden
stop almost tore the nesh from bis
hands Gradually the STRATA siackened
and The raft swune against the bridge
lie shifted be position quickly and
graapcd one % the bridge timbors.
Tho next moment be was standing on
The bridge. The raft was pulled up
sufficiently 10 prevent q from wash
ing away.
Gordon then sprnng toward the
woman. Poor old SOUL 10 ex-
claimed. STOPPING over her. She wore
a nunbounci. which had become wet
and hung over her face. hiding her
features A faded shoulder shawl had
slipped ~ about her neck. while
cheap calico dress chung about her
drenched form. An this Gordon saw
AZ q glance a. be stopped 20 raise
The limp body
She's probably some poor old
grandmother" Gordon said half aloud
as he staggered along with the body
IN his arma toward the raft Placing
her on one OF the plankn with her
head lying on one az the posts which
served a. n cros8aoction 10 the rafi.
be pushed on. grasping the tops Of
bushes here and there 70 start him
nhoreuard. Then grasping his pole
he worked franticaliy until the raft
was safe. IN shallow water. Jumping /
into the water waisf.decp. be picked 4
up the woman and wadod ashore
a grassy plot he gently low
cred her to the ground. and pulling
back the wet folds OF the bonnet,
which had concealed her face up TO
that time. he looked a. the stiil face.
Staggering hack with blanched face.
he cried: MY God, Il Is NeIliei"
At nrut be foil to channg her hands
and calling her name lmploringly,
then springlng to HIS feet he ran 20
the buggy for the lap robes Wrap
ping her IN them he hurried with her
to the buggy and lifted her IN the best
he could. He grasped the lines with
one hand and steadied her with the
other. The heads OF the horses we're
turned toward the Stewart home.
They had not gone q hundred yards
before the girl shuddered and other.
wise manifested symptoms Of return
ing consciousness IN response to the
lovers asonizing appeals to her 70