Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-04
The Argus Daily Short Story
A Bridge Fight-By Clarissa Maclie.
Copyrighted. 1910. by Associated Literary Presa

Wade no longer crossed the bridge
three times a week.
Then followed summer unprec-
edented for its lack of rain Weeks
followed days. and months followed
weeks, while the sun poured relentless
~ down on the sister town and burned
the vegetation to crisp provinces.
Only the salt grass that was wet by
the tides remained green. Crops died
in the baked earth.
September came. fercely hot. One
breathless evening Almira Turner walk
ed listleSsly along the bridge. 1t was
said that whatever breeze there might
be would be felt on the long wooden
structure that united the two villages.
yet in its way formed barrier be-
tween many hearts.
Others were walking on the bridge.
but it was noticeable that Portside
folks walked only as far as the mid
die of the bridge and then retraced
their steps. Harborhead people did
the same thing at their end. so there
was no passing over the bridge save
by those who had business 70 attend
tablished between families in the war
ring villages II was considered most
amicable and polite to visit by way
of the long road around The shore and
avoid the unhappy bridge.
Almira was thinking bitterly of
what her father had said when she an
nounced that her engagement TO Noah
Wade had been broken. He had
stared incrGGulOusIy at her.
why. Miry. honey. ! was only jok
ing. Now. you go along and make il
Up with Ncah ihis minute. There'il
De bridges standing long after we poor
mortaIs are through trying to be hap
py in this world"
But Almira could not make 1t up
with Noah Wade. He did not give
her a chance. He went away from
Portside and found work elsewhere
and she had not seen him through the
long summer. Now she was thinking
of him and of her foolish excuse for
giving him up.
a loud rumble of thunder sent the
pedestrians on the bridge scurrying
home. but Almra fingered. watching
the lightning leap from cloud to cloud
in that ominous black mountain in the
northwest. listening TO the crackle and
volley of thunder. barking TO the sibi.
liant hiss of the high tide among the
bridge timbers.
just as she turned her steps home.
ward there came n binding crash that
seemed to enwrap the whole village of
IL, II
sound ceased for an instant. and out
of the murky darkness there sprang a
bright fame and another and another.
The lightning had struck in Harbor-
head.
Almira hurried toward. home as the
wild clamor of the church bells rang
out If the Portside people refused to
bring out their FIRE apparatus TO the
rescue of Harborhead the closely pop
ulated little village was doomed 1t
was known that Portsiders were very
bitter against the people over the
bridge.
Just IS she reached the gate there
came another sound. mingled with the
roar Of thunder, the clash of bells and
the shouts Of men. 1t was the high,
sweet clang of the Portside fire bell.
and it was followed by the rumble of
the little engine across the bridge. 1t
dashed past Almira's gate. dragged by
score of strong. willing hands. The
hook and ladder truck came in it's
wake, and there. sitting high on the
seat. steering the truck. was Noah
Wade. his face tense and set in the
glare Of the fire.
The devastating storm died away
while the valiant men fought the
flames that licked greedily at the
frame store buildings and threatened
many a nearby home with destruction.
Ports.de men and men of Harborhead
worked side by side. and differences
were forgotten in the single aim that
prompted all.
Many times that night Almira's heart
failed within her as she watched Noah
risk bis life within the flaming build
ings. Once he brought out little child
from the tenements over the stores.