Middletown transcript., 1910-01-08

See here, Sherman, he said,
I'm going to take you to my board
ing place. I'm a homeless man,
too. I'm going to look after you
personally. l think you need it.
A smile broke across the new
mans face.
Fine, he cried. You'll fetch
me around all right-and you'll
find I'm not such a bad fellow
when I'm myself. And now give
me something to do-and lots of
it.
So the acquaintance Of this
oddly assorted pair began. 1t
was a close acquaintance almost
Immediately. Gordon's influence
over the wayward Sherman was
strong and always helpful.
AS the effects of his dissipation
| wore away the new man became
more and more valuable to the
Gazette and to its editor.
can't say this to you as manag.
ing editor, Gordon remarked one
day, but as a plain individual I'll
admit I dread to think of the day
when you leave Clifton-for you
can't remain contented here, and
it isn't right you should.
When leave Clifton, said Sher-
man firmly, am going TO take
you with me.
Where? laughed Gordon.
To the ends Of the world very
likely.
I'll 60, said Gordon.
And he wondered why Sher'
man still talked in this enigmati-
cal way, and why he never said
anything about himself,
1t was only short time after
this that the long rainy season
set in, the long rain that was to
bring death and disaster and
great suffering to the peaceful
valley.
| Gordon, said the other man
one morning, want you to put
me on the Cordova situation. !
was over there early this morning
Tom Mason drove me across
the ridge. That reservoir looks
bad to me. / know something
about engineering. I've seen
some big things constructed.
That embankment isn't safe. l
talked with some Of the people
over there about it. They're a
stubborn lot and called me a med.
dler. But if this rain continues
twenty-four hours longer there
will be trouble.
Gordon was startled. 1
The state engineers call the
embankment impregnable, he
said. But that's your assign
ment, and say, I'll go over there
with you to-morrow morning.
They were on their way when
the great disaster occurred. They
heard the dull boom as the en-
bankment broke; they heard the
wild roar of the escaping waters.
The two men sprang from the
light wagon in which they had
crossed the ridge.
Go back, cried Sherman to the
boy who had driven them.
Hurry Tell them the reservoir
has gone and help is needed.
Have the town hall bell rung.
Hurry.
And then he and Gordon ran
forward.
The wild torrent had brought
woeful destruction. It had swept
away half the village. Scores
were drowned. Hundreds we're
imprisoned. The bridges we're
gone, the telegraph wires were
down. Cordova and Clifton and
Hinckley were cut off from the
outside world by the wild flood.
And then the man who called
himself Sherman came into his
own.
His first steps took him to she
telegraph Office which stood a
little to one side Of the pathway
OF the torrent and on higher
ground. The floor was SUBJ
merged, but the instruments
were intact, The operators
there were two in the village and
both had been on continuous duty
were gone. They had run from
the threatened building and had
been caught in the flood.
The wires were in a tangle
about the nearest overturned |
pole.
Sherman flung off his coat and |
went at this tangle in a tigerish |
frenzy.
What can | do? cried Gordon.
Pick up all the news you can, |