The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-05-30
by
Coudburst



time for the meeting 1t Will cost me
pretty close to $2.O00.00O. I'll give
$4,000 to ally man who will cross the
stream"
Il wouldn't do 1t for the whole ST.
100000" said Cassidy, the foreman de-
cidedly. "Mebbe some OF the boys
wants TO try. I'll ask en-"
Dick Breslln looked at the raging
flood During the night there had been
cloudburst up In the mountains. The
ordinarily shallow stream was swollen
to width OF 300 feet and the tempo
rary railroad bridge had been swept
away.
Breslin shared his employers nerV-
BUSINESS and accompanied him In his
restless pacing until, from the private
car, there stepped hooded figure.
is 1t still bad?" asked the girl as he
approached.
Worse. Claire. l don't think the
water will fall before tomorrow"
And no one will try for the re-
ward?"
mo one seems anxious to try for a
suicides grave" he laughed. That's
about what 1t would mean"
viii you go halves with me?" she
demanded suddenly.
Die together?"
Claire shook her head.
Father said we could get married
when you had earned $4,000. 1t will
take you two years with this construc-
ton gang to earn that much. We can
hurry it along"
I'm with you," he cried. What Is
the idea?"
Let's arrange with dad first" They
went toward the bank. Mr. Carmichael
paused to greet his daughter.
You had better go back to the cal"
he said. This weather Is not made
for young women"
at won't hurt me-" she said. "I've
a proposition to make, dad"
And that is?"
married when he had earned $4,000.
Then you put him with this construc-
don gang and it will take two years
for him to earn 1t at the salary you
pay him."
And you've just discovered that II l
pay him more the time will be short
err? This is bad time for discov.
cries" Claire shook her head.
"WilI you give us that reward If we
get the papers across for you? Dick
and l are partners. Well each take
half"
you ought to help me out anyhow,
ne declared.
81 WON'T" she said. land Dick
doesn't know how" Her dimpled chin
squared itself dete rminedly. Mr.. Car
michael knew what that meant. She
inherited his stubbornness. and he sur
rendered Internationally.
She drew Bresln aside and whis-
pered for a moment. Then she went
back to their private car while he
headed in the direction of the tool car.
Some whisper Of an attempt to bridge
the stream was passed about and both
banks were lined with workmen az
Breslin returned.
Going to shoot the box across" de-
Dick carried gun.
Something like that" he admitted
as he proceeded to grease the outside
of the gun barrel. Cassidy watched
him In surprise. But his surprise was
nothing to his amazement when Bres
in, ri To- In int, ha NJ u
and wind fishing line about 1t. Then
he drew from his pocket q section OF
pipe from one Of the steam drills and
fastened the line to the cap Of the
pipe.
Claire and her father came down to
watch the proceedings, and, with quiet
care, Breslin slipped the cap on the
gun and rested 1t in crotched stick.
There was a report, the line whizzed
out over the stakes, but the projectile
fell short.
III get 1t yet" he cried, as he drew
another cartridge from his pocket.
Slowly he drew back the line. 1t
was a quarter of an hour before the
projectile was back on land.
This time there was heavier re.
port, the black projectile rose In a
curve and fell on the opposite bank.
There Gilfis caught 1t and raised the
line out Of the water.
From the telegraph kit, they OBJ
tanned some light, strong rope and this
In turn was drawn across. Then a
water tight box containing the papers
and a letter of instruction to ellis
was fastened to the line and hauled
across. Ten minutes later the puffs Of
smoke announced the departure Of an
engine for the junction.
Carmichael watched the smoke until
1t faded into the distance, then he
turned away with sigh of satisfac-
ton.
After the chill Of the morning, the
car seemed gratefully warm and Car
michael grew genial.
Whose scheme was that?" he de-
manded.
Dicks" said Claire promptly.
ut was Claire's." corrected Breslin.
81 don't want any credit that Is not
due me-"
Carmichael smiled indulgently. AT
any rate" he said, you did your share
and you did II well. When ! made
work a condition Of my consent in
your marriage I only wanted to make
sure that there was good stuff In you"