Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-08-16

IOrkS ana Wdtcneu tne logs GROWING
around the bend. On either bank his
men were strung along with poles,
standing ready to risk life and limb the
instant necessity called for It, All
wore rough corduroy clothing and long
hip boots.
''If this lot gets through all right we'll
be safe this time" mnttered Sabln to
young Smith, who stood close beside
him.
They looked upstream where the
white foam dubbed around mass of
tumbling logs. It was a great sight,
especially when a log was tossed TWEEN
ty feet In the air to come crashing
down upon its fellows in the water.
The two men were 30 interested In the
sight of the approaching logs that they
did not realize at first what had hap
pened when Peterson's voice was meg
aphoned across the river.
Jam thereP he yelled. "JamF
Sabin looked. IL was true.
Across the river directly In front Of
them and at Its narrowest point the
logs had jammed into wall that mo-
mentarlly grew wider as more logs
were added as they foated down.
Somewhere In that maze of tree
trunks was one log that formed the
key to the situation. Locate that log
and pry It loose and tho wall would
be broken. Then the rest Of the drive
would follow like flock of sheep
Sabln frowned and swore little.
as suddenly there broke from the
woods on the west bank of the river u
lean, black streak that shot out In one
flying leap and landed on one of the
logs that formed the lower end of the
barrier.
'The cross eyed catp yelled Peterson
through the megaphone. Then he
danced angrlly up and down as he
continued: II knew 1t would bring us
bad luck, Mr.. Sabln. If can borrow
a gun I'd like to knock It into flndersl
May ~
Don't be fool, PetersonE shouted
back his employer zone Of you fell
lows get out there and start that jam,
and guess the cat will get all that's
coming to him."
There was n moments conference
among the men on the west bank, and
then Peterson leaped to the nearest of
the closely packed logs and made his
way cautiously toward the outer edge
Of the jam. He carried u gun.
All at once the Iumbermen met with |
another surprise. From the same
point In the woods from whence had
come the cross eyed cat there darted n
girls slender form. She wore a red
cloak. and red knitted cap was toss
ed on the back OF her wind blown
dark hair, She looked neither to the
left or right. Her gaze seemed trans
fixed upon the small black form OF tho
cross eyed cat and the gun In Peter.
sons hand.
Almost on the heels Of Peterson she |
leaped fearlessly to the floating logs |
and then darted from one TO another |
until she painted close behind Peter.
sons big form. The boss lumbermnn |
on the shore watched her with panic |
eyes, If tho jam should break.
as It might any Instant, what chance
would that frail girl have among the
logs? Peterson, big and
strong as he was. realized that he was
taking chance In trying to break the
jam.
Coward" cried the girl, her voire |
ringing Clearly above the boiling OF the
winter among the logs As she spoke
she snatched Peterson's gun from his
nerveless hand and flung It into fhe
stream. Then she lenped TO the en0r.
nous pine log on which the cross eyed
mt sat and clnsped the uncanny cren-
.ure IN her arms. Then she nrose and
or the first time seemed to realize tho
situation
Her life was not worth an instants
II the jam broke. She turned
error stricken eyes toward Peterson,
who INDUCED In one OF his fierce hts
" anger. lnughed contemptuously ut
Ter and lelsurely picked his way over
he logs. pretending TO scrutlnlze each
'ne-senrchlng for the key log that
would brenk the jam.
SabiD watched the two for one long
minute. Then. with an indrawn breath
4 mingled rage and fear, he set his
DOT on the nearest log and went TO
he rescue OF the girl. As he lifted her
ainting form In bis arms. together
With the black cat, which sho still car
led wrapped In the folds of her red
loak, he left the great pine log on
which the cross eyed cat had deIgned
0 sit. Snbln's foot had barely left the
og when 1t shiVercd slightly.
"The key log-she's breaking nowr
houted SabIn and raced for the near.
ut shore
AS he stumbled up the river bank
nth bis double load OF lovely girl and
ross eyed black cat there came n
boom from the river as the
am broke and the logs went thunder
~ down to their destination.
After beautiful Maisio Woods had
eparted for home with her lost pet
es, the cross eyed black cat-big Pc.
srson approached the lumber boss
hamefacedly enough.
Il suppose you'll want mo to hand
my time. SIR" he muttered ITS all
DO luck OF that cross eyed eat"
"NonsenseP returned Sabin brightly,
happy light In his dark eyes. stay
n, Peterson, and try 10 remember that
10 cross eyed cat broke the jam. after
u. II anybody can show me better
lascot than cross eyed black cat I'd
ke 10 be shown"
After Sabln had married MaisIe
Voods and had become part owner OF
IN blapk caf fhav undarafooH ..,hat ha |