Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-30
The Daily Story

Shell stand all right now. We've
seen it worse'n this grunted Ezra
Bead, with quiZzical squint at Noah's
disturbed face. Want any help push
ing your boat off the bank:"
If you can spare time" returned the
young man. IF the bridge should
break away
1T won't break away; the waters
falling already" interrupted Ezra, ex-
aiming the two inches of river that
had ove.flowed the meadow where
they stood.
By noon the Ark was moving down
stream with the current. The red
bridge was straining at the chains,
and wagons We're going around by the
. new cement bridge at the upper falls.
Noah made fast TO a bending willow
and cooked his dinner. Just as he had
concluded the meal there came grind
i'g crash from upstream. mingled with
the roar OF coming waters. A little Is
land protected the Ark from the main
current. and Noah watched seenly
from his safe harbor for anything that
might come with the flood.
First came the red bridge end on like
some queer, crazy raft lettering up and
/ down in the strong current. Behind 1t
! bobbed one of the willows pulled from
! the bank by the wrecked bridge. When
/ bridge and tree had disappeared Noah
! got into his skiff and rowed around
| the island to wait for further floating
| objects. Here and there along the riv-
/ er banks were lighthouses or occasion
/ hn for
! obtained their drinking water. In any
one of these riverside houses, which
must come down with the food. might
be human being caught unawares.
At last there was n sound of voices.
and there came riding down the cur
rent a small boathouse with its gabled
roof pointing downstream, and sitting
around the open doorway with feet
swinging inside the little building were
! four people.
Noah did not attempt to catalogue
them by name or identity. He simply
reached out his handy boathook and
pulled gently Mt first and then with all
his strength until the house swirled
heavily around and crashed to a mo-
mentary anchorage on the shore of the
almost inundated island.
"TH take you off In my boat Hold
on there for a momentr' cried Noah,
and in FIVE exciting minutes he had
| transferred the four voT%Cers to the
safe deck of the Ark, where they all
gazed breathlessly at each other be-
fore bursting into EXPLANATIONS or sur
prise and Joy at their rescue.
Noah looked curiously at them.
There was Simon Bead. sunburned and
dripping wet: there was undoubtedly
Lem Peters, whose cranial contour in
dicated TINT fractions and he would
never come to definite understand
ing; there was Susie Anderson, fat and
faEen haired and good naturcdly stu
hid looking, and last because she was
not the least was a blue gowned girl
with raven hair and starry blue eyes
and cheeks quite pink with excitement
We'll, Simon. suppose you introduce
me to your teacher and your school
mates" he said at last.
Miss Decker looked encouragingly at
Simon. who twisted his fingers In his
hair and shot an agonized glance at his
rescuer. -
That's her." he stammered, pointing
a finger at his teacher. That's Miss
Molly. l mean; and that's Susie. and
she never bawiGd once, mister, when
the river fioated us while we was say
ing grammar; and that's Lem; he hol-
Tered some. and so did l; and say, mis-
ter, we had that ice cream last night!
he ended, with shining eyes.
I'm very glad" said Noah kindly,
as he shook hands with Molly Decker
and her two bashful charges. Now
that you're safely on the Ark-yes this
is really Noah's Ark, my name is Noah
Parker-suppose we find something to
eat. Perhaps Miss Decker will take
you below and rummage in the kitchen
while go out and watch for more
castaways."
While Noah waited around at the
end OF the island, Molly and the chill
dren found materials and prepared an
, appetizing meal for the weary Noah
when he should return to the Ark.
As they gathered around the table
in the pretty dining room. Molly Deck
er poured the tea with charming
grace Perhaps that was what reused
Susie Anderson to enthusiasm.
ooh. Mr.. NOahr' she cried excitedly.
lets play this is the real Ark. and
, YOU are Mr.. Noah and Miss Molly shall
lie Mrs. Noah. and I will be the dove!
, The boys can he animals If they want
: to- she added generously.
I'VE won't play it today, dears," said
Miss Molly gently. but for some Unac-
countable reason her checks flushed
, deeper
t "The Ark will return some Other
= day" added Noah gayiy, "and take all
. OF you for n sail down the river-the
whole school"
D And Miss Molly, too" asked Simon
5 jealousy.
/. "And Miss Molly IL she will come
s asseuted Noah softly. and in his heart
: he added that he would try to per
suade her to remain forever for at last
a the only girl had come to him. and HI
g told himself that every Ark needed q
/ Mrs. Noah.
-~---~~---------------