The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-01-17
by
Cloudburst
copyright. 1912. by Associated I1ts-s.- =

Il don't care about the bridco
much" explained Dustan Carmiobos ~
impatiently. "That is ANNOYING os ei
expensive and all that, but unIo. "DI
can rush these papers to New yorI t..
time for the meeting it will cost ,' N
pretty close to $2,OOO,OOO ri o h,e
$4,000 to any man who will cross o tbo
stream" N'
II wouldn't do it for the whole %
100000" said Cassidy, the foreman d.
cidedly. "Mebbe some of the hov.
wants to try. I'll ask EN-"
Dick Breslin looked at the ragirr
flood. During the night there had heeD
a cloudburst up in the mountains Tha
ordinarily shallow stream was swooD
to a width Of 800 feet and the temno
rary railroad bridge had been swan,
away.
Breslin shared his employers merry.
BUSINESS and accompanied him in hs
restless pacing until, from the private
car, there stepped hooded figure,
as 1t still bad?" asked the girl as bo
approached.
Worse, Claire. I don't think tbs
water will fall before tomorrow"
"And no one will try for the re-
ward?"
mo one seems anxious to try for
suicides grave" he laughed. That's
about what it 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 car"
he said. This weather is not made
for young women"
ut won't hurt me-" she said. I've
proposition to make, dad"
"And that ISL"
"You told Dick that We could be
married when he had earned $5,OOO
Then you put him with this cOnstruc
ton gang and it will take two years
for him to earn it at the salary you
pay him."
"And you've just discovered that III
pay him more the time will be short
err? This is a bad time for discOr
cries" Claire shook her head
will you give us that reward five
get the papers across for you? Dick
and l are partners. Well each take
half"
"You ought to help me out anyhow
he declared.
81 won't" she said, "and Dick
doesn't know how" Her dimpled chin
squared itself determinedly. Mr.. Car
michael knew what that meant. She
inherited his stubbornness, and be sur
rendered Internationally.
She drew Breslin aside and whs
pered for 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 as
Breslin returned.
Going to shoot the box acrosS?" de
manded Cassidy, as he noticed that
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 BTeS
lin began to drive stakes into the clay
and wind fishing line about it. linen
he drew from his pocket a section OF
pipe from one of the steam drills and
fastened the line to the cap Of Inc
pipe.
Claire and her father came down 10
watch the proceedings, and, with Qule
care, Breslin slipped the cap on Tue
gun and rested it in crotched such
There was a report, the line Whl1mu
out over the stakes, but the proleclN
fell short.
III get it yet" he cried, as he drew
another cartridge from his pocRe"
Slowly he drew back the line "
was a quarter of an hour before 'H'
was back on land.
This time there was a heavier "
port, the black projectile rose III
curve and fell on the opposite oann
There ellis caught it and raised Wv
line out of the water.
From the telegraph kit, they or
aimed some light, strong rope anu u,
n turn was drawn across. linen
water tight box containing the papns
md a letter of instruction TO ul ,i
vas fastened to the line and hau,
across. Ten minutes later the puI'
smoke announced the departure u
engine for the junction. Al
Carmichael watched the smoke uD"
t faded into the distance thel ~
urned away with sigh OF sa'''"'
ion. IL,
After the chill of the mornlhs' w
ar seemed gratefully warm anu w.
michael grew genial. a.
"Whose scheme was that? ne
handed.
Dicks" said Claire promptly, IL,
ut was Claire's," corrected Dls' MI
1 don't want any credit that Is ~
ue me-" g., an
Carmichael smiled indulgeht9' ,,p
ny rate" he said, you did your s snois
nd you did it well. When