Evening star., 1914-01-11
Winner of $40 Prize
A DAYTON FLOOD TALE
By D. Sheridan Thompson of Buffalo

By D. Sheridan Thompson of Buffalo
7HEN the passengers boarded the one o'clock
!" at Buffalo light rain falling, and this
constantly increased until at Cleveland it
a steady downpour. From there the storm
grew, and rumors oated through the that the
situation ahead, near Dayton, grave indeed.
Among the passengers was stove named
Clifford Across the aisle thin woman
Rugged fretful baby.
Before long strange went through the train
People in their and gazed of the windows
They approaching Marion, and the train ran
alongside river. In it they several houses float
ing down stream and everywhere the fields were
submerged babel of talk broke loose in the car At
that the train thundered across bridge and
the last passed the bridge trembed supports
gave way, and it too sailed down the The
man with the baby set up pitiful cry.
Clifford tried to the frightened mother and
the babys cries steadily increasing, he opened his bag
and hunted out bright red sucker with paper tied
round the stick, which aboously printed "For
Daddy Smiling to himself, he tore off the little
note and tossed the sucker to the CRYING child.
The old man in front grinned little; then, look
ing him over, said, Travelling man? What ineo'
"Stoves, the
@Why, that is my line too. I'm in the hardware bus
ness myself.
Ever alert to scent possible order, Clifford was at
interested. "That so? Where do you come from?'
columbus, the answer
At the storm outside and the possible danger
left Cliford's mind, and he all business. "Why
that is right my territory. You be the that
runs the Columbus hardware store. Never been able
to get my line in there though I've tried for years.
And then down into his sample case he dived, and
the ahead interested in spite of himself
photographs and prices were discussed.
Suddenly the slow grinding of brakes reused them
and the train came to a standstl. For distance
the tracks had been under water and could go
farther. quarter of mile away the lights of the
cleaned; but the rain falling torrents, and al
ready the water ankle deep in the fields There
nothing to do but get out and try to the fields
to the town. and there change to another road
In the scramble that ensued Clifford and the hard
dealer kept together; but after they in the
field Clifford became aware of the woman who had sat
the aisle struggling to walk in the water and
carry the heavy child.
For minute he watched her; then glanced down at
the heavy sample case hand and equally heavy
personal bag the other Then squarng his shoulders
he shifted both heavy bags to hand and said to the
mother @Gve him to me. You'll never get through
But he glanced wrathfuly nevertheless at the empty
handed men who hurried by without one glance at
those around them, intent only gaining shelter
Bags and baby were heavy load in that road, and
thinking to have it quickly he forged ahead eav
ing the mother to follow as best she could He became
separated from the hardware in the gathering
DUSK and only after he had deposited baby and
mother but safe, in the depot that he bethought
himself of the lost order.
"Gee that kid queered me, all right!' he murmured
regreuly, and then crossed to the ticket Office to
about trains. As he turned away the hardware
Of the train touched his wet shoulder.
about handling that line of yours he said slowly.
"I you can get up newly, guess II put in
He waited moment, and then before Clifford could say
word added, @For burned if l don't like you!'