The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-04-18

1 weight upon the sweep, his eyes fixed upon the thing overhead. The Nor
 wegian strained at his oars while the | sweat ran down into his open shirt l The boat Iunged and widowed des | perately, rising on end, falling witt 1 prodigious slaps, drenching the occu | pants win spray. It was splendid terr1fying Eliza clung to her seat and felt her heartbeats smothering | her. Occasionally the oarsman turn 1 ed, staring past her with round, fright ened eyes and affording her Q glimpse 1 of a face working with mingled fear and exultation.
 Thus far the glacier had not disput- ed their passage. It maintained the 1 silence and the immobility of marble. Nothing but the snarl of the surging l flood re-echoed from it's face. But with the suddenness q of a rife shot there came detonation, louder, sharp CT than any blast of powder. The Norwegian cursed; the helmsman dropped his eyes to the white face in the bow and smiled.
 Half milo ahead of them mass of ice came rC-hbling down, and the whole valley rocked with the sound. Onward the little craft fled, dancing
 
 frozen giant, an atom threatened by the weight of mountains. At last through the opening of the gorge be- | low came a glimpse of the flats that led to the sea. A momentlater the boat swung into an eddy and came to rest, pumping against the powders.
 O'Neil sat down. wiping his wet face.
 Well, was 1t worth your trouble, Miss Kfck-o7 o7er-the- -traces?'' he asked
 'Oh, it was glorieus! I'll never for get it." Eliza's cheeks were burning now, her aching hands relaxed their ,hold, and she drew q deep breath-the first of which she had been conscious since the start, fifteen minutes before.
 Now, on with your boots and your sweater. We'll have an hours walt for Natalie
 She gave a cry of surprise and of fered him glimpse of a trim ankle and aSdripping foot
 s'Seei Uhey're wet, and I wriggled my toes right through my stockings. I never was so excited. 'f
 The boatman fastened the painter and resumed his outer clothing. O'Neil lit a cigar and asked:
 'sTe1l me. why did you insist on com ing9''
 "I was afraid something might hap pen to you.'' He raised his brows, and she flushed. Don't you understand? Dan would never have forgiven me, and-and-I just had to come, that's all It's corking material for mel thought you might upset, and I-I don't know why I insisted She bent over her stubborn boots, hiding her face She was flaming to the ears, for f7 eF4f hot hod prompted her. It rushed upon her like a sense of great shame She recalled the desperate grip at her heart when she had seen him ready to leave, the wildness of her longing to share his danger, the black fear that he might meet disaster, alone. It had all come without warning, and there had been no time for self consciousness, but now she realized the truth. The poign- ant pain of it made her fingers clumsy and sent that flood of scarlet to her neck and ears.
 When Natalie arrived they cast of, and the remaining miles were made in. few hours.
 Appleton Joined them for lunch in the tent they remembered so well and professed to be shocked at the report of his sisters foolhardiness. But what ever may have been Nata1ie's fear of ridicule it promptly disappeared under 1 his complete indorsement of her wis dom in refraining from such g mad ad- venture. As if to put her even more at ease O'Nen was especially attentive to her, and Eliza reflected gIoomily that men, after all, dislike bravado in women, that a trapeze artist or lady balloonist inspires only qualified ad- miration.
 During O'Neil's absence work had progressed steadily. On his return he found the grade completed to within few yards of sGordon's right of way. Although he was still unable to walk, che insisted upon going to the front, whitheJ he was helped by Appleton and Happy Tom.
 Into the narrow space between the end of his embankment and that of his rivals a gravel train was spilling it's burden and a hundred pick and shovel men were busy. The opposing forces also seemed hard at work, but their ae- tfvity was largely 8 pretense, and they showed plainly that they were waiting for the clash. They were a hard look l ing crew, and their employer had neg lected no precaut1on. He had erected barricades for their protection until his grade looked like military work.
 They haven't showed any guns yet, but I'm sure they armed i,rr Appleton | told his chief
 How is the place lighted by night?'' fO'Nei1 inquired.
 ''On torchas,'' Slater answered. ''Ah! We've been recognized. That comes from being fat, s'pose.''
 As. he spoke a donkey engine at the right of the proposed crossing set up noisy rattling, thin steel cable whip ped into view between the rails and from the left there appeared a contriv- anee, which O'Nei1 eyed curious1y. It was sort of drag and rode back and forth upon the rails.
 "Humph! They'd better not put much trust in that" Murray grunted grinly. 1 -aeTlcr,gt fcoI uo11rsalf no r.l1hlAa1.