The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1916-07-06

run ana bring help before Francis
could drown. And she did not dare
to go out on the treacherous old dam.
One foolish word kept running through
her head: Gravity, gravity, gravity"
Suddenly little Charlie Thomas love-
ly oval face and big brave eyes foated
into Mary Alice's mind. Anybody
that does the things God does can fix
up little pair of legs"
Mary Alice stepped out on the shaky
planking and began the passage of the
dam. If she could get over to the
hume, she could save the boy strug-
Cling In the water. Anybody who could
do the things that God did could help
her to avoid the holes and weaker
places; she thrilled with that idea and
was no longer afraid.
Francis fishing pole had fallen upon
the dam, alongside the fume box.
Mary Alice picked it up; then she
looked down into the flume. where II
was so dark that her eyes, adjusted to
Sthe strong sunlight, at first refused ia
serve her. But she heard q cough and
a splash
Here I am, Francis" she called.
She thrust the butt end of the fishing
pole down into the gloom, through
which now she dimly discerned a
white face.
Francis was n weak swimmer His
clothes and heavy shoes hampered him
The slippery sides of the fume box Of.
fered no sustaining hold.
Grab that" called Mary Alice
Francis grasped the fishing rod. "Now
you won't drown"
He clung to the fishing pole, keep
ing only his head above water. Thus
the water sustained most OF his
weight.
81 could hold you like this a long
time" said Mary Alice: ''but who's
goin' to pull you out? Besides, you'll
be froze"
Francis teeth were chattering al.
ready.
"If could get hold of your hand. /
might pull myself up the side" he
said.
Mary Alice leaned far over and ex.
tended her right hand toward the boy
sliding 1t along the pole. Francis drew
himself out OF water and reached uu
until he caught her hand. The strain
OF his weight increased greatly as he
lost the lift OF the water.
"Can you stand it?" he asked.
Come on" said the little girl. al
though the edge OF the fume was al
ready cutting cruelty, and her arm felt
| as If 1t would pull out. "Come on
She gritted her teeth. Anybody who
could do the things God did could heir
a little girl keep her friend from
drowning Come on. get your-get
your other-other hand up-there-"
Francis had now hold OF both her
arms. and the fishing pole had dropped
into the water. 1t was that or nothing
As the boy pulled himself up. Marx
| Alice managed to seize his coat. Hi:
feet kicked and slipped upon tn,
smooth fume sides; there was no toe
hold, no sufficient crack or protruding
nail-yes, n bolt with n nut on Il
caught the sole OF Francis shoe. Thi,
was about a foot under water. The
| boy put forth all his strength anC
/ pulled himself up until he could get 8
hand on the top edge OF the fiume wall
| Mary Alice was sure her arms would
| part company with her shoulders. Now
| relieved OF that strain, she took a new
/ grip on his wet coat and tuggeC
sturdily as he drew himself up until he
! could hook his elbows over the edge
Then he threw IA leg across the tor
| plank, and she knew she had saved
| him.
Next morning. instead OF beinl
moved out into the orchard, Charli,
/ asked that his chair be placed besid,
Mary Allce's bed; for the little CIR
was bruised and lame, and Martha I'm
sisted that a day I'm bed would do hei
good. Mrs. Brown took Dicky out tC
see the NOODLES"
'T wlsh'd I could think OF some
thin to do TO amuse you, Mary Alice,
said Charlie. II can't read good
enough. / knowl TIL draw you som,
pitchers. MummeeF'
''Yes. dearY
"Can I have a pencil and paper?
/ want 20 amuse Mary Alice"
'I guess you'l amuse her. all right.
/ said Martha. producing the articles
/ Gle draws just the cutest things. Mars
Alice. Haven't you seen him do Il
/ YETI Well, you just watch"
Charlie fell TO work. his paper rest
ing ON the back Of an old geography
There" ne said, that's a cow"
ooh" said the invalid that's pretty
/ good. Les see you make a house
with a man and a dog goin' into It
with three strokes OF your pencil"
"Golly" said Charlie. that's an old
one; only I make him n soldier Tha
little crook makes thc bay'net OF hl.
gun Now tn do you a engine"
He went an, exempllfying his art Q,
the great entertainment Of his friend
Then ne gave her q little skotch with
/ out comment
I who's that1"
"Wny, good gracious It's Francis
7 Winctt It looks just IKE him. nov
/ do one Of me"
/ Charlie bent his brows and puckeret