Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-05-19

Scfeaueu, Uut lndt ulu no gOOu. lneTe
was nobody TO hear her. She could not
run and 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 fieated
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. II she could get over to the
fume, 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 fiume box.
Mary Alice picked it up; then she
looked down into the f1ume, where it
was so dark that her eyes, adjusted TO
the strong sunlight, at first refused ID
serve her. But she heard cough and
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 a weak swimmer. His
clothes and heavy shoes hanpered him.
The slippery sides of the fiume box Of
fered no sustaining hold.
Grab that" called Mary Alice.
Francis grasped the fishing rod. NOW
you won't drown
He chung to the fishing pole, keep
ing only his head above water. Thus
the water sustained most of his
weight.
II 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, l
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 I'D
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 fiume was al
ready cutting cruelty, and her arm felt
as If it would pull out. "Come on
She gritted her teeth. Anybody who
could do the things God did could help
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, Mary
Alice managed to seize his coat. His
feet kicked and slipped upon the
smooth fiume sides; there was no toe
hold, no sufficient crack or protruding
nail-yes, a bolt with a nut on II
caught the sole of Francis shoe. This
was about foot under water The
boy put forth all his strength and
pulled himself up until he could get a
hand on the top edge of the flume wall
Mary Alice was sure her arms would
part company with her shoulders. Now,
relieved Of that strain. she took new
grip on his wet coat and tuggcd
sturdily as he drew himself up until he
could hook his elbows over the edge
Then he threw n leg across the top
plank, and she knew she had saved
him.
Next morning. instead of being
moved out into the orchard, Charlie
asked that his chair be placed beside
Mary Alice's bed; for the little girl
was bruised and lame, and Martha In
sisted that day In bed would do her
good Mrs. Brown took Dicky out to
see the NOODLES"
II wish'd could think Of some
thin to do to amuse you, Mary Alice, y
said Charlie. 81 can't read good
enough. know! I'll draw you some
pitchers. Mummeev'
Eyes, dear?'
"Can have pencil and paper? l
want to amuse Mary Alice"
IT guess you'll amuse her, all right
said Martha, producing the articles
He draws just the cutest things, Mary
Alice Haven't you seen him do II
yet? Well, you just watch"
Charlie fell to work, his paper rest
ing on the back of an old geography.
There" he said, that's a cow"
"Oh," said the invalid; that's pretty
good. Les see you make house,
with man and dog goin' into 1t,
with three strokes Of your pencil"
"Golly," said Charlie, chats an old
one; only I make him a soldier. That