Cheyenne record., 1917-07-05
CHAPTER xlV.-Continued.

CHAPTER xlv.-continued
49,
The lantern was standing on the
roadway on top of tie dam. A man
was kneeling beyond it, his figure seen
dimly in<the faint light of the lantern.
He was staring intently down the
front Of the dam at the water. The
hA.a-n was near the edge and it faint
.ly Illuminated the black, rain-lashed
surface below. Vandeventer realized
with ashock of horror how much more
rapid the rise had been. A quick esti-
mate convinced him that the level Of
the water was now within eight or nine
feet Of the dam-and it was still rain
ingl
The face of the kneeling man was
hidden by a sou'wester and he had on
a heavy black rubber raincoat. Van
deventer reached over and touched
him on the shoulder.
"What are you doing hereT he
asked.
The kneeling man sprang up with an
exclamation. 1t was Meade. The re-
lief in Vandeventer's mind was great
at the recognition.
II just came out to look at the wa
ter. couldn't sleep with all that
pounding on the iron roof of the quar-
ters, SO / dressed and came out"
vandeventer opened the slide of his
own lantern and threw the light on the
reservoir.
Its risen eight or ten feet since we
saw it, and with this rain"
"It's not conAng down so hard as
It was when ! first came out here"
said Meade. u think you can see 1t
slackening yourself"
"Yes," said the resident engineer,
listening a nom. mt, II believe it Is. II
It stops now" he continued thought
fully, 1--WE ought to be SAFE"
Eyes, think so." answered Meade.
In the night alone, together in that
crisis in their fortunes, the two men
were interchanyng thoughts and ideas
on terms of perfect equality. 1t did
not occur to VUldeventer to question
why. and that they were doing SO
aroused no sur, rise in the mind Of
Meade.
"Of course" e ntinued Meade seven
II 1t does stop raining We'll continue
to get lot of rlnoff from the water
shed for some ri,ne."
EYES," said the resident engineer,
that of course, but If the rain stops
everywhere We can scarcely have a
rise of more thu five or six feet, and
that would still be little below the
spillway."
"It's stopping here now" pointed out
Meade, and. indeed. the force of the
downpour was greatly diminished.
The two stood watching the dam and
the black lake b,ayond it in silence for
4 few moments until the rain practical
~ ceased. The al I was misty and heavy
with moisture, l'ut the rain was GER
tainly over for The time at(ny rate.
"Thank goodness" said the-resideRt
engineer in greet relief. "Now II It's
stopped everywhere Well be nll right"
"Yes." said Meade, "and I'm inclined
to think 1t has stopped everywhere.
Whoever thought 1t would rsin in jan
uary here? There hasn't a drop, to
speak of. fallen in January for twenty
years, or since there have been any
records. Why in heavens name II
had to come now don't see."
"Look here. Roberts," said vande-
venter suddenly. you know you're a
6rst-class engineer"
Meade shook his head.
'You can't fool me-" said the older
man. I've watched you. You know
more about the game than anybody
here except myself. You don't choose
to confide In lne, although like you,
and I am in position to help you"
II APPRECIATE what you say. Mr.. Van
deventer," ::.tcined the other: "there
IL no one to wh m should rather tell
the whole story than to you. but I
can't-not yet
"Well, keep your own counsel, but
Il you ever want friend, count on me I;
meanwhile, a. man Of experience and
ability, what wsuld you dor
"Get out the men and build up q
temporary dam on the top Of the road
way here, to ts n the flow over to the
east bank and make the spillway do
moes work" -s,
eBut tbs .ala has stopped"
.Aasd In =. probability will stay
sfppped-still you never can tell. A
nv more hours Of rain like that we've
- and tn :..S,le thing would 70. II