The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-04-28
CHAPTER XIV.-Continued.

The lantern was standing on the
roadway on top Of the dam. A man
vas kneellng beyond 1t, his figure seen
dmly In the faint light of the lantern
IHe was staring intently down the
| front of the dam at the water. The
Intern was near the edge and it faint
H. Illuminated the black, rain-laShed
arface below. Vandeventer realized
Nth shock of horror how much more
Inpid the rise had been. A quick esti-
nate convinced him that the level of
be water was now within eight or nine
let Of the dam-and 1t was still rain
g!
The face Of the kneeling man was
Adden by sOu'wester and he had on
heavy black rubber raincOat. Van
Tenter reached over and touched
IN on the shoulder.
What are you doing here?' he
4ed.
The kneeling man sprang up with an
1ElsmatiOn. 1t was Meade. The re-
y In Vandeventer's mind was great
the recognition.
Just came out to look at the wa
couldn't sleep with all that
undng on the iron roof of the quar-
r. 50 | dressed and came out"
underwater opened the slide Of his
70 antern and threw the light on the
SryOlr.
IT'S risen eight or ten feet since we
En and with this rain"
IFS not coming down so hard as
vas when l first came out here"
Meade. II think you can see it
l4ening yourself"
fes," said the resident engineer
'sning moment, 81 believe II is. If
sops now" he continued thought
" we ought to be safe"
les, | think So" answered Meade.
the night alone. together in that
Ms In their fortunes. the two men
Mmterchanging thoughts and ideas
'ems of perfect equality. It did
ccur to Vandeventer to question
and that they were doing so
used no surprise in the mind Of
Ade
VI course" continued Meade, "eyen
does stop raining Wen continue
VI q lot Of runoff from the water
afG some time"
les" said the resident engineer
VI OF course, but If the rain stops
'9where we can scarcely have a
OF more than five or six feet. and
would still be little below the
AWAY"
us stopping here now" pointed out |
que and, indeed, the force of the
'apour was greatly diminished.
iae two stood watching the dam and
4 elack lake beyond IT in silence for
Nv moments until the rain practical
sased. The air was misty and heavy
Il moisture, but the rain was GER
|.y over for the time at any rate.
inahk goodness" said the resident
sineer In great relief. Now if IT'S
,gpeo everywhere We'll be all right"
les said Meade. "and I'm inclined
hinX 1t has stopped everywhere.
~ever thought 1t would rain in jan
y mere! There hasn't a drop. TO
.1 or fallen in January for twenty
~. or since there have been any
, , Why in heavens name If
!. 70 come now l don't see"
.OOk here, Roberts" said yande. ,
' . suddenly, you know you're a I
.-ciass engineer"
,saue shook his head.
/, ,'u can't fool me-" said the older I
I've watched you. You know !
= ABOUT the game than ANYBODY ,
except myself. You don't choose $
ynnue In me, although like YOU. I
an IN a position to help YOU" /
appreciate what you say. Mr.. Van \
.H'er' returned the other; there
one 10 whom / should rather tell .
whole story than to you, but I
mot yet"
.eH' keep your own counsel. but Q
ever want Il friend. count on me: f,
while as man of experience and h
" what would you dog" ;.
Il out the men and build I'D n =
orary dam on the top of the road- h
mere 10 turn the flow over To the
oahk and make the Spillway do -
work" -
Il the rain has stopped" .,
"a In all probability will STAY .,
you never can tell. A ;,
lore hours of rain like that we'va -.
nd the whole thing would go. If =,
'ater were as high as the ton ~
q only be two feet of head in tho ~,
apleted spillway, and that
al De enough TO discharge it at ko
ae It's been coming in" al"
course" said Vandevents,. ~,
0uully. And if the dam goes T" :. ="
Ia there are ten miles of Kool. -
y there and millions of cubjc 20 :"
pounded. which would sween soo o
valley. There WOULDN'T he ~,
. Of the camp, the town, the was was
~ bridge, or anything else" tho a@
sMis h,n 49,, ' i'et national, ton
NJ ,hor, e. Ape 1slve VIA thro
"a No. .n --:--.lrfiet itsel
luoue m,