Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-04-20
CHAPTER xIv.-continued.

The lantern was standing on the
roadway on top of the dam. A man
was kneeling beyond it, his figure seen
dimiy in the faint light of the lantern.
He was staring intently down the
front of the dam at the water. The
lantern was near the edge and 1t faint
ly illuminated the black, rain-lashed
surface below. Vandeventer realized
with shock 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 1t was still rain
ing!
The face Of the kneeling man was
hidden by sou'wester and he had on
heavy black rubber raincoat. Van
deventer reached over and touched
him on the shoulder
What are you doing here?p 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.
'It's risen eight or ten feet since we
cav it, and with this rain"
tits not coming down so hard rs
a GreA ha,.c y
said Meade. "I think you can see it |
sIackening -0"rself"
"Yes,Y The resident engineer,
listening moment, 81 believe it is. If |
It stops now" he continued thought |
fully. 1--WE ought to be safe"
Yes, think so," answered Meade |
In the night alone, together in that |
crisis in their fortunes, the two men
were interchanglng thoughts and ideas
on terms Of perfect equality. 1t did
not occur to Vandeventer to question
why and that they were doing so
aroused no surprise in the mind of
Meade.
"Of coursep continued Meade, "even
II 1t does stop raining wen continue
to get lot Of runOff from the water
shed for some time"
YES" said the resident engineer,
"that Of course, but IL the rain stops
everywhere we can scarcely have
rise of more than 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 beyond 1t In silence for
few moments until the rain practical
ly ceased. The air was misty and heavy
with moisture, but the rain was GER
talnly over for the time at any rate.
"Thnnk goodness" said the resident
engineer In great relief. Nov IL it's
stopped everywhere we'll be all right"
EYES," said Meade, "and I'm inclined
to think It has stopped everywhere.
Whoever thought II would rain 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 it
had to come now don't see"
"Took here, Roberts," said vande-
venter suddenly, "you know you're a
first-class engineer"
Meade shook his head.
"You can't fool me-" said the older
man. "rve watched you. You know
more about the game than anybody
here except myself. You don't choose
to confide in me, although l like you,
and am in position to help you"
II appreciate what you say Mr.. Van
.deventer," returned the other; ''there
is no one to whom 1 should rather tell
the whole story than to you. but 1
ean't-not yet"
"Well, keep your own counsel, but
II you ever want friend, count on me !;
meanwhile, as man of experience and
ability what would you do?"
Get out the men and build up a
temporary dam on the top of the road
way here, to turn the flow over to the
east bank and make the spillway do
more work."
"But the rain has stopped
"And in all probability will stay
stOpped-still you never can tell. A
few more hours of rain like that we've
had and the whole thing would go. If
the water were as high as the TOP
thure'd only be two feet of head in the
uucomplcted spillway, and that
wouldn't be enough to discharge 1t al
the rate it's been coming in"
"Of course" said Vandeventel
thoughtfully. "And If the dam goes
he added, "there are ten miles Of bacl
water up there and millions of cubl,
yards impounded, which would SWEEP
down the valley. There wouldn't b,
n thing left of the camp, the town, tn
new railroad bridge or anything else.
Coming on top Of the international
the loss of this big and expensive via
duct would about finish the Martle
company" said Meade thoughtlessly.
VOndeventer looked at him sharply
IN idea suddenly came to him. Mead
had turned away his head as he rea
izcd bis slip, so he did not observe tn
light in Vandeventcr's eyes. Howeve
the resident engineer was a good sos'
"Iou are right" he said quickly.
hate to call out the men, but we've gC
little chance, now the rain hG
stopped, and we can work to advantaE
In spite OF all this awful mud"-he lif
cd his foot up and disclosed It cake
and clogged with masses, 'Ill tai
charge IN the center here, and Staifol
on tho left, aud I'm going to give yC
.hnrse OF the east end Of the dam, Oyl