The Arvada enterprise., 1917-06-14

earth to serve as braces behind the
palisade; bank of earth was piled
up behind II, on which every man who
could be spared from other tasks, even
the chiefs themselves, labored with
breathless energy. The water was still
rising, although the rain had stopped:
the natural drainage would cause that,
but the rise was slower.
At dawn vandeventer personally
carefully measured the depth of the
water and gagged 1t again. 1t was
scant six and half feet below the top
Of the dam. II the water rose above
the top 1t was gravely questionable
whether the palIsade would hold 1t at
all. yet there was no other why Of In
creasing the depth Of the spillway
enough to discharge the flood volume.
Working Us hard as they could, they
had barely succeeded In raising the
earth bank back of II foot high.
They kept at 1t unremittingly. although
1t did not seem to be OF much use.
Vandeventer. Stafford and Meade gath
cred together and scanned the sky.
seeking to discern the signs OF the
time. the purpose Of the heavens. It
was clearer In the east. The clouds to
the nOrthwestward were In violent ac-
ton apparently. Lightning flashed
through them and over the great range
itself; low, muttered peals of thunder
came down from the peaks lost to sight
In the blackness overhead. They OBJ
served all this carefully and Vande-
venter turned away. shaking his head.
II don't know" he begnn-ths three
Of them were over on the east side
the better to see up the valley-"it
looks pretty bad. doesn't It'll"
at does" answered Meade. while
Stafford nodded his head.
"And. by the way. Stafford. have you
notified the town and the bridge people
Of the danger and bid them prepare
for IT."
II tried to telephone them while
ago. but tho connection has been bro
ken; the storm has played havoc with
the line probably" answered the as
sistant engineer.
"Well. what did you do then1" asked
vandeventer a little impatiently.
II sent q man down on horseback In
hurry to warn them that II 1t rains
again the dam might 20. and II 1t did
1t would 60 with rush; that the water
was now only six feet below the level.
and that they had better get up on the
hills. OF course. last nights rain must
have made the road almost impossible,
but he ought to get there by nine
o'clock. ! told him to tell the Martlet
people to take whatever steps they
could devise to hold their viaduct and
their machinery" answered Stafford,
us he turned and walked toward his
own part Of the dam.
"GoOd," exclaimed vandeventer.
"There's nothing left for us to do but
keep on"
The resident engineer looked white
and haggard. Although 1t was cold
and raw in the wet air, he wiped the
sweat from his forehead.
'"The men are doing splendidly. SIR"
said Meade.
ayes" said vandeventer. 'many Of
them have their wives and children
back in the town. Some Of the Ital-
lans have bought land on the prairie
and are going to settle here. They're
fighting for everything they've got on
earth. What do you think Of the
chances Of this palisade of ours1"
Meade shook his head.
"It's all we Gun do. sir. but II the
water rises more than seven or eight
feet"
"Say It," said Vnndeventer.
''The dam would 90 like q house of
cards."
Exactly. And look ut that cloud.
bank over there In the northwest. It's
spreading"
"what wind there is." said Meade.
moistening his finger and holding 1t
up to feel the direction, els blowing
the opposite way down here. but you
can't tell what Is happening up there.
Well. NIL we can do Is to fight on"
And fight they did. It was almost at
first sight like the hand Of man against
the hand Of God. There was no more
room for engineering expedient. 1t
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