The Dermott news. (Dermott, Ark.) 1910-1977, 1917-09-20
APTER xIx-continued.


to It's owner.
IF he were there you'd see him all
right" said Winters enthusiastically,
because he'd be in the thick of the
fight"
II doubt II you can recognize any
one. even through the glass. Mt such a
distance" said Rodney, after he had
focused 1t and taken look himself.
yet II he were there. he certainly
would be in the thick of 1t. He's that
kind. You look. Dick"
II can't see him." said Winters In
turn. "But what n fight they are max
ing to save that dam"
''Will it hold?" asked the woman.
Impossible" said Rodney
Il give 1t one hour" said Winters,
handing over the glass.
mot more than that" assented the
other. after another look. "See for
yourself. Miss Illingworth."
From where they stood, high up on
the roof Of the world. they were spec
tators Of great battle. witnesses of
a terrible contest in which herculean
effort, desperate courage. human will.
all exerted to the limit, finally de-
generated into blind. mechanical habit
of continuous and frenzied endeavor.
The spirit OF reckless continuance had
got into them and moved them to the
impossible. As men in n battle charge
30 on even with wounds enough to kill
them In ordinary circumstances, as SOL
diers Mt Winchester. though shot in the
heart, actually struggled after SherI-
dan until they fell. or even as IA COM
mon horse may so be imbued with
blind intensity OF determination that
he gallops on until he drops dead,
30 these men gave their all In unmatch-
able persistence.
They'd better get of that DAM" said
Rodney. "When 1t once fails It'll go
with a rush and then It'll be too late"
look at them. They're not going
to get or" said Winters. They're
Eoing down with 1t. Fools, God bless
EN-" he shouted. throwing up his
arms In exultation over manhood and
courage and determination.
Perhaps you had better go back.
Miss Illingworth." said Rodney. think
ing of the horror she might witness ut
any moment.
Il wouldn't be elsewhere for the
world" said the brave girl, white but
with firm lips-she was made OF the
same stuff rs the fighting men. It
secmed-"even II he were there. fight
Ing that great battle. l should wait to
see the end"
"Wc're not the only people in this
wilderness. Look yonder I" cried Win
ters.
He pointed down through the cease
less rain toward the lower edge Of the
mesa. There. far below him. were
three sodden figures. The water In the
lake had flooded the slope Of the hill,
and on that side It was tapping the
base Of the cliff. The trail had, Of
been covered. and there was no
way Of progress except by taking I'D
Of the broken rock mt the foot
OF the cliff. which here and there still
stood above the water. 1t was a place
where men could only pass by carefully
choosing their way and calculating the
distance Of the next point toward
which to leap. These three were NOV
ing like madmen. splashing through
the water. hurting themselves from
rock to rock. falling against the wall.
n tree or shrub. slipping into
the lake. saving themselves from
drowning apparently only by the Gu
price Of compliment fortune. which
they were trying to the utmost limit.
One man carried q miners pick,
spade and surveyors range pole. the
other another spade and two long
stakes which looked like the separate
legs Of tripod. The bareheaded man.
who had thrown his rubber coat down
In the reddish-yellow water. carried n
Hood-sized oilskin bag. He was the
most hurried Of the three. He ran
some distance In front Of the others.
They noticed how carefully he sought
TO protect the bag. When he slipped
or seemed about to fall, he always
thrust II frantically away from the
rock with outstretched arm.
What the three men would be Mt OF
course no one knew. 1t was obvious
that they were In q desperate hurry
and that the thing In the bag must be
carefully carried. Naturally the watch
ers connected tho men with the dam
builders. They were dressed as the
men engaged In such labor would be
dressed. The pick. the spades aud the
pole and stakes bore out that conolu-
sion.
whats In the bagr asked the
woman.
"Hc carries II as though II might
DO gold or diamonds" said Winters.
Rodney shook his head. Suddenly
no OWNED the reason for the extreme
care with which the bag was carried.
The men were Immediately below the
three watchers now. He could make
out pretty well what was the size and
shape Of the objects that bulged the
waterproof bag.
81 have IL" he shouted, Dynamite |"