Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-05-18
CHAPTER XXI.
The Testimony Of the Dead.

The Testimony Of the Dead.
Just as Helen Illingworth and Win
ters reached the lower level at the foot
OF the mesa. they were Joined by Rod
ney.
what has happenedT" cried the en-
gineer
Winters answered as the three hur-
ried along without stopping:
MEADE blew up the hogback."
"Was that he?"
"Yes."
II thought there was something IA
millar about him, but did not dare"
II recognized him instantly" said
Helen Ilingworth.
"That atones for the International"
continued Rodney,
"What does2" asked his friend.
",rhe dam Is safe; the water has
stopped rising. believe it's beginning
to fall little. ] saw someone jump
up on the palisade and wave his hand,
and then saw them all gather around,
evidently cheering"
IT should think the water would be
lowered" said Winters; "it's pouring
out of a hole in the hogback as big
as church."
at wis a fine thing in Meade. Let's
hurry and tell him so,'' answered Rod
ney.
"rm afraid it's too late" said Win
ters.
"Oh, don't say that" cried the girl.
"Why what's happenedg
T "The second blast was slow in going
off," said Winters; "he went back to
look at 1t, and got knocked over. 1t
looked pretty bad from the top of the
mesa"
Rodney would not have been, human
IL he had net felt leap in his breast
at the possibility, but he was too loyal
friend and too genuinely fond of
Meade for more than a passing emo
tion, for which he was more than a
little ashamed.
''Let us press on" he urged.
In n few moments they stopped by
the three men. Meade was still un-
conscious. The big Irishman sat on
the grass with the engineers head on
his knee. The deft-firgered little Ital-
Ian was trying to wash the blood away
from the unconscious mans forehead
with a sodden, ragged piece of cloth.
Meade was unconscious. he was breath
ing heavily. There was cntch In his
respiration. His breath cume at irreg-
ular intervals and was iabored as IL
painful.
A huge rock had struck him In the
breast. The two men had torn open
his shirt and undershirt. The engi-
neers chest was bruised and bloody.
Evidently bones had been broken, and
probably Serious Internal injuries had
resulted. Every breath was an appar-
ent agony, and TINT the exquisite pain
did not arouse him to consciousness
wns evidence Of the terrible nature of
the injury. A smaller, sharper rock
had cut him across the forehead and
cheek. Just missing his right eye, and
they found out afterward that he had
been struck by several other pieces
dislodged by the explosion, and that
his body was covered with bruises.
But there was nothing, not even In
the cut on the forehead, to cause any
great alarm had 1t not been for the
crushed chest. Winters and Rodney
were both men of action, accustomed
60 quick tSlnling aud prompt decision
IN emergencies: while Helen Hing
worth could only stand with clenched
hands staring in mental anguish that
parnlleled the physical suffering OF
the man she loved, the engineer and
the rancher Immediately made prep
nrutions to get the wounded man to the
car.
Murphy wore In his belt short
woodlands ak. With It they cut down
two young snplings, trimmed them and
thrustlng them through the sleeves OF
their raincoats they made fairly prac
ticabIe litter. Using the utmost care
they laid the unconscious man upon II
and Winters and Murphy, the two big
gest men, took the handles at eithel
end. Helen nlingworth. praying al
she had never prayed before, sought {,
support the unconscious mans head
The Italian gathered up the tools anC
went ahead to open up the path. Rod
ney followed after.
Their progress was slow of neces
slty. They had to handle Meade witt
great care. Winters and Rodney, afte
the brief inspection they had made
could not see chance on earth TO