The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-23
EVENING STORY
The Slow One.
BY S. B. HACKLEY.

IT believe George MontIortA De
married to Angelipe Riker before the |
college term ends, Chan"
Wilbur winslow, the young county |
attorney, glanced keenly at Barrett's |
half-averted profile. By mighty ef-
fort Barrett preserved a calm and in |
different countenance.
II rather thought you were out of
the running-as slow as you are,
Chan" WinSlow went on; but then
nobody else has been in 1T since Mont |
fort hit the trail toethe Riker house
not even yours truly. The best can
expect is to be asked to do an usher
stunt before very long" He screwed
up his face comicaliy, "Well, so long,
Chan! I'm going down to see how the
river looks. See you later"
Barrett looked after his blithe in
formant like one in bad dream. He
had loved gay little Angelina Riker
ever since he had come to the town
as court clerk, and tho he was shy and
diffident, Angelina had seemed to be
drawn to him. Then Montfort, the
football coach and athletic director at
the college, big, blond and spirited,
stepped in and appropriated Angelina
from the moment of Introduction. SO
their sweet intimacy came to it's end,
and now it was public surmise that she
was soon to marry Montfort!
The early March wind had held a
hint of warmth when he came down
the street, but in the court house. at
work over his books, Barrett felt
chilled and numb. When he came out
the air was colder and there was ex-
citement in the town. There had been
heavy rains and the ice, gorge across
| the river just below the town twhicn
the river circled) holding back the
flood waters menaced the town. II
the gorge broke before the water
reached the top of the banks, well and
good! but if not, the town would be
inundated. Hurried preparations were
under way to break the gorge-a dan
gerous undertaking. But there were
| volunteers in plenty, SO many that lots
! had to be drawn to make selection of
the four required.
Alexander Penman. the chief Of po-
| lice, and Hiram Spinner, husky bus
| driver, were the first whose names
| were drawn, then James Newly and
George Montfort.
| For an hour the men worked with
| hooks and fuse; then, suddenly and
| unexpectedly, the gorge gave way, and
| they were caught in the middle of the
! river on a high sand bar, now an is
| land.
They were temporarily safe enough.
perched on their narrow haven, but
massive ice blocks filled the river
| cue. There was nothing to be done
but to wait until the river became
| clear of ice The night came down
raw and cold; the college students
made fires on the river bank and
camped beside them shouting en-
couragement to the imprisoned men.
In the early dawn, when a great
crowd again collected on the bank,
Angeline Riker was among the
women.
| geline was afraid for him, but some-
| thing else than his danger weighed
| heaviest ON her heart-another mans
defection! Angelina. looking out on
| the river with weary eyes. believed
she would be quite happy If Chandler
half the young men of the town were
| running over each other to get the
chance to help break the gorge.
Chandler Barrett had not Offered
4 himself.
The ice was still running-ho
| chance Of launching a boat before
noon. But noon came and the two
boats that several times made the at
tempt narrowly escaped being cap
sized, and the men were compelled
to turn back.
Dusk came with its promise of a
1--WE can't let those four brave fell
lows freeze out there tonight" the
mayor said that evening; somehow
We must get relief to them"
Out of the, crowd stepped a big dark
fellow, wearing no coat, but a flannel
shirt. knickerbockers and tennis shoes.
I've a plan, SIR he said. i've
been thinking Of it for several hours.
A man might crawl along the tele-
phone cable that's stretched across the
river and drop down on the bari
believe the line is low enough-and
get q rope to the bar. Then a boat
could be pulled over. The rowing
would be eaAer-coming this way"
But it would be desperate under
taking" the mayor objected.
| Il know" Barrett answered. I'm
willing to risk it. The mercury's
steadily going down. We can't. as you
say, let the boys pass another twelve
hours out there. i am a good climber
and" he smiled. 81 made my will. sir
an hour ago. I am not afraid"
With his shirt pockets bullying with
cakes of chocolate Tor the marooned
men and a slender cord tied around
his waist, Barrett was hoisted to the
wire.
AS he crawled slowly hand over
hand along the swaying cable, the
watching crowd on the river bank
held its breath. Angeline's hear
scarcely moved. And once when fal
. out he slipped, she covered her eye.
with her hands. But when she looked
! again the black head was directly ovel
the sand bar. Then he dropped dowr
on the bar and the crowd caught it,
breath and cheered wildly.
With the aid of the cord Barrett
carried a big rope was drawn acros.
the river, then a stout boat dragged
, across.
George is sa red! Don't cry, Ange
lfne!" Angeline, with the tearms run
! ming down her cheeks heard some on,
saying at her elbow
: George. For thirty minutes sh,
r had forgotten George was living.
Newly was SO weak from hunee
' and exposure he could not help witt
r the oars. but Barrett, with the aid o
1 the others. succeeded in getting to tn
shore, with every man safe, in a re
markably short time.
Next day when he sat lis room
at the courthouse. a little pale Blu