The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-11-19
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY

married to Angelina Riker before
1.-the College term ends, Chan"
Wilbur WinsEoW, the young county
attorney, glanced keenly at Barrett'S
fialE.ayerted profile. By mighty eff
fort Barrett preserved q CAIN and In
different countenance.
II rather thought you were out Of
the run1i1E-as slow as you are,
Chan, Wtnslow went on; 'but then
nobody else has been IN it since Mont
fort lift the tran to the Riker house
not even yours truly. The best can
expect S to be asked to do an usher
stunt before very long!" He screwed
) his face comtcally. Well, so long.
SAani Pm going down to see how the
river looks. See you later
Barrett looked after his blithe In
Dormant like one IN q bad dream He
had loved gay little Angel1ne Riker
ever since he had come to the town as
court clerk. and though he was shy
and dffhdent, Angeline had seemed to
be drawn to him. Then Montfort, the
football coach and athlete director az
the college, big, blond and spirited,
stepped in and appropriated Angelina
from the moment OF Introduction. SO
their sweet intimacy came to its end,
end now It was public surmise that
she was soon to marry Montfort!
The cary March wind had held
hint of warmth when he came down
Iha street, but in the court house, az
work over his books, Barrett felt chill
ed and numb. When he came out the
air was colder and there was excite
nent n the town. There had been
heavy rains and the Ice gorge across
the river Just below the town (Which
the river ctrcled) holding back the
Hood waters menaced the town. II
the gorge broke before the water
reached the top Of the banks, well and
good! But II 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 selec-
ton Of the four required
Alexander Penman, the chief Of 20.
Hces and Hiram Spinner a 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 forge gave way, and
they were canght In the middle Of the
NFfver on high sand bar, now an
Island.
They were temporarily safe enough,
perched on their narrow haven, but
massive ice blocks filled the river,
no boat could be rowed to their res.
cue. There was nothing to be done
but TO wait until the river became
more clear OF ice. The night came
down raw and cold; the college stu.
dents 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.
Montfort was out there, and Ange,
line was afraid for him, but something
else than his danger weighed heavi.
est on her heart-another mans de.
lection! Angeline, looking out on the
river with weary eyes, believed she
would be quite happy Il Chandler Bar.
rett were out there too! When halt
the young men Of the town were run.
ming over each other to get the chance
to- help break the gorge, Chandler Bar.
It had not offered himself!
The ice was still running - no
chance Of launching 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
Dusk came with its promise of a
bitter night.
'sWe can't let those four brave Eel.
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
.Tve = plan. Sir" he said. sTve
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 bar
believe the line Is low enough-and
get rope to the bar. Then a boat
could be pulled over. The rowing
But Il would be q desperate under.
adng." the mayor objected.
81 know" Barrett answered. I'm
Wiling to risk It The mercury's
readily going down. We can't, as you
ays let the boys pass another twelve
ours cut there. am a good climber,
nd he smiled, "I made my viii, sir,
hour ago. ] am not afraid
With his shirt pockets bu1ging with
les Of chocolate for the marooned
= and SIendeI cord tied around
waist Barrett was hoisted &c the
As he craWIed slowly hand over
md along the SWaying cable, the
atchtng crowd held its breath An
Lines heart scarcely moved. And
zee when ifar out he slipped, she Gov
Cd her eyes with her hands. But
Zen she looked aGatn the black head
tjrectely over the sand bar. Then
dropped down on the bar and the
oWd caught Its breath and cheered
with tho ala of the cord Barrett
MED Q big rope was drawn across
river. then . stout boat dragged
George e saved! Don't cry. Ange-