The Lexington intelligencer., 1919-03-14
The Slow One
@<O
BY s. B. HACKLEY

u believe George Montrortu be mar
ried to Angeline Riker before the col
leSe term ends, Chan"
Wilbur WinSlow. the young county
attorney glanced keenly at Barrett',
half-averted profile BY a mighty Of
fort Barrett preserved Il calm ana I'm
different countenance.
81 rather thought you were our Of
the running-aS slow as you are
Chan" Winslow went on; "but then no.
body else has been i'm it since Montfort
hit the trail TO the Riker houSe-not
even yours truly. The best can EXPECT
is to be asked to do an usher stunt be-
fore very long" He screwed mn his
face comicaIIy. "Wrll, so long, Chan I
I'm going down to see how the river
looks. See you later"
Barrett looked after his bIItbe IN.
formant like one in bad dream. He
LAD loved gay little Angeline Riker
ever since he had come to the town os
court clerk, and though he WAS shy
aud diilident, Angeline had seemed 10
be drawn to him. Then Montfort. the
Football coach and athletic director AT
the college, big blond and spirited
stepped in and appropriated AngcIipe
from the moment Of Introduction. So
their sweet intimacy came to its end
ana now it was public surmiSe that
she was soon 90 marry Montfort,
The early March wind had held q
HUI Of warmth when he came down
the street, but in the courthouse. ot
work over his books. Barrett faIr
chilled ana numb. When he came out
the air was colder, and there WAS ey.
cltenent in the town. There had been
heaVy rains and the ice gorge across
the river just below the town (Which
the river circled) holding back the
mood waters menaccd 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 inun.
dated, Hurried preparations were IN
uer way TO break the gOrge-a DANGER |
Gus undertaking. But there were vol. |
uhteers in plenty, So many that lots
had to be drawn to make selection Of
the four required.
Alexander Penman. the chief or r,.
lice, and Iiram Spinner, a husky bus
urlVer' 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 I'm.
e1pectedIy, the gorge gave way. and
they were caught in the middle Of tbe
river on a high sand bar. now an is
land.
IIiey were temporarily safe enough
perrhed on their narrow haven. but
massive Ice blocks filled the river-uo
Doat could be r0wed To their rescue
mere was nothing TO be done bur to
wait until the river became more rleor
II Ice. The nigh, came down raw and
'oId; the college students made fires
IN the river bank and camped beside
hem, shouting encouragement to tbc
Imprisoned mop.
In the early dawn. when great
rowd again collected on the bank.
AngeIlne iker was among the women
Monlfort was out there, and Apsr.
lhe was afraid for him. but something
Else tlmn his danger weighed heaviest
VI her h'art-another mans defpcri,n:
'Agellne, looking out on the river with,
weary eyes, believed she would he
lutte happy if Chandler Barrett were ,
'ut there too! When half the yorng
neh Of the town were running nva,
Zach other TO get the chance TO helm
freak the gorge Chandler Barrett hod
rot offered himself!
The ice was still runnlng-po rh,rc,
II launching boat before noon Rpt
locn came and the two boats THAI soy.
'ral times made the attempt NARROWLY,
escaped being capsized. and the men
we're compelled TO turn back
Dusk came with its promise Of 81 hit.
er night.
I'VE can't let those four brave fel. +
o"S freeze out there tonight the
mayor said that evening; somehow
We must get relief TO them"
Out Of the crowd stepped a big dark .
elbow, wearing no coat, but a flannel /;
h'rt, knlckerbockers and tennis shoes
I've plan, sir" he said. "Tva heon
Of it for several hours. A man !
'ght crawl along the telephone cobln ,
mats stretched across the river and
rop down on the bari believe tbn -,
he Is low enouGh-and get n rono to g.,
ne bar Then boat could be pulIed
YER The rowing would be cosior-
omins this way"
But 1t would be desperate undor. y
iking,' the mayor objected :,
i know" Barrett answered orm -
''''hg to risk it. The mcrcury's stead. Il
y going down. We can't ms Won soy ii
Il the boys pass another twelve bopr, n
Ut there am good climber and n
Su''led, ~ made my will. sir an II
our ago, ] am not afraid" II
WIN his shirt pockets bulgipo with n
'Nes OF chocolates for the maroonod n
eh ana slender cord tied around his n
alSt, barrett was hoiSted to the wire "
As he crawled slowly hand over hund II
ohs Ihe SWaying cable the watching a
o"d held It's breath Angelne's hear, R
arCcIy moved Anh nnnn NIL.