The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1919-01-11

81 believe George Montfort'll be mar
Red 10 Angeline Riker before the col
lege term ends, Chan"
Wilbur WInslow, the young county
attorney, glnnced keenly at Barretts
! half-averted profile. By mighty eI-
fort Barrett preserved calm ana w
different countenance.
Il ruther thought you were out OF
the running-as slow as you are
Chan" Winslow went on; "but then no
body else has been In II since Montfort
hit the trail to the Riker hOuse-not
even yours truly. The best can expect
Is 10 be asked to do an usher stunt he
fore very long" He screwed up his
face comicnlly. well, so long, chan
Pm going down to see how the river
looks See you later"
Barrett looked after his blithe IN
forInant like one In bad dream. lie
Lsu loved gay little Angelina Riker
ever since he had come 10 the town as
court clerk. and though he was shy
and difiidenf, Angeline had seemed 10
be drawn To him. Then MontB0rt, the
football coach and athletic director at
the college, big, blond and spirited.
stepped in and appropriated Angelina
nom the moment OF Introduction. So
their sweet intimacy came TO It's end,
and now II was public surmise that
she wns soon To marry MOntfort!
The early March wind had hello
hint OF warmth when he came down
the street, but in the courthouse, at
work over his books, Barrett felt
chilled and numb. When he came out
the air was colder, and there was ex-
element 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
food waters menaced the town. IL the
gorge broke before the water reached
the top Of the banks, well and good
but II not, the town would be mum
dated. Hurried preparations were I'M
der way to break the gOrge-a danger
Gus undertaking. But there were vol
-unteers In plenty, so many that lots
had to be drawn to make selection OF
the four -eQuired. =
Alexander Penman. the chief Of pO-
lice, 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 nm
expectedly, the gorge gave way. ant
they were caught In the middle Of the
river on a high sand bar. now an IL
land.
They were temporarily safe enough
perched on their. narrow haven, bu
massive fee blocks filled the river-n'
boat could be rowed to their rescue
There was nothing to be done but &
walt until the river became more cleB
Of ice. The. nign. came down raw an
cold; the college students made fire,
on the river bank and camped besid
them, shouting encouragement to tn
imprisoned MN.
In the early dawn, when grea
crowd again collected on the bank
Angelina Riker was among the wonieI
Montfort was out there, and An2,
line was afraid for him, but somethin
else THIN his danger weighed heavles
on her heart-another mans objection
Angelina, looking out on the river wit
weary eyes, believed she would b
quite happy II Chandler Barrett wer
out there tool When half the yOun
ner of the town were running owe
each other TO get the chance to hel
break the gorge Chandler Barrett ha
not offered himself!
TLe Ice vas still running-no chanC
OF launching n boat before noon. Bl
nos n came ind the two boats tina. Sc
eral times made the attempts narrow
escaped being capslzed. and the me
were compelled to turn back.
Dusk came with its promise of a bi
ter night.
"we can't LET those four brave fe
lows freeze out there tonight" Il
mayor said that evening; "someho
we must get relief to them"
Out of the crowd stepped big dal
fellow. wearing no coat. but a flann
shirt, knickerbockers and tennis shO'
"rve plan. sir" he said. 1--WE be
thinking of II for several hours. A m,
might crawl along the telephone cab
that's stretched across the river NJ
drop down on the bari believe d
line Is low enough-and get a rope
the bar. Then boat could be pull
over. The rowing would be easier
Soming this way"
But n would be despe q undo
hking." the mayor objected.
Il know" Barrett answered. ct
willing to risk II. The mercury's stea
lily going down. We can't rs you 81
let the boys pass another twelve hou
out there. am good climber. anC
he smiled. II made my will. sir.
hour ago. am not afraid"
With his shirt pockets bullying wi
cakes Of chocolates for the maroon