The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-08-12
The
Treacherous Ford
BY WILLIAM n. GREENE
,Copyright)

/
costumes, each with a rifle upon his
shoulder, had just waded across Vel
low Greek, at point where there were
rocks to aid them, and firm, sandy
bottom, with no slippery mud.
One slightly In advance of the other,
they came upon what appeared TO be
a narrow, but unusually hard, smooth
beach.
Suddenly the one in front stumbled
slightly and stopped, his feet spread
apart In q peculiar attitude.
Look out" he cried.
whats the matterY" asked the 9TH
er, stepping up 10 his side.
He needed no reply TO this question.
however. He also slipped in the same
queer fashion.
"See If you can step back" said the
younger OF the two men.
TIE other made a determined effort
10 lift first one foot, and then the 9TH
er, but only succeeded In sinking them
both deeper into the treacherous,
harmless looking sand.
81 can't lift either foot" he painted.
"See what you can do"
The younger man made an equally
futile attempt. His feet seemed as II
held In wise soft and yielding, but
stronger than steel.
ITS no use" he said. And then,
with sudden access of terror: Look
It's almost up to my knees-the sticky,
Shiny stuffw
His lips twitched aud drops of per-
spiration stood upon his forehead.
1T Is up TO my knees" said the
other. "lts-something's pulling at
my feet!" His voice rose almost to
a shrek. let me gol / Oh"
The younger man had Strengthened
himself up, and as he watched his COM
panion the look of terror on his own
face changed, and some of his color
returned. His lips ceased to tremble.
and determined look came into his
eyes. Grasping the other by the arm,
and shaking him roughly, he said:
"Stop thatl Stop 1t, / say. We
mustn't lose our nerve now. We've got
to think quickly. Every second we
stand here we're sinking deeper. It's
up TO us. This is no time 20 get
scared"
That's right" agreed the older man,
controlling himself with an evident eff
fort. Gee" he added, passing his
hand across his face, II nearly went
Off my trolley for a minute"
Don't give up" encouraged the 9TH
er. There ought to be some way out
of this"
His boyish face wore puzzled, pro-
testing frown, as II he refused TO be-
lleve that his life was about to be cut
of In this sudden. cruel fashion.
Look here" he exclaimed after n
moments thought. "We're n couple of
fools. These rifles are weighing us
down"
They both tossed their weapons. and
all other articles of any weight. includ.
ing their coats and hats, upon the bank
In front of them-the good, solid, hon
est ground, scarcely ten feet away.
From the grass-covered bank their
gaze travelled on to the field, and then
TO the woods and hills beyond. Hills
which they had wandered over and ex-
plored together as boys. and to which
they had returned every autumn for
several years, TO hunt and fish, as they
had been doing that day.
From the shadow of the nearer hills
rose columns of blue smoke, indicating
the location of the little village of wild
Rose, toward which they had been re-
turning.
Something must be done. Already
the slippery, oozing sand had reached
their knees, and was gradually crawl |
ing higher and higher.
Good heavens, isn't there something
we can dot" said the shorter man.
Maybe you could lift me out" said
his younger companion. "You are
very strong. If could get over to the
bank l could reach out one of the guns
for you to take hold of and drag
you out"
Without a word the shorter man
leaned over and grasped the other
about the legs. straining every muscle
until his face turned purple with the
effort and the veins stood out on his
forehead until It seemed as If they
must burst.
He succeeded only In burying his
own feet a little deeper In the merci-
ess sand.
mo use" he admitted as he straight
'ned up, his chest heaving like bel
ows. 81 can't bulge you"
Then his face. which had been con-
orted with fear, assumed crafty
ook. He looked at his companion
With calculating eyes.
I've got an Idea that might save
me Of u.s." he said. There's no use
n both of us going under II one can
'e saved. Is there?"
His face flushed. and he looked away
is he made the suggestion.
mo, l suppose not" answered the
10Y.
well, then" the other continued,