The Press., 1920-09-02
The Treacherous Ford By WILLIAM H. GREENE
(Copyright.)

l Two men in high boots and hunting costumes, each with a rife upon his | shoulder, had just waded across Yel- l low Creek, at point where there were l rocks to aid them, and firm, sandy bottom, with no slippery mud. One slightly in advance of the other, I they came upon what appeared to be
 narrow, but unusually hard, smooth beach.
 | slightly and stopped, his feet spread apart in peculiar attitude. Look out!" he cried. "What's the matter?' asked the oth- CT, stepping up to his side. He needed no reply to this question, however He also slipped in the same l queer fashion.
 ''See if you can step back" said the younger of the two men.
 The other made determined effort | to lift first one foot, and then the Oth- CT, but only succeeded in sinking them both deeper into the treacherous, harmless looking sand. "I can't lift either foot" he panted. See what you can do." The younger man made an equally futile attempt His feet seemed as if held in a wise, soft and yielding, but stronger than steel. Its no uSe" he said. And then, | with a sudden access of terror: Look It's almost up to my knees-the sticky, slimy stuff"
 His lips twitched and drops of per- spiration stood upon his forehead. Tt is up to my knees," said the other. 1ts-somethings pulling at my feet!" His voice rose almost to
 a shriek. Let me go! T. Oh" The younger man had strengthened himself up, and as he watched his con-
 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 that! Stop 1t, I say. We
 musn't lose our nerve now. We've got stand here we're sinking deeper. It's up to us. This Is no time to get scared"
 "That's right" agreed the older man, controlling himself with an evident ef- fort. Gee" he added, passing his hand across his face, "I nearly went off my trolley for a minute"
 Don't give up," encouraged the oth-
 er "There ought to be some way out
 of this."
 His bOyish face wore puzzled, pro- testing frown, as if he refused to be-
 lieve that his life was about to be cut off in this sudden, cruel fashion. Look here," he exclaimed after a
 moments thought. "We're a couple of fools. These rifles are weighting 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 dor" said the shorter man. Maybe you could lift me out," said his younger companion. You are very strong. If I could get over to the bank could reach out one of the guns for you to take hold of and drag you out"
 Without 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 1t seemed as If they must burst.
 He succeeded only in burying his own feet little deeper in the merci- less sand.
 No use," he admitted as he straight ened up, his chest heaving like bel lows. 'I can't budge you" Then his face, which had been con- torted with fear, assumed crafty look. He looked at lis companion with calculating eyes. i've got an idea that might save one of us," he said. "There's no use in both of us going under if one can be saved, is there?" His face flushed, and he looked away as he made the suggestion. "No, I suppose not" answered the boy.
 "Well, then," the other continued, still looking away, "this is the idea |: If one of us threw himself forward, face down, on the beach here, the other could probably climb over him and get to the bank.
 Its chance, and the one. who acts as the human bridge Is goner sure. But we'll both go down ina few min uleS, anu SHlOlIcI Ilhc EdlS, II we uOn try something" "I see," said the younger man. lit tie cOldly. "But who We're friends of course. and have been for years
 and all that, but it's a good deal of sacrifice"
 ''I'm not asking you to be a hero,"
 said the other hastily. wen toss
 coin for 1t. And don't let's do any
 more arguing. We're wasting valuable
 time."
 All right" agreed the young fellow.
 "Im game, if you think it's the only
 way for one of us to be saved"
 Have you any better idea to offerY
 "NO."