Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 79, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 April 1911 — Tim Farrell’s Fear [ARTICLE]

Tim Farrell’s Fear

By MICHAEL J. PORTER

(Copyright, igxi, by Associated Literary Preae.)

Tim Farrell was mortally, shudderingly afraid of snakes. And now, when Sam Le Blanc suddenly thrust a wretched little half-frozen reptile at him, he retreated so abjectly that he nearly fell off the dike. He could not help the instinctive recoil, and his face darkened angrily When the other young people shouted with laughter. The birdlike notes of Tolnette Marcelle rang out clearest of all. ‘Yah!” taunted the grinning Sam; "afraid of a little snake. He’s a ceward!” "Call me a coward again and I’ll punch your Jaw,” retorted Tim, advancing with double fists. A fight is. a treat at Prairieton, and the group of men about the two stalwart youths pushed closer. The half-dozen girls drew aside, fearfully. But before a'blow could be struck the superintendent of the farms appeared, coming up the side of the dike in long strides. Le Blanc quietly dropped the snake which he had been flourishing. The superintendent gave no hint that he had understood the militant scene. “This way, you chaps,” he said, brusquely. “There’s a weak spot behind the barns. Let’s get busy and patch it up.” He led the way along the dike. On the .left the yellow, swollen flood of the river lapped within a few inches of the top. On the right big puddles were beginning to form among the patches of snow in the beet fields. It was yet early March, though rain had fallen steadily for two weeks. The great sugar-beet plain was in imminent danger of being Inundated. There was a discipline almost military on Prairieton forms. It was Sunday, and the men had worked night and day for more than a week in an endeavor to keep out the encroaching water; yet there was no lagging and no complaint Even Farrell and Le Blanc worked side by side, without open sign of enmity, staggering up the muddy dike under unwieldy bags of sand. The others, including the superintendent glanced curiously at them now and then. For they knew that while the budding quarrel between the two young men was apparently over a scant efght inches of frozen snake, Toinette Marcelle was really at the bottom of it —gay Tittle Toinette, whose lips were red add whose eyes were brown. During the past summer, as she weeded and hoed in the rich black soil of the fields, Farrell was always on' one side, Sam Le Blanc on the other. The rivalry had intensified during the merrymaking of the slack time, the winter. The other young men had withdrawn from the lists which contained two such sturdy and masterful knights. The farms are in a gigantic t>asin. Five miles above three rivers unite. During the spring rains of other years, before reclamation, the overflow had covered thousands of acres to a depth of ten feet Since the dikes had been built the flood had been kept in the channel. But they had never been subjected to such a strain ds this. The patching was done; the men straightened their backs. "I don’t like th'e looks of that” said the superintendent grimly, waving his arm to the east, where the ice and driftwood whirled past at racing speed. "This thaw is a month too early; there’s a mountain of snow still to the south of us. If it rains tonight—” He paused, then continued: “Farrell, go over to the settlement and see that every family is ready to congregate on the high ground at a moment's notice. Kelly, Le Blanc and Smith get the boots out and fit them with oars. There should be a lantern in each boat, too. “The rest of you better snatch a bite to eat I guess we’re up against it. Two revolver shots will be the signal that the dike is going.” .\„Ue mounted his horse and splashed off upstream to a dangerous bend, where most of the men were at work. The young people descended the dike, each girl with her cavalier. Tim Farrell extended his hand to Toinette —and regretted it She glanced significantly at the numbed snake, lying where Le Blanc had dropped It and turned away. A moment later Sam, flushed <wlth gratification, had clasped the warm, slender fingers and was siding her down the slope. Tim, sorehearted, went silently On his errand. The clouds that bad broken away somewhat during the day thickened again. With the approach of night the dreaded patter of rain on the roof began. The water crept up Inside the dike. The pools swelled and Joined. By ten o’clock the fields and even the streets of the little settlement were covered. The dike, however, still held. At 11 the superintendent and the men splashed back from up the river. The supply of sandbags was exhausted, and the dike was wearing away rapidly at the bend. It could not last more than an hour. They were beaten. Two shots in rapid succession called the people from their homes to the knoll on which too company store stood. , They were hastily apportioned among the boats. ’ "Two men and four women and

children to eaeh scow,” said the soperlntendent, calm and forceful among the hnbhub of pale-faced adults and weeping little one/i. “Bet* ter get started. There’s more than 18 Inches of water over the fields now—enough to float you. Bear away to the west to Granger village. It’s only three miles. I’ve telephoned over, and you’ll get shelter. Hurry now. If that dike breaks well be over our heads in a jiffy.”’ The boats wete launched without mishap and streamed off in . a long procession, a lantern gleaming’bravely in the bow of each. The superintendent and a few men stayed behind to liberate the live stock and head it toward safety. It was then that Gaston Marcelle beat his breast and cried aloud: *‘l forgot Toinette! She went back to the house. She’s there alone. I was coming with a boat, and I forgot!” A grinding roar from behind struck terror to their hearts. The dike at the bend had broken! Marcelle'* little home, a quarter of a mile to the north, was In the path- of the onrushing torrent. Tim Farrell looked at Marcelle, and saw that the palsy of feeble and frightened old age was upon him. He glanced at Sam Leßlanc; but Le Blanc’s face was pasty In the lantern light, and his hands tremble^. Farrell spoke in a vibrant-voice. - "If you get away now and row hard to the west you can make it. The full force of the flood will swing in , here, and not farther out. Til go down after Toinette.” “Good!” Bald the superintendent, tersely. “Two to a boat, and row for your lives. You’re going with Tim, Leßlanc?” The roar of' the river Increased In volume until the knoll on which they were standing seemed to quiver in sympathy. Leßlanc’s teeth chattered. “N —no,” he stammered, there’s no use of my going.” “You eowagd.” said the superintendent, dispassionately; "you dirty coward!" Tim rowed away on the crest > of the flood. Marcelle’s house was rocking when his boat swept against it Toinette was in an upper window; the steady light of the lamp which she held had guided him. With a word of encouragement be drew the frightened girl .into the boat, and shoved dear with an oar. For a moment the little craft tossed wildly as they passed through a breach in the dike which opened under the terrific impact of the waters. Then the danger was over and they fled peacefully on the bosom of the swift-running river. The Marcelle home bad collapsed like a house of cardß, and its wreckage floated all about them. Fbr awhile Toinette crouched trembling in the bottom of the boat. Then she looked at him. When she spoke thcae was a note In her voice Tim bad never heard there before. “I knew you would come, Tim — you, and nobody else. For you're not a coward, and you never were. Can you forgive me for—for this afternoon?” "Oh, that’s all right,” replied the cheerful Tim. “I am afraid of snakes —awful afraid. But say, Toinette, I don’t know where we’re going to stop. We may float clear to Saginaw. The whole country's under water." The girl sighed contentedly. “Well, 1 don’t mind; It Isn’t cold.- And you’ll take care of me.” Tim thrilled at the tone as much as at the words. He looked about him, over the yellow waste of waters, lighted by his lantern and .by the full moon which tried bravely to shine through the thinning clouds. “Good old flood!” be said fervently. And Toinette must have under-, stood, for she smiled—and blushed.