Ruth Fielding of the Red Mill; Or, Jasper Parloe's Secret

o proper automobile outfit, and Helen had not expected such an emergency when she had started with her crippled broth

tor car drowned all other sounds. There was, however, no need to look behind; they knew the w

he river? The thought was in the mind of both Helen and Ruth, whether Tom, on the rear seat, considered it or not. When they finally shot out of the woods and turned toward the toll-bridge, all glanc

en out front, staring at the automobile as it raced down the road. Perhaps

e car and pointed b

ood! Th

he reach of the water. But the three in the automobile saw the whole family turn and run for

stir there. The toll-bridge keeper was not even out of his cottage, and the light and flimsy gates were down across the driveway at either end of t

ous notes must of a certainty have awakened anybody but the Seven Sleepers. But the three in the car saw no

ed. "Get across the river fir

n was excited now and her racing blood was up. She never hesitated at the frail barrier, but drove

ate had he set about it instantly. So they went through that, too, leaving him bawling and shrieking after t

screamed at them: "The dam has burst! The flood is coming!" and then started up again and swept through th

he valley was low here and as far as they could see ahead it broadened considerably on this side of the Lumano. But

eople of what threatened, without Tom's frantic shouts and gesticulations. They were obliged

aw the crest of the flood appear around the bend and the already heavily burdened waters dashed themselves upon the toll-bridge. It crumple

rom the higher ground, and so determined to keep to the road, that Ruth cried out and laid her hand upon Helen's ar

m the tonneau. "Get in here q

llow understood him well enough, and scrambled into the car with his b

back in the seat as the car darted away agai

the valley behind them; yet he stared up at Tom Cameron again and again as the auto hurried them on t

en, arter all, was ye, Ma

to get over it," retu

Jabe Potter-heh? H

slily and in such a significant way that, had the boy not been so disturbed by what was

n for Jabez Potter and all concerned had he taken Doctor Davison's advice and let out the water behind his dam! But now he was not even

ill it gathered into narrower compass again because of the nature of the land, and the wave grew higher

Helen, as pale as a ghost now, but

ght, I believ

ll. Only the hired man was there, and he came to the door wi

o the young people. "This mi

e the flood would have overtaken the car. And to take the road that branched off for Cheslow wou

red over the dam, and part of it was swept out. Great waves beat upon the river-wall of the mill. And then, with a tearing

out of the far door of the mill, stooping low and with his coat over hi

ood. Then the bulk of the angry waters swept past, carrying all sorts of debris bef