“Take it on a jump now, Larry, my boy!” he cried, and Larry rushed off on his wheel. “I’ll meet you at the hotel,” called Mr. Newton after him.
Larry reached the telegraph office just as the operator was leaving it.
“Wait a minute!” called the boy. “I have some copy for you.”
“Can’t wait!” exclaimed the telegraph man. “The water’s rising and I’m going to get out while there’s time.”
“This will only take you a second,” said Larry. “It’s got to get to the Leader. It tells about the dam breaking. They’re going to get out an extra!”
“Well, I wouldn’t do it for anyone else,” said the operator, “but you’re a plucky boy to come here with the copy when everyone else is thinking of getting away, so I’ll send the dispatch for you. After this you may find me in a temporary office in a tent up on the hill.”
“I’m much obliged to you,” said Larry, handing over the copy. He waited until he saw the operator send it off, and then the man, taking some of his instruments with him, left the office.
As he did so a small stream of water began to run down the middle of the street.
“Flood’s coming!” exclaimed the telegrapher. “You were just in time!”
Then he began to run, and Larry, abandoning his wheel, did likewise, for he knew because of the formation of the ground that there might be deep water there soon.