glad to see them all.

"I didn't save anybody," said Jack. "If the logs had hit the bridge
while we were on it, nothing could have saved us."

Mary was particularly glad that none of her new friends were coming in
to spend the evening, for she felt she had done enough for one day.
Mrs. Murdoch, however, told her of a "Union Church Sociable," to be
held at the house of Mrs. Edwards, the next Thursday evening, and said
she had promised to bring Miss Ogden. Of course Mary said she would
go, but Jack declined.

After supper, Jack was eager to set out upon his hunt after news-items.

"I mustn't let a soul know what I'm doing," he said to Mary. "We'll
see whether I can't find out as much as the _Inquirer's_ man can."

He hurried away from the house, but soon ceased to walk fast and began
to peer sharply about.

"There's a new building going up," he said, as he turned a corner;
"I'll find out about it."

So he did, but it was only "by the way"; he really had a plan, and the
next step took him to Mr. Prodger's livery-stable.

"Well, Ogden," said Prodger, when he came in. "That bay team has
earned eight dollars and fifty cents to-day. I'm glad you brought them
over. How long are you going to be in town?"

"I can't tell," said Jack. "I'm staying at Murdoch's."

"The editor's? He's a good fellow, but the _Eagle_ is slow. All dry
fodder. No vinegar. No pickles. He needs waking up. Tell him about
Link's bridge!"

That was a good beginning, and Jack soon knew just how high the water
had risen in the creek at Mertonville; how high it had ever risen
before; how many logs had been saved; how near Sam Hutchins and three
other men came to being carried over the dam; and what people talked
about doing to prevent another flood, and other matters of interest.
Then he went among the stable-men, who had been driving all day, and
they gave him a number of items. Jack relied mainly upon his memory,
but he soon gathered such a budget of facts that he had to go to the
public reading-room and work a while with pencil and paper, for fear of
forgetting his treasures.

Out he went again, and it was curious how he managed to slip in among
knots of idlers, and set them to talking, and make them tell all they
knew.

"I'm getting the news," he said to himself; "only there isn't much
worth the time." After a few moments he exclaimed, "This is the
darkest, meanest part of all Mertonville!"

It was the oldest part of the vil