Almost as rapidly as it had risen the flood went down. The storm ceased and the waters, finding many places to run to, soon disposed of themselves. The day after Larry won the race that was to mean so much to him the part of the town around the hotel was almost free from the flood.  
“The worst is over,” said Mr. Newton. “We’ll be going back home soon.”
 
“We can’t go any too soon to suit me,” said Larry. “I want to see my mother and Lucy and the others.”
 
“I don’t blame you,” spoke the reporter. “I’ll be glad to get back to New York myself.”
 
They remained in Stoneville two days longer, and each day Mr. Newton sent a graphic story of the flood. The townspeople were returning to the homes they had deserted. Much damage had been done, but help came pouring in from every side.
 
Trains began to run, and the mails, that had been interrupted, resumed their service. Larry307 and Mr. Newton received several copies of the Leader, containing the story which Larry had so successfully raced to get to the telegraph office. Copies of other New York papers, of the same date were also received, but none of them had more than a few lines about the flood and burst dam, while the Leader’s story covered a whole page under big headlines.
 
On the evening of the second day, after the big beat, Mr. Newton received a telegram from Mr. Emberg. It read:
 
“Congratulations to you and Larry. Come home. Associated press will cover remainder of the story.”
 
“Get ready!” exclaimed Mr. Newton to Larry. “We’re going home to-morrow!”
 
Several of the other special correspondents had already left Stoneville. Some accompanied Mr. Newton and Larry the next morning.
 
“Well, you put it all over us,” said one of them to the Leader reporter.
 
“With Larry’s help I did,” replied Mr. Newton. “If I hadn’t had him along, I never could have done it.”
 
“Larry’s all right,” was the immediate and hearty response.
 
Larry thought he had never been on a train that moved so slowly. It seemed to crawl along.308 A flying machine would have been too slow for him, so eager was he to get home.
 
But at last he arrived in New York. It seemed good to get away from the sight of dirty brown water, sorrowful people, and the constant rain that had been his portion for a week.
 
“I’ll see you at the office in the morning,” said Mr. Newton. “Good-night.”
 
“Good-night,” called Larry as he ran after a car.
 
He reached home. Into the house he burst with:
 
“Here I am, mother! How are you? How’s Lucy? How are Mary and Jimmy?”
 
“Oh, Larry, Larry!” exclaimed his mother, throwing her arms around him.
 
Mary and Jimmy crowded around their brother, clamoring for kisses, while Jimmy wanted to hear all about the flood.
 
“How’s Lucy?” asked Larry again, as soon as he could quiet the youngster.
 
“Doing finely,” replied the nurse, coming into the room. “We have a surprise for you.”
 
“What is it?” asked Larry.
 
“Come and show him, Lucy,” said the nurse.
 
Then, from her room, came the girl. Not as she had used to walk, hobbling along like a cripple, but straight and upright. With firm, though slow step, she approached her brother.
 
“Lucy! Lucy!” cried Larry.
 
309 “Oh, Larry!” the girl exclai............