The Bossier banner., 1881-03-31
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A "RIPPER" AND A "WHOPPER. ,,

A RIPPER" AND A "WHOPPER. ,
''It's nothing on earth but a pair O
bobs. We've rugged that kind of thing
lots of times over on our hill All voI
need is couple of sIeds and plank y
'Yes, Rod, and when you've done it.
they won't steer worth a cent"
'Yes, they do. Dig your heels i'm
"Stop your sled just so much every
time you dig. A rudder's just as bad
We We tried 'em.'
$50 We we, Court Hoffman. l cues:
there wasn't ever anything much start.
ed on your hill till after we'd showed
you how, over on ours"
You never showed anybody how tc
make ripper like this
Ripper? Wen see about that"
There they stood looking at Court.
land Hoffman's new coastine machine.
He was the undoubted leader Of the West
Hill coasters, as Rodney Sanderson was
of the East Hill boys.
The new ripper was beauty, and
had cost some money. 1t was, as Rod
said, pair of bobs, with plank on top
to held them together. There was
room on it for half dozen boys, and
more if they packed, and it was hand
somely finished. The one thing about
it that no boy in Cuzco Center really
believed in. except Court Hoffman, was
the steering gear.
This was half-wheel, as wide as the
sled, mounted on the front bob, on an
axle that went down through the
plank; and the idea that when YOU
turned that wheel the front bob would
turn too, and the ripper be steered by
it: was too much for anything. Some
OF the oldest men in the village had
shaken their heads at that sled, and
Squire Sanderson himself had re-
marked to Deacon Rogers, "They
didn't spile the boys with any sech non
sense in our day, Deacon"
Cuzco Center bad two hills, one on
each side, and they were tremendous
affairs. The older people believed they
were put there SO as to have valley
between them for the village to stand
in, but the boys knew exactly what
they were really for, especially in win
ter, and when the coasting was good
The main street ran through the mid
die of the valley and the village; but it
failed to make a fair division of things,
for the river ran crooked parallel with
it short distance eastward. 1t was
the glory OF the East Side boys that the
river ran through their ground-fish.
swimming hole, ponds, skating, old
bridge, and all-but it cut off the lower
end OF their long coast from the hill
road. No sled in Cuzco had ever
reached the bridge. however, SO it was
just as well; but the West Side bows
told wonderful stories of the distances
they had buzzed over on the half-mile
level at the bottom of their hill. That
was what Court Hoffman meant, too,
when he said:
"You wouldn't have room for
ripper on your hill. If you want to see
how one works, you'll have to come
over and look on. Give you ride, too,
if you think you wouldn't be afraid.
They 60 just like lightning"
Rod Sanderson did not say ANYTHING,
but be looked up the road toward the
East Hill, and the high, white, snow
covered ridge seemed to say:
"Look up here. There is as much of
me as ever there was. You do your
share, and Wen beat EN-"
Court Hoffman made two BOYS happy
by letting them drag his ripper home
for him, and Rod Sanderson walked off
with an idea in his head.
"There' IL be a moon tonight. Never
vas better coasting. I'll just try it on"
Part OF that idea was now lying over
n his fathers barn-yard, in the Shape
ot an old weather-beaten, wornout
1ouble-seated sleigh, with goose-neck
ront. 1t had been a handsome affair in
is day, but it had not had any day to
speak OF since Rodney could remember.
It was drifted under now, and it took
rood hour to get it out, even with the
lelp of Put Willoughby.
"Going to make ripper of ftp" said
out. doubtfully. "The runners are all
light, but the box is on it yet. and the
seats"
well put in buffalo robes and
blankets, and fix it fine"
8 How on earth IL YOU steer? There
sn't any boy in Cuzco with legs enough
o heel it for sleigh of that size.'
"Ill show you. Pm going to rig a
.oom out astern for rudder. Steer
ike ship.'
You don't sayr'
Put had good deal to say, however,
when he saw Rod cut hole in the back
# that sleigh box, and shove through it
! long pole with spike on the end.
"SteerP Of course it will. | could
teer it myself. Only how on earth Ii we
ver getit up to the top of the East Hill?'
There might have been some difficulty
bout that, if all the boys on that side
II the main street had not taken the
natter in hand. They were public
pirited lot, and they were all Jealous
# Court Hoffman's town-made. new
angled. fancy-painted gimcrack. They
new it wouldn't work, and they said
o, and they pulled and pushed at Rods
wonderful idea that evening until they
ot it up the hill. Then they all got in.
r tried to. and the old ark looked more
Ike pyramid of boys than anything else.
1t was a splendid moon-lit evening.
nd the West Hill boys were out, every
oul OF them, and the best friends Court
loffman had were half afraid he
'ouldn't invite them to ride on his rim
er the first time. Then they were
lore than half afraid he would. for
hey all knew Deacon Rogers had said
here was no telling where that thing