Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-12-22

"Get out the biggest and finest doll you've
got, quick"
The clerk, fastening to obey, still stared
at the figure that now entered.
He saw that it was boy or small man,
but that was all he could tell. The Kid was
a mass of mud from head to foot, and he
staggered little as he walked.
~ rode over from The Gulch since z, 3"
he said, as he noticed the clerks curiosity.
Its not very fast ridin', but the roads are
pretty soft and s'pose I'm some muddy"
"From The Gulchl Muddy" The clerk
put down the box in his hands and looked
at the boy in amazement.
eyes; and I've got to get back by day
light with that doll. Hurry up with it.
The biggest and highest priced you got.
It's fer little girl that's about to die, and
DR.. Dick thinks it may save her if we get
it there in time. You can tie it up good,
and fasten it to me under the slicker."
The astonished clerk hurriedly opened
two or three paper boxes containing waxen
faced dolls. The largest box held fully
dressed doll, with eyes that opened and
closed.
"Pll take this one, +" said the Kid. "Put
it up in thick paper and use lot of big,
strong string"
THAT doll is $15," said the clerk, hest
tating.
"If it costs $50 want it, answered the
Kid sharply, land want it in a hurry"
He reached one muddy hand under the
oil coat as he spoke, and drew out little
sack.
"Help yourself out of that" he said,
dropping it on the counter.
The clerk did up the doll in a stout pack
/ 800 The va onanad tha Sliakar
"Tie it around me, as high up as you can;
more to the right"
'Why, you're only boy" exclaimed the
clerk, getting now close to the Kids face.
eyes: that's why came. A man would
have been too heavy for the mare to carry
over the roads"
care the creeks up hight Did you have
to swim, meanl"
"Three times. They'll be higher still
going back"
Ozark, amt it, Could you see any al
alll"
"Just the tree tops little, but the mare
knows the road"
"Do you think you'll get back all right!
0I've got to. Say, run that string W
over nv shoulder. There, that'll stay,
guess. Now, take out your money and tic
that sack to my belt. Thatu do; gooC
HWait a minute" called the clerk
"Here, take this to the little girl as a mer
nv Christmas from me-"
He went to a showcase and took out
beautiful shiny breastpin aud a pair of ear
rings, all on a card together.
~ can slip these in the package all right,
he said. II saved what they cost by no
going to the dance tonight, and mayb
they'll help some, too"
ooh, surel" said the Kid, girls Away
like iewelry. Thank you"
He hurried out to where the big mar
was standing in the rain, staring into tn
lighted store.
eirl.n he said. 'We've had hard pul
coming over and it'll be worse going back
hut we've got to get there. Nellie Carson
got to have this doll and jewelry tomorrow
morning. She'll die if she don't get il
Nance, and we're not going to let Nellie di
if we can help it."
The noble mare, who was mass of mu
like himself, whinnied little and SCENE
TO understand. A moment later he wa
dashing back down the street into Tia
blackness that lay between him and the lii
tie girl, who was battling with death /
SANDY Carsons cabin. As he sped alon
he could see her round, sunny face as sh
had looked before her illness, and he coul
see beside it another face-the Ease of al
other Nelie-his little sister back in til
East. whom he had not seen for two year
He had idolized her, but be remembers
bitterly how even his love for her had NJ
been strong enough to keep him out of ba
company, and how when his father had r.
proved him he had fed from his home
anger and never returned. He had spel
a year at another camp before coming
The Gulch, and he had always been luck
but the memory Of his little sister Nell
had never dimmed. 1t was for this reasG