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

C.ue Ut, DICK What's wanted at
Green Valley9" 0U az
The Doctor looked at his questioper. The
BOY could not be more than II. and was
shght tor bis age He was supposed to be
runaway and had drifted into camp one
uay from nobody knew where. Since then
ne na1 been mining and gambling and an
peareu TO be an expert at both. He gave
MS name as Ellis, but the men had christ
ened him the Kid, and when little Nell
came he had for some reason become her
save, Since her illness he had gambled
very little. During the last few DAYS none
at all. --N9
We'll, " said DR.. Dick slowly, as he look
ed at the slender figure, perhaps it is moth
ing that will do any good, but tomorrow
VIII be Christmas, and the little girl has
been promised doll, and remembers it
somehow, even in her fever. She is talk
ing and raving about it, and when the
change comes, if she is conscious, any dis
appointment would be bad, of course, and
! thought maybe if we had the doll-a big
doli-to put right before her-that-per-
haps"-
The boy wheeled, facing the listening
men.
Who's got horsel" he demanded. Get
me good horse and I'll be out of here in
three minutes"
II havel l havel-take mine!n came
from different parts of the room.
I've got the best horse in camp" said
heavy shouldered man named Stag. "Tll
have her here by the time you're ready"
and he disappeared without waiting for "a
reply.
The Kid will need money-chip in,
boys" said another, holding out his hat.
The coins ratified into it while the boy
was making his only preparation for the
ride-drawiug on an oiled coat called a
slicker, loaned him by one of the men.
When the hat, heavy with silver, was
handed to him he passed it over to DR..
Dick.
"Give that to her folks, ;" be said. "They
need it. I'll pay for the doll myself" And
without stopping for reply or comment he
hurried out to where Stag was waiting with
a large, handsome mare that was tossing
her head and stamping in the falling rain
She'll take you there and back if any
horse can tonight" said Stag.
The miners crowded out to see him off 1t
was already dark and the rain was falling
heavily.
Hold her up stream, Kid, when you
ford, called one. Never let her head get
down stream"
You'd better lead her when you get to
Long Cliff, said another. "The road must
be cut out bad there. She might go over. 5"
Nance knows every foot of the way"
said Stag. "He don't need to lead her
none"
Take my gun, Kid, said big bearded
fellow called Whiskers, holding up an i'm
mense revolver.
"Too heavy Got one, thank you. Good
by, boys. I'll be back by daylight if l come
at ALL" and, with signal to the restless
mare, the boy bounded away into the night
and rain. The men, listening in silence,
heard the splash of the mares feet until he
reached the woods.
THAT Kids brick" said Whiskers,
"but wish he'd taken my gun"
"The less he has to carry the better,
said DR.. Dick. Hes light and got good
horse. It's fearful ride, but he may make
it."
They entered, and the Doctor, after a
hasty supper, returned to the Carson cabin.
The last clerk in the big general store at
| Green Valley was just getting ready to
close for the night. TWAS past IL, and the
final struggling Christmas customers were
gone. He stood in the door for moment
looking out into the darkness and rain and
muttering to himself.
81 hate these kind of Christmases," he
grumbled. 81 don't mind if it's cold, but
this rain, rain, rain, and mud and slop all
over everything, knocks trade silly, and III
bet there amt twenty couples over yonder
at the dance" The sound of music came
across through the rain, and the blurred
lights showed where the society OF Green
Valley was making merry on Christmas
Eve.
He was about to turn back to make the
final preparations for closing when another
sound came to him from far down the street.
II was the splash of horses hoofs
"Hello!" he exclaimed; somebody
tbe borseman was turning directly toward
the store, and presently dismounted where
the light shown out into the falling ram
He flung the bride over hitching post, a.
he called out to the staring clerk