The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-02-13

OF the home stretch when Jimmy began
TO slseken his pace. This encouraged
MedfOrd, who had Geen gradually work
ing his way ~ In the procession and
he passed Somervile. who had long
ago distanced Elgin and sieUdlly al
vanced until he was within a rod OF
Jimmy. II had been a remarkably cloEe
race and no one had dropped out.
You should have seen Mr. DiX0n's
face when he saw his favorite losing
ground. As for Elgin. he was so encour-
aged that he broke into a run 0nG OF
course lost his chance OF winning.
= For one brief moment Jimmy thought
that he had run down. but when he real
lied that he couldn't move a step after
the machinery had stopped. be gave a
squirt and Increased his leaG by three
feet. There was now just an eighth o.
a mile left and the race looked 20 he
Jimmy's for MedfOrd was walking his
prettiest and couldn't gain an inch on
the leader.
The beautiful building OF the Winchester
library Is now I'm sight. A crowd OF VIM
chester's best citizens are ctandlns there
waving flags and cheering. Jimmy's faith
er is among the number. Jimmy sees him
and wishes that his mother might b.
there too.
Five hundred feet more and Jimmy
will be champion.
But the mechanism had reached its
limit Of running. The maid had lost the
race for him because she had forgotten
to wind him. Down In the road he drop
ped: his arms moved spasmodically once
or twice. his legs kicked 4 little and he
Law an inert mess on the macacam.
And then Medford did a very noble
thing. Disdaining the fact that IL was
now his race. he dropped out and stopped
TO pick up Jimmy and Somerville Newton
walked in over the line and won the
medal amid the perfunctory cheers Of the
Winchesteriaus.
A doctor ran I'D to Jimmy, but Elgin
Waltham said. You're not what he
wants, he wants the key"
The doctor thought he was insane, but
Elgin started for Jimmy's house TO get
the key, and ran plump into Mr.. Whortle-
berry.
The key. the key" he gasped.
Jimmys father had seen his son fall.
and like every other member Of the Whor-
tleberry family. he carried key that
would fit the lads neck.
He ran to the boy and said 10 the loo
tor: Il am his father. He only needs
winding"
The doctor was the most astonished ply
stefan in Eastern Massachusetts, but he
said nothing The bystanders saw Mr..
WhOrtleberry insert the key. and then
they heard a faint and musical sound,
which, as / have said, was Jimmy's blood
coursing through his veins. and then the
boys legs began 10 work back and forth
and his arms to pump, and he rose 10 his
feet, and went on with the race.
Jimmy, boy" said his father sadly.
1.-The race is over Ii would have been
yours 1: only you had been wound up"
Poor Jimmy realized then what had hap
pened. and being a boy. even If ne did
have mechanism inside of him instead OF
vitals, he burst into tears.
And then occurred pretty scene.
Somerville Newton went up to Mr..
Dixon, who was Fastening to shake hands
with Jimmy, and he said In a loud voice
so that all could hear; al don't think We
ought to call this a race. IL I'd known
Jimmy wasn't wound up, I'd never have
entered. Say We have 1t again next Sat
| urday."
"Hoorayr' shouted all the boys. includ-
| ing old AIR Dixon.
Copyright. BY the author, Charles Battell LOonis)