Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-09-07


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his defeat. The course was on the slopes
of the Sierras, a splendid hill 1000 feet
| long, slippery as glass, and ut so sharp
an angle that a man could not ascend it:
and once on it with skis, it was race
| like the wind for nearly half a mile, then
! out onto a gradual slope into the valley,
where the little village lay buried. Ev
cry town or village in Plumas and Sierra
| counties of any pretenslons had ski
| club and many of the members were eX-
perts who had performed wonderful
feats, and for this race the pick of every
club was on hand at the top of the CLASSY
| slide, while an admiring crowd of men.
women and girls looked on. The curious
| Norwegian snowshOes, which were eight
feet long. four inches wide and half an
inch thick. were being given their final
polish every contestant having his espe-
| cial dope" which was his secret. Apart
from the others stood Long Barton strap
ping on his skis, which had a polish such
as had never been seen before; they
| cleaned in the sun with dazzling bril-
| lance. If dope" counted there We're
those who believed that 'Tanglcfoot"
would win.
The first signal was given, and the
men lined up, their long skis extended
| forward, and their bodies in various po-
| sitions. Each racer bore long staff,
or starter; some held it on one side, some
| between their legs, while others extend
ed it ahead; and as the word was given,
each man gave mighty shove and pro
| iected himself down the terrific slide
| They shot over the edge like Il wave of
water over fall. and seemed to rush
into space, then sank SO rapidly from
| view that they We're gone before the eX
cited lookers-on realized it. The speed
| increased rapidly, and in ten seconds was
| like that of a fast trotter; at fifteen it
| al 70 thn tt-gf Of
and at twenty the best men We're hold
ing their breath, as it was impossible to
| breathe at such speed, and the slightest
swerye would send them off the track.
| From the side the scene was a frightful
one, as it was hard to believe that human
| beings could preserve their position and
not be dashed to pieces under such eX-
| IRENE velocity. But tine line swept on,
few of the racers surging ahead. Half
way down, and four are in advance; two
thirds, and one tall figure is leading:
t 1t is Long Barton. He is rushing
with the speed of light; the new dope
! is carrying him on to victory. He knew
| it, his teeth were set: his heart was III
| his mouth-the goal was just ahead.
Then something happened; he swerved
a tenth OF. an inch; piece Of ice caught
| the channel of his polished ski, perhaps,
and the next second the line of racers
rushed like the wind by a figure rolling
| over and over. its legs, arms and long
skis seemingly tangled in Il hopeless knot.
| ''TanglefOot" had lost again, and the
loud laughter and gibes of the spccta-
tors rang in his ears as, haif-stunned,
| he slid to the bottom and picked himself
up. To their credit the winners did not
| laugh: it was the crowd on the hill, and
| Barton took off his skis. and avoiding
them. walked over the snow and was lost
to sight in the chute that led to his home.
That night, as was the custom, there
| was a ball. and ut the earnest wish Of
his mother Long Barton went. But he
took no part in the entertainment, and
.Sat by the stove and watched the merry
makers, knowing we'll that he was the
butt of them all. Late at night, while
he still looked on, a crowd gathered at
the door around a man who had just ar
rived-Reel Stacey, the stage-driver.
Hope you folks has extra spices on
your chimneyS and flags out, he said.
Its banked fifty feet at Evans. and the
thirty-foot marks on the pines are COW
cred, and it's showing like it will never
stop. But that's not what | come for,
he continued. unrolling q bundle, blanket
after blanket, and producing baby that
looked up at the men with a wondering
gaze.
"A baby" they shouted in chorus. and
half a dozen arms reached for the child.
Hold on, boys said the driver: bust
ness first. This is Jim Grayson's baby:
his wife died last night, and he's fiat on
his back. The cow was killed in the
snow, and there amt any milk in this
town but this" and the old driver held
up a quart bottle, Now, the doctor
says that the only thing to save the baby
is to get it out where there's milk; if we
don't it will starve
why; Reel" said the storekeeper in
mountains in such a storm.
so | told the doctor" replied the
stage-driver. land | haven't the nerve to
try it; ] know what it is-a mans life
against the kids. But l said I'd state
the case. He's a newcomer at Sierra
he got here and can't get away"
Its fifty miles to milk if it's a foot. .
remarked a administered miner in the
group; won't bread and water dog
1t might for some" retorted the
driver, but this baby's not built that
way; She waneS milk, and she won't
touch anything else; they've been try
ing it for days. Is there any man her,
that can suggest anythingT and the
speaker raised his voice
Every miner present knew that it was
impossible to get out of the mountains
even if il was not showing. until the snow
had settled. Everyone recalled the names
and faces of men who had met death try
ing to cross the Sierras in storms and
for few moments no one answered
then. as the driver pulled the blanket
over the little figure. which he held closer
to his breast. voice said:
We'll. if the baby wants milk she's
going to have il; don't you forget il
boys" and Long Barton edged through
the crowd and took the child in his arms
He rolled it up in the coverings the
stact~driver had taken off: then he pulled
on his snow-cap. and followed by IN,
men 10 the door. went out into the storm
Well" exclaimed Reel Stacey, "I'C
have picked Tanglefoot the last one fol
such a proposition; but boys, we've mis-