Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-11-28
CHARGING
the
ENEMY
By Martha MCCuIIOCh-W William
ght, 1901, bv d. S. Richardson


Old Glib Ezell went swinging and
stumping upon his crutches down the
street and up the steps of his store. 1t
was the biggest store in town, though
not the smartest. Joe Beenam, who
had opened up the spring before, just
across the street, was running old Glib
hard in groceries and hardware and
leaving him out of sight when 1t came
to knickknacks or dry goods pure and
simple.
A man who half knew looked after
old Glib, then across at the sign of his
young rival and murmured half to
himself, What pity" Another man
who knew also looked, listened to the
exclamation and answered it, sticking
out his chin as he spoke, Better say,
What a shame!"
whats shame, doc?' third said,
coming up behind them. Doctor Wa
ters smiled half grimly. I'm not quite
sure-it seems to be the hitch in the
course of true love-" he answered.
Lew Bayne, the man who had spoken
first shook his head energetically. II
meant that poor old fellows legs" he
said. Il suppose, doc. it's certain he'll
never walk again."
Now you've got me-" the doctor pro-
tested. I'D risk my professional rep
utation that fall he got on the sleety
pavement did no worse harm to his
shrunken shanks than bark them up
pretty generally. There We're bruises,
of course, and on the shoulder and side
as well. l told him he'd be out and
about in plenty time for the Christmas
trade, but from the first he stood me
up and down that he'd never take an
other steady step, and so far, I'm
bound to admit, he was right. There's
nothing on earth the matter with his
legs, nothing at least that I or the 9TH
er doctors can see. Against that there
Is the fact that the minute he tries to
stand on them they do the Joint rule
act-double under him as though they
hadn't strength to bear up spider.
The trouble must lie in the nerves. If
that's what you meant, l agree with
you that it's pity. l thought you had
reference to the trick he's played on
ice Beenam."
what is it?" asked Merton, the
third of the group. you know I've
been away six months! Tell me all
about it,"
Not much to TELL" DR.. Waters said.
"You know Florrie Ezelp'-
Il ought to, considering she sent me
away" Merton broke in ruefully.
"You don't mean Joe is gone on her
like the rest of us? l thought
you've hit it," the doctor said. "Joe
did stand out mighty well against the
prevailing infection, but a man never
knows what's coming to him until it
hits him square in the face"
Lord! To think of Joe, the bomb
proof, we called him." Mertonchuckled.
"How did it happen? Tell me all about
it."
Merton, newly evolved drummer,
had given what he would have called
"a comprehensive order" DR.. Waters
also chuckled as he answered, nodding
his head by way of emphasizing his
points: "Well, you see, it's this way:
The hour struck for Joe when he saw
Florrie Ezel swirling around. blue
tarlatan angel, in a waltz with Bob
Acton at the Pattons' party. Florrie's
pretty girl anyway you see her.
That night she was particularly fetch
ing. But that wasn't the thing. | in
sist Joe's time had come. He knew it.
Soon as the waltz was over he froze
to Florrie-didn't get yard away
from her all the evening"
at was freezing time, as l remem-
ber," Lew Bayne interrupted, with a
laugh. "Indian summer up to dusk;
then a cold rain, that turned to sleet
in short order Say, didn't old Glib get
his fall that very night?'
I'm coming to that If you'll wait"
the doctor ran on. Il tell you that was
a sleet to remember. Joe, Of course,
wouldn't let Florrie walk home, though
the Ezell house is only six blocks from
the Pattons'. No, stree! He telephoned
for the finest rig at the livery stable
and bundled all that blue tarlatan in
it as snug as you please. heard Flor
rie protesting that she ought really to
wait for papa, but we all persuaded her
papa wouldn't think of risking himself
upon pavement like glass. We ought
to have known better. Old Glib always
does the thing that any other man
would let alone"
"Bet hat he came" Merton said,
chuckling more than ever.
you win-from yourself" DR.. Wa
ters answered. HE came, he didn't
see his daughter, he went back swear
ing like trooper. though he is a dea-
con, and he fell right before Master
Joes fine rig, coming back from leav-
ing Miss Florrie safe at the gate. or
course Joe picked him up and carried
him home. Equally, of course, old
Glib hates him for doing it. BY the
time l got to him next morning he
was fully persuaded Joe was at the
bottom of his fall, with Florrie as ac-
cessory; said they ran away and left
l,asl