Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-08-04
CHAPTER XXIIT.
In winch Nod Proves Himself a +

| - " Ht'h .N'A loNtS illlhHt4l ilflh'
II was strawberry time in the year
! following Neds conversation with his
| father on the subject OF luck as re-
corded in the last chapter, and it was
also toward the close OF a beautiful
day. Ned had been riding on his faith
er's colt and according TO his custom
had used only a red blanket for a sad
die. On his return home he drove out
10 his field TO sec how near his rye was
10 the time cutting. He dismcu1te
and tied his horse 10 tree by the
Wayside. and was walking mp on the
| hillside in Mr.. Sharp's land and saw
Nellie with a little basket i'm hand
fecklng for strawberries that grew in
the lot She presented to Nod's eye "a
charm Nc picture indeed. She had on
"a brgAt-colored print dress, chat
contrasted prettily with the green
grass I'm which She was from time 90
time half hidden. i'm her search for
berries iior bruad-rimmed straw hat
added also 20 the pic'urosOuencss OF
hen appearance Beyond her was 30
clump OF bushes, which served as "a
background There was also in n
pasture. still above this field. beau
tiful elm with spreading branches.
under which "a herd OF cattle was ros'
ing after their day OF food getting
All i'm all 10 was a landscape worthy
OF a painters brush So Ned thought
and for some time he stood concealed
in the rye and watched Nellie as she
moved here and there In search Of the
luscious fruit Then he thought OF
some work necessary 10 be done
l'ITIN ira no rtrgfffDp no.
FIRST years experience iu his farming
all around his rye field he had planted
hills OF squashes. so that the vines
might grow ont on the sides and not
miEgle with The rye II occurred to
him that the bugs might Doe at work.
and forgetting Nellic for the time be-
lug. he went from hin TO hin.
Up i'm the field also Nellie bad been
locking on Ncds farm She had seen
him drive down the road seated on
hls fathers colt and she admired his
1 manly form While She hll Sc rcl ID
fol- berries she also watch d him. a.
ter he mad dismounted AID tnoaga
Ncd did not know it. she was con
sciOus that be was watching her
When Ned began TO look after his
squashes she wandered further mp the
hill. and strayed some ways from the
clump OF bushes, singing as she went
II was perhaps fifteen minutes after
this that Ned heard a crash. which was
followed by "a piercing scream .DoA-
ing mp. he saw a large bull. which nA1
Heon attracted bv Nellie's bright dres-
nad broken through the fence and was
running augrily toward her In an in
slant Ned took in Ncllies danger
There was no place OF escape for heI
unless IL were the bush.
To the bush. to the clump Of bush
cs." Nod screamed and Nellie turn
ed toward that frail protection.
In "A minute Ned was beside his
horse He unbuckled the red blanket
aud opened the gate leading 10 IN
field and sprang upon the colts bar,
back. and urged him forward toward
the bull. Nellie by this time was last
nearing the clump of bushes.
Keep the bushes between you and
him" Ned shouted. and then ne be
gan shouting and waving the red
blanket TO attract the attention OF the
bull.
Nellie reached the bushes. a circu
lar clump about ten feet in diameter
minute before the bull and quickly
ran around behind it.
As she did So the bull was attracted
10y Ned's shouting and the red blanket
and at that moment also he lost sight
OF Nellie He stopped in his cours,
and beloved forth his surprise and
anger. and then started after Ned
Ned kept swinging the red blanket
and thus drew the bull away from Mel
lie
Now run for the fence" shouted
Ned
Nellie started 10 run. and when she
had about half way reached IT, the
bull again saw her and started in pur-
suit
But Ned was near the bull now. and
follow d still trying TO attract his at
IGNITION from Nellie. To his surpris,
he bull no longer noticed his bank
I. Ned now knew he had 20 exert
very energy to intercept the bull
The colt was already wild at the
shouting and the waving OF the blank
Il. but Ned held on and urged him
forward Nellie now took sharp
turn in order TO reach a gate. and this
brought Ned in a good position e.
drive between the two. Nellie wa,
now near the gate; could she have
two minutes more she would be saved
would she reach IL? lie was now al
most between the two: would he b,