Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-13

worn SO thin even he had strength to
| break it. Instantly he crammed the key
in his mouth, laughing gleefuly. Mrs.
Dabney thrust her fingers between the red
| lips to recover the key, but drew them
| away, saying: "Oh. you mischief! To bite
poor grandma-but, look, Elizabeth! the
chd's choking"
| Dabney indeed, had begun to gasp and
strangle. Elizabeth caught him up shook
! him vigorously, then she heard his hoarse
quickening breath, darted to where Billy
stood beside Ragged Robin. saying in a
| shrieking whisper: The doctor!-take
Dabney-he's choking to DEATH
Before the last word Billy was in the
saddle. Don't cry, dear-weu save him
Robin and t., he called over his shoulder.
as he went off at full run. Dr. Crayshaw
lived almost three miles down the road
Robin must run those three miles as a racer
runs on the course, if Dabney was to get
help in time.
Already the little head lay weakly
against Billys heaving breast. Billy leaned
forward, calling low and clear to the
horse:
"Lad-it may kill you-but it's for the
boy-for Dabney. Save him. No matter
about-us.' He was spare and light, still
tall enough to make his weight no feather
Moreover the start had been standing and
in cold blood--Robin had had no chance to
warm and supple his mighty muscles, or
expand his splendid chest.
But oh, How he ran! His head low, his
ae'K extended nostrils wide ears fiat
against the ItCh. DIZZY IitIu lliiH iIS Hlly-
barely enough to save him in case of a
stumble. 1t made his heart leap to feel
the stretching stride lengthen, quicken as
they swept down. down the long red road
All the inherited aptitudes Of a hundred
winners had come to Robins help in this
race with death. He was doing for himself
all that human wisdom might have ordered
and doing 1t as became a thoroughbred
for love. Billy had no spur. neither
whip-but he knew that made no difference
Robin had never felt either. He leaned
forward, shielding his precious burden from
the rushing air of their mad progress
scanning narrowly the long, long way
what time he could take his eyes from the
childs agonized face.
At first the little fellow had moaned
weakly Now there were only scant and
itful gasps. But two miles were behind
and Robin was running stronger, freer
than in the beginning. Faster, too. 1t was
overwelghted, he was doing pace to win
anything.
Billy kept repeating: Run lad. For
Dabney.' At least his heart spoke the
drowned them Now they We're within half
mile of the goal-the Crayshaw house
showing white across green distances of
wheat land. 1t stood a long way black,
and had an avenue of trees running up
to it. But there was a short cut, cross
fields if one could pass the fence. Billy
knew of tin ten seconds they would come
| to it-he checked Billy lightly half turned
his head, lifted him and set him straight at
| the stone wall.
! Robin went over like a bird, staggered
| the least bit in the plough land beyond,
won in two strides to the beaten cart track
| that was like a course, and devoured it
| with long reaching strides. Racer-like he
| lay down to his work. stretching. strainng
| TIL he was almost fiat against the earth
| racer-like he came up quick and quicker,
| stretching, gathering, all the while gain
| ing somewhat of the inch of time that
meant salvation for the child. 1t was not
| till the very last that he faltered-Bily
| felt It and groaned-but dared not turn his
| head. They were at the yard gate-with
| the doctor in wait the other side of It,
| ready to take Dabney from his father s
arms.
In timely half a minute. Just In
| time" the doctor said q quarter of an
| hour later, as he saw Dabney's eyes open,
and his futtering breath strengthen.
Billy was kneeling beside the child, chat
| ing one little hand. He got up, his face
! working, and said huskily: "Doctor-will
| you take him?-think about his MOTHER
Robin and L will go home at slow gait
| The doctor nodded-he was kindly man,
and wise. Also far seeing, and not given
| to gossip. He had sensed how matters
| stood at Long Meadow-at least enough to
understand the dumb misery that fought
| with Joy in Billy's eyes, He caught Billy S
hand, and wruns it hard, saying, Son,