Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-11-06
\ On Skees for
s the Doctor.
BY Frederic Brush.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
BY Frederic Brush.
Martin finished the new skees at
noon, and ate most of his dinner while
he was fastening them on. And all
that afternoon he SKINNED over the
fields about his mountain home in an
ecstasy of joy. The skees of straight
grained white ash took polish quick.
ly, and grew faster with each descent.
They We're perfectly balanced and
curved high at the front, and he could
take the drifted stone walls with q
long skimming leap that almost made
the heart stop for the fear and Joy of
1t.
He was a twelve-year-old athlete,
trained In the incessant activities OF
the farm and forest. Sweeping down
at the house with the speed of the
fastest train, he would stop within a
4 few yards, or swerve with an exultant
cry close by his doubtful, watching
mother. and go on cutting long curves
and leaping the half-buried fences to
the lower edge Of the clearing.
About four o'clock Martin saw his
father with Jim, the hired man, driv'
ing home from the mill. Martin
planned to take the road with flying
leap just under their noses, as they
turned in toward the barn.
The effect was greater than he anti
/, cipated; he had left the horses out OF
bis calculations. One was colt just
being broken, and the other was not
low-spirited. When that strange, long
footed, flying figure passed with a
shrek before them, the colt leaped
across the back of It's mate, and to
gether they swerved and crashed
through the fence and over the wall
into the barnyard below.
Mrs. Baird was quickly there, and
, heard her husbands repeated cry for
help from under the entangline
wreck. As they dragged him out a
red trail followed upon the snow. He
was tightly clutching his left arm AT
the elbow, but the blood was dripping
Asss AAoAA A MO nHSeA tips.
me Ak caught me somehow" said
ne. had 1t on my knees. Silt
up the sleeve with your knife-quick,
Martin, and let us see! l bled fright
fully in there before l could get hold
of It. I feel weak-1 feel weak"
AS they barred the arm, a stream Of
bright blood spurted high, and falling
LETT Its spotted stain upon the snow
Martin and jim jumped back, amazed
and speechless. The mother reeled In
half-faint, but braced at her hus
bands sharp words.
( Martin! Jim! Help me here-cant
you! Quick-grab the arm above! Not
go tight! There's the vessel. So
hold steady
BY their many hands the bleeding
was again controlled, but the father
lay outstretched with white lips. Re
covering slowly, he told them how to
knot handkerchiefs and tie the upper
arm, but the artery spurted again, and
only the hands seemed to control it
Get on the colt, Martin, and go for
the DOCTOR, said Mrs. Baird.
The doctor passed US going up the
valley to Gray's over an hour ago.
said JIM. Hell be coming down
ABOUT now. II We could head him OF
IF we could head him off! If We
don't. it'll be hours before we get him
mere.
Run down the mountain, Martin :
said the father, by the old log road
and Ciancey's clearing. Start, slow;
It's the nnisn we want-the finish
W you miss MN, take Clanceys morse
/and ride. Where are you now, boy?'
ne cried, Sharply
turning. ne saw Martin strappine
on the skees. rake those things
I Dn!" ne commanded. Haven't they
done enough tor one day.!
D For answer Martin giided from the
yard ana dropped IKE an arrow down
ne long Darn meadow, and took the
: aFltea wal "llnout toucn OF tne
z pore. ne sWayed Dadly IN mld-alr
ana the Watcners neld their breath;
OUT ne rlgnted, ana was on IKE the
wind into the slopes and curves OF the
lower clearing
Here was WORK lot tne oest sKee
sider-stumps. vines 10 avoid, and
eareacnerous drifts 10 pass; put Mar
TN Kept on sWlltiy toward the forest
ne was using the poie now, lodging
ana Daianclng ana sometlmes praKine
Almost 70 2 STOP put steadily going
Z aoWn, twenty times 1aster than MS
|. unalded legs could nave carried MIN
a. last tne Watcners saw MIN, with 9
sfarthng sweep OF speed, go straight
.oWard tne iorest edge, and disappear
{ Lnereln as II swallowed.