Gilpin observer., 1909-04-29
Garnering the Gold by Doc F1oyd's Private System

he was going away from them. 1T may |
be for day; maybe a week, but not |
forever" was his laughing announce
ment as he said good-by to his friends
and started off alone in his big touring
car. His object was rest and pleasure,
but the knock of Opportunity bearing
profit in its arms would not be un-
heard by the master mind of the High
Rollers.
Down the dust-covered road that led
towards town a tiny brown-ha!red boy
of ten sazed earnestly, long.ngly. AS
he watched little caravan that dwin
died away into small da-ks specks, he
stood like n model n painter might
have craved for a picture of one be-
reft And when the moving specks had
disappeared with Il turn of the pike,
the little lad dropped into a clump of
grass beside the road, face downward,
and buried his head in his arms and
robbed.
Ihere he lay, so wrapped in HIS own
childish fullness of sorrow that mon
ster touring car, speeding nolselc3sly
upon him. failed to arouse. The big
machine came to a stop as quietly as it
had been running. Its driver, big
man from whose deep blue eyes, set in
a full round face good nature and kind
liness radia ed and spread itself about.
paused. stared for moment at the
sobbing child, then stepped from his
auto and, bending over the little form
as tenderly as a mother might have
done, placed one big hand upon a shak-
ing shoulder.
Now, now, now, didn't tell you
was going to fix it for you? You
weren't going TO run away, were you?
1t will be all right as soon as can find
out what it is that ails you. Why. |
can even fix that contrary old motor
car when 1t gets cranky and out of
kilter. Where is your mother?"
She's dead"
"Oh," came the response in softened
tones. Il beg your pardon. You have
got something to cry atout. I'm
sorry. My mother died. too. when
was just about your age"
The stranger gazed toward little
farmhouse at which the boy had
pointed. 1t had almost deserted
look. rs your father over there?" he
asked
No. he's gone, too" was the answer
And who takes care of the placer"
Just Aunt Mandy and me-"
We'll. let's go see Aunt Mandy and
tell her you are going to town with me
and have supper, and maybe stay all
night and see show, IL there's one
there"
Aunt Mandy proved to be the kind of
aunt the section of country south of
that certain invisible line has contrib
uted to the good of many a family.
"Howdy do?" said the stranger, by
way of self Introduction. MY name is
Floyd. and l want to ask little favor
OF you"
"Lawsy me, Yo' don't say, Yo' all
name is Floyd. Come right in and sit
down. Is yo' all one oh de Vuhginia
Floyds?"
why. dat am Duh name, too. Use
b'longed to de Floyds all ma life An
yo' is Floyd. too"
Dissipation had laid waste the
meager store of physical strength that
Jimmy's father possessed, SO that ten
days before he had been unable to bat
tie with an attack of pneumonia, which
ended his life within AS hours. The
last straw had come when the sheriff S
auctioneer had sold out the place that
day. When Doc Floyd had come upon
Jimmy the little fellow had just
watched his own pet pony following
the other live stock away in tow of
old Jonas Jones. who had held the
mortgage and bought in everything at
the sale.
Had he been asked Floyd could not
have explained why he had placed him
self in his present position. No one
could have explained to him that he
might be an instrument to temper the
wind to the shorn lamb. 1t was merely
that the child's grief had appealed TO
him, but he never had an idea that
It was anything more than some little
bit of childish disappointment that
could be chased away by n dash In the
automobile and little treat of some
kind in the town.
Jimmy had been astir for two hours
next morning and was suffering from
pangs of hunger when his newly found
friend and protector awoke.
1t was an easy matter to find Jonas
Jones. That eminent citizen had nc
office, but any of the banks was ever
ready to furnish him stationery and a
place to sit down any time he wished
to draw up one of his far-famed iron
clad mortgages or write n letter He
was finally located. however, and Floyd
saw subject he could have drawn
had he been asked to make a picture
Of any towns pet shylock. or tall
angular build, he was SO stingy he
even grew stingy little patch OF
whiskers. Floyd already had a plan
1.