Middletown transcript., 1909-02-20


shaken Mahlon's nerve remains
to this day a debated question;
but certain it is that as the Me.
teor swept up the incline and,
slackening speed, gathered her.
self for the next plunge, Mahlon
gathered himself, and rolled as
unobtrusively as possible off the
sled.
This detection at once became
known to the man in front.
Mahlon's gone! stated Maurice.
What? gasped the doctor.
He rolled off. Maurice was
evidently a little alarmed him.
self.
My goodness! cried the doctor
What did he-do-that for9
Buff Maurice attempted any
reply, it was lost in the rushing
wind of their new speed.
On dashed the Meteor with its
diminished crew. Billy. the pilot,
strained at the tiller ropes and
searched the moonlit path ahead
u
with blurred and watery eyes.
Behind him the little doctor hung
on and enjoyed it. In the rear
Maurice clutched the doctor with
all his might. and hoped for. a
fortunate outcome, although be
had ceased to expect it, At this
hour there were no travellers
abroad, and they had the road to
themselves.
For something like . quarter.
mile at this point the descent is
less abrupt; but the road is full
of sharp turns. On these the
unweighted back part of the
double runner skidded and bobbed
about. All Billy's skill was called
on to keep his craft in the track.
Shove back there, Maurice,
and hold her down! he called, as
they approached the second cor
ner.
Morris was loath to leave his
place of security at the doctors
back, and hesitated. The hesi-
tation was fatal. The rear bob
slued against the banked snow
on the curve. The next moment
it was out of the road. Like
lightning the Meteor swung half
way round and "turned turtle. :"
Billy's face plowed into the
snow, but he clung to the tiller-
ropes; Maurice, pursued by the
doctor, shot out over the crust,
and both came to an anchorage
in the roadside alders.
Whoof from the doctor, as
Maurice's head drove the breath
from him.
Ouch! from Maurice, as the
doctors elbow jabbed his nose.
All three scrambled up and
took account of the situation. No
one had received any serious in
juries, except the faithful Me-
teor. The king bolt, which at
tached the front bob, was so
twisted and bent that only the
blacksmith's forge could set it
straight.
The doctor Strengthened up
from his investigation and brush
ed the snow from his knees. His
spirit was reused now. Come.
on, Billy! he cried. Wen see
this through. Take off the front
sled, and we'll go on with that.
And Billy, when he found that
the Meteor's injury was not fatal,
also rose to the occasion. The
twisted bolt was removed, and
the rear bob, to which the long
seat was permanently fastened,
set 10 one side.
But there isn't room for three
now, declared Maurice, in a very
odd tone that might mean either
dismay or relief.
So there isn't. Billy must 60
TO steer, OF course. Wen have.
to leave you, Maurice. You can
wait here-or you'd better walk
back to my house. Well get the
sled in the morning Come on,
Billy. Remember William GoVe,s
baby.
The two were of, the doctor
curled up on the front Of the
single sled, aud Billy percheds
behind to steer. Maurice watched
them out of sight, then turned
and plodded back up.the bill.
The single sled; Of course, did
not equal the speed Of tie double
runner; but they came. now TO q
sleeper part of the.hilli and few
downward at q. good pace.
The road here comes out on
the side of the bill which borders
the valley. Below and ahead of
them the doctor could look across
tbe, cleaning snow.nelds and see