The San Mateo item. (San Mateo City, Putnam County, Fla) 189?-19??, 1909-10-23

suddenly he sped on. Peterson tum.
bled headlong over tho unexpected
obstacle; and as he picked himself
mp. a porempt0ry whistle blew for
the resumption OF work
You're not much OF fighter,
boy, are your" the mate teaslngly
quizzed, as Simpson passed on tho
way 70 his horses. "The fellow that
runs away" he added sententlously
and significantly, lives 20 fight an
other day. You've got a dangerous
gift in those long legs Of yours: but
enc good, square. up-and-down stand
will be necessary to give you a status
along the front here"
lie spoke in a friendly tone. Slmp-
son looked az him without, however,
vonturing a defense. lie was out OF
breath, anyway.
Tied mp next TO the Wave, which
lay across the foot OF the street. was
| a barge-load OF cobblestones. Simp-
son set to work loading as soon as
he could back mp his team. A cou.
pie Of the crew Of the Wave loitered
al the stern Of the steamer, within
speaking distance.
"He hasn't much spunk, Tom" one
OF them audibly commented, with a
jerk of his thumb toward Simpson.
Il guess all the fire escapes out OF
the top of his head"
Don't be hard on him, mate" the
other gently chided, with mock sym.
/ pathy. Hes ashamed OF running
away. Don't you sec he is blushing
TO the roots of his hair?'
Simpson smiled, and continued to
toss in the cobblestones with an ease
that indicated ability to stand up for
himself when necessary.
With a heaped load. Simpson
mounted the wagon. When he was
clear OF the littering freight, he turn.
ed up the street leading from the
Wave. The weight OF his load and the
steepness taxed his splendid horses.
Their tanks hattened out and their
legs stiffened with the strain as the
load inched its way upward.
Some OF the hillside streets We're
so sharply graded that lifc-lines were
necessary in winter for the use of
pedestrians. Simpson was Obliged to
rest his horses frequently in the
climb. At such times, after block
ing the wheels, he stroked the soft
noses of his helpers and encouraged
them.
The worst place in the short pull
new boiler eight feet high and thirty
in length, blocked half the street. In
the narrow, furrowed lane, past that
and a pile OF building materials,
Simpson was obliged to haul his load
straight. But he observed now, with
much satisfaction, that a crew OF
laborers was getting ready TO shift the
boiler through the mill yard into
new engine-honse.
The load OF cobbes was delivered
couple of blocks beyond the next
corner.
Now. boys" Simpson said TO the
horses, wen so back for another
load" lie always kept Prince and
Sager informed IN leSdIu 10 MS
movements
On the return journey he was de-
layed a few minutes. where the chat
tering laberers were making ready
with planks to turn the boiler end
wise through the gates.
Simpson could sec straight down
the few hundred intervening yards
to tho Wave nesting in the freight
piles at the foot of the street. A
clear passage showed between the
heaped boxes and bales TO the gang
plank of the little craft; and as Simp-
son recognized Peterson in blue shirt
and rakish cap boarding the vessel
humorous notion popped into his
head.
I'D like TO give that boiler little