Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1909-05-20
Fiction
Charging the Enemy
q BY MARTHA mc.-wILLIAMs.


Old Glib Ezell went swinging and
stamping upon his crutches down the
street and up the steps Of his store. 1t
was the biggest store in town, though
not tho smartest Joe Beenam, who
had opened up the spring before just
across the street was running old Glib
hard in groceries and hardware and
leaving him out Of sight when it came
to knickknacks or dry goods pure and
simple.
A man who half knew looked after
old Glib, then across at the sign Of his
young rival, and murmured half to him
self, What pity" Another man
who knew also looked, listened to the
exclamation and answered it. sticking
ont his chin as he spoke, Better say,
sWhat shameP"
'What's a shame docT" a third said
coming up behind them. Dr. Waters
smiled half grimly. pm not quite
sure. 1t seems to be the hitch in the
course Of a true love-" he answered.
Lew Bayne, the man who had spo-
ken first, shook his head theoretically,
81 meant that poor old fellows legs"
ne said. Il suppose, doc, it's certain
he'll never walk again"
"Now you've got me-" the doctor
protested I'D risk my professional
reputation that fall he got on the sleety
pavement did no worse harm to his
shrunken shanks than bark them up
pretty generally. There were bruises,
of course, and on the shoulder and side
as well. I told him he'd be out and
about in plenty of time for the Christ !
mas trade, but from the first he stood |
me up and down that he'd never take !
another steady step. and so far, I'm !
bound to admit. he was right There's |
nothing ON earth the matter with his !
legs-nothing at least that / or the 9th |
er doctors can see. Against that there
IS the fact that the minute he tries to
stand on them they do the joint rule
act-double under him as though they
hadn't strength to bear up a spider
The trouble must lie In the nerves. If !
that's what you meant, I agree with
you that it's pity. / thought you
had reference to the trick he's played
on Joe Beenam."
''What is it?" asked Merton, the
third Of the group. You know I've
been away six months. Tell me all
about it,"
mot much to tell" DR. Waters said.
fCVor, l-DCv- EIcrria EZn1lo-
81 ought to. considering she sent me
away" Merton broke in ruefully.
''You don't mean Joe is gone on her
like the rest Of us? I thought
you've hit it," the doctor said. Joe
did stand out mighty well against the
prevailing infection, but a man never |
knows what's coming to him until it |
hits him square in the face"
Lord To think Of Joe, the bomb [
proof we called him. Merton chuc- /
kled How did it happen? Tell me
all about it,"
Merton. q newly evolved drummer, |
had given what he would have called
"a comprehensive order" Or. Waters
also chuckled as he answered, holding
his head by way Of emphasizing his
points ~--eI. you see. it's this way;
TIE hour struck for Joe when he saw
F--r-i= EzeL swirling around, q blue
rarLlrau angel, in waltz with Bob .
Acton az the Patton's party. Florrie's !
g. pretty girl anyway you see her.
That night she was particularly fetch
ing BUT that wasn't the thing. / in
s-s- Joe-s time had come. He knew it. /
soon as the waltz was over he froze
o. Fl--r.e-didn't get a yard away
from her all the evening"
III was a freezing time IS I remem-
Der Lew Bavue Interrupted with a
ll--l-"Indilu summer up 20 dusk,
then @ cold pain thar turned to sleet
fiji short order Say. didn't old Glib get