The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1909-02-12

From DR.. Singleton's house, at the
top OF Keelers Hill, down the steep.
hard-packed road, through the Cor
ners, and straight out to the sawmill
few the big and little sleds.
Zip went the Jumpers" fast but
uncertain, balanced by waving legs.
Chur-ur-ur-ur came the single sleds,
with their riders going "bell-bunt." +"
Pur-r-r-r-r-that was Jim Blair's lit
tie TRAVERSE" homemade. hard to
steer. and feeter than the wind.
Then, as magnificent climax,
came the roaring rush OF Billy
Moore's wonderful new double-run-
ner, the Meteor, that held ten, and
had pulleys for It's guide-ropes, be-
sides being painted scarlet and gold.
The "coast" from the Doctors
straight down to the sawmill was
about a third of a mile. Turning
sharply to the right at the Corners,
however, set one on the long, steep,
winding road that led from the hill
village, a mile and a half down TO the
river valley. Once In a while some
venturesome spirit essayed this as an
especial adventure, but the hill was
too steep and crooked and the walk
back too long to be popular.
Eleven o'clock! That is late In the
Corners neighborhood! All the girls
and the small boys, and many Of the
bigger ones, bad gone to bed surfeited
with sport. Only the gluttons re-
mained.
Billy Moore and three OF his
cronies swung the scarlet Meteor
about at the top Of the hill and pre-
pared to go down once more.
The door of Or. Singleton's house
was opened, letting out broad beam
OF Iamplght. In the centre of it was
the doctor in overcoat and tippet, bag
in hand.
40 Billy, Billy Moore, are you out
there?" The little Doctors pleasant
voice had a hint Of anxiety in It,
Yes. sir" Billy stopped winding
the steering-ropes round his hands
wait a moment, Billy" The doc
tor closed the door behind him and
came trotting down to the road.
Don't you want me for a passen-
ger?"
~Yes. of course!" "Come on, DR..
Singleton" "Hooray!"
The little doctor was popular; a
jolly. boyish look in his wrinkled face
and twinkling eyes told why plainly
enough.
NO. this is serious. boys. William
Cove has just telephoned up that his
baby is sick. 1t may be only little
croupy; out he doesn't know, and his
wife is young and frightened to death.
Old Nansy's in the barn, dead lame,
and I've driven the new horse forty
miles to-day. Don't you boys want
to take me clear down the hill on the
Meteor? And then when I've straight
ened out young Mr.. Cove, Wen all
pull the sled back together. and have
some supper at my house"
~Of course!" Come ON" "Hooray!
Well get you there in no time!"
This from Maurice and Harvey Kel-
ton and Mahlon Goodnough. The
Meteor did not belong to them
The owner and captain was less
enthusiastic; William Cove lived at
the foot of the big hill But his
pride spurred him. The Meteor's
reputation and his own were at stake.
"Tn take you down all right, doc
tor. Get on here next to me. Maurice,
you and Mahlon sit next All ready?
Push her off, Harve!"
The passengers took their places as
he Indicated Harvey pushed off,
and sprang aboard at the last moment
I'm the approved side position, resting
on one hip; and the Meteor leaped
downward to the rescue of William
Gove's baby!
Keeler's Hill was icy and smooth;
the double-runner reached the Cor
ners under terrific headway. At the
psychological moment steersman
Billy pulled sharply to the right. The
rear bob "slued."
Everybody lean!" cried the doc
ter.
The Meteor Strengthened herself
out and took the big hill-without
the rear-guard. The sudden snap on
the turn had been too much for Har-
vey's graceful balance.
"Harve-fell on" announced NAH
Ion, gaspingly. 1t was not easy to
breathe In the wind of their flight.
The others heard and grlnned to
themselves; they were too busy hang
Ing on for audible comment.
After the first straightaway plunge
OF the big hill, about a quarter of a
mile. there is an easy curve at little
rise. Whether Harvey's sudden re-
moval had shaken Mahlon's nerve re-
mains.to this day debated question;
but certain IL is that as the Meteor
swept up the incline and, slackening
speed, gathered herself for the next
plunge. Mahlon gathered himself. and
rolled as unobtrusively as possible OF
the sled.