The Meeker herald., 1909-07-10
Garnering the Gold by Doc Floyds Private System


day and then announced to the other
members Of the High Rollers club that
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 on 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 dustcovered road that led
towards town tiny brown.haired boy
OF ten gazed earnestly. long.ngly. AS
he watched little caravan that dwin-
died away into small darks specks. he
stood like model q painter might
have craved FOR a picture of one be-
reft. And when the. moving specks had
disappeared with turn OF the pike.
the little lad dropped into clump of
grass beside the road, face downward
and buried his head in his arms and
robbed
There he lay. 30 wrapped in his own
childish fullnsss Of sorrow that mon
ster touring car. speeding noiselessly
upon him, failed to arouse. The big
machine came to a stop as quietly as 1t
had been running. Its driver. a big
man from whose deep blue eyes. get in
full round face. good nature and kind.
liness radia ed and spread itself about.
paused. stared for q moment at the
s0bbing child, then stepped from his
auto and, bending over the little form
~ tenderly as q mother might have
done, placed one big hand upon shak.
ing shoulder.
Nov. now. now. didn't tell you
was going to fix 1t for you? You
weren't going to run away, were you?
1t will be all right as soon as can find
out what 1t Ia that ails you. Why. l
can even nx 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. II beg your pardon. You have
cot something to cry about I'm
sorry. Ny mother died. too. when !
was just about your age"
The stranger gaxed toward . little
farmhouse 1t which the boy had
pointed. It had almost deserted
look. 'ls your father over theref' he
~sksd.
'.No. he's gone. too" was the answer.
.And who takes care Of the placer
"Just Aunt Mandy and me"
We'll, let's 60 see Aunt Mandy and
tell her you are going to town with me
and have supper. and maybe stay all
night and see . show. II 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 family.
"Howdy do!" said the stranger. by
way Of self Introduction. my name 10
Floyd. and want to ask little favor
Of you."
'LAwsy me! Yo' don't say! Yo' all
name il Floyd. Come right in and sit
down. II yo' all one oh de Vuhginia
Yloyds?"
why, dat am ouh name. too. Tse
b'loaged to de F1oyds all ma life. An
20 ID . Floyd. too"
Dissipation had laid waste the
meager store Of physical strength that
Jimmy's father possessed, 30 that ten
days before he had been unable to bat
tie with an attack of pneumonia, which
eaded his life within IS hours. The
last straw had come when the sheriR's
axctsoneer 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
moetsage 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
usight BE- an instrument to temper the
vi1d to the, shorn lamb. 1t was merely
thss the child's grief had appealed to
him, but he never had an idea that
Il was anything more than some little
Ut Of childish disappointment that
could be chased away BY dash in the
automobile and . little treat Of some
kind In the town
Jimmy had been astir for two houra
next morning and was suffering from
paags Of hunger when his newly found
frieud and protector awoke.
II vas an easy matter to ind Jonas
Joaes. That eminent citizen had nc
o0ce. but any Of the banks was ever
ready 70 furnish him stationery and q
eaace to sit down any time he wished
. draw up one of hiS far-famed iron
c,ea nsrteages Or write = letter. He
was anally located. however. and Floyd
Sav . subjsct he could have drawn
Aad ~ been asked to make picture
of any towns pst shylock. OF tall
asgulas build. - was % stinsy he
eyea grew . sttnsy little patch oi
-Ai.kerr Floyd already had . plan