The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1910-11-04
Among the !
Apple Trees !
II Story of Farm !
Life !
By CLIFFORD v. GREGORY ]
Copyright, 1910. by American !.
Press Association J
CONTINUED

Pm not going"
mot goingr' cried Mabel, staring at
her blankly. why notT'
81 promised papa to do the chores
and look after things"
"Well. SO did l. But we can get
some one to milk for us at night, can't
WEI"
Gladys shook her head. Il don't
care about going anyway" she said,
and Mabel knew it was no use to
coax her.
Harold and Beth came out after the
girls the morning of the picnic.
GLADYS isn't going" explained Ma
bel as she handed her lunch basket
to Harold and climbed up beside Beth.
where is she?' asked Harold. Let
me see if l can't induce her royal high
ness to change her mind"
But Gladys was down in the back
pasture sailing the sheep and refused
% be found. so the others were forced
to start off without her much to Har-
old's dissatisfaction.
Mr.. Sanders had just started his fall
and he had intended to finish it when
he came back But to Gladys the long
Stubbe field with its one narrow
streak of turned earth was a chal-
lenge. and ever since her father had
left she bad been longing to try her
hand at the pillow.
So today. after Mabel was safely out
Of the way and her mother too busily
engaged with her Saturdays baking
to notice what was happening outside,
Gladys hitched the three horse team
to the sulky plow and started out to
the field. One of the three, a colt
which Mr. Sanders was breaking for
one of the neighbors. was little skit-
fish at first, but after a few rounds
he settled down and pulled quietly
along with the older team.
Everything went well. and Gladys
was enjoying herself immensely. Then
all at once, as they were coming down
the east side of the field. the point of
the pillow unearthed bumOlebees'
nest With an angry 'zipp-p-p' one
of the enraged insects shot past Gladys
ear and planted its sharp sting be-
tween a couple of the colts ribs. He
dashed back viciously with both hind
feet and started to run.
At the same instant two or three of
the bees began to jab the older horses,
and the whole team started on a mad
run across the field followed by a dOz-
en- of the outraged insects AS soon
as they turned so as to bring the fur
row wheel up on the solid ground the
plow cut only thin slice-not enough
to retard the speed of the frightened
team. The colts first kick had jerked
the lines from Gladys hands, and now
she chung helplessly to the seat while
the pillow bounced up and down as it
was jerked along over the rough
ground.
In a moment more the horses had
reached the road that led to the house
and with a quick turn that almost up
set the pillow headed toward home
There was field of corn that hid the
road ahead for few rods. The team,
scared out of their senses by the bang
ing of the whiffletrees against their
heels and the clatter of the pillow, were
running at full speed. A moment later
they turned the corner of the cornfield
and made straight for the barn. AS
the road ahead came in view Gladys
gave an exclamation of horror. There.
standing in the middle of the road not
do oh
fve-year-old cousin. He stood direct
ly in the path of the frenzied runa-
ways, too frightened to move.
Gladys tried to shout to Don, but
the words stuck In her throat. Then
she became aware of confused
shouting and saw JEFF Pearson run
ming with all his might across the pas
ture. What was it that he was say.
ingt The lever? She looked at the
big lever curiously. What did that
have to do with it? Poor little Don!
He would be ground to pieces beneath
the cruel hoofs of the flying horses.
and it would be her fault She shud-
dered and put her hand up to her eyes
to shut out the awful sight.
Then JeH's cry came again, more
distinct this time. "The lever, Drop
the lever!''
In a fash she understood With a
quick jerk she grasped the big lever
and sent the point of the pillow down
into the hard road. With a sharp
crack the stout whifletrees snapped.
but the shock threw the runaways to
their knees and checked them for
moment.
An instant later JEFF had them by
the heads and was speaking reassur-
ingly to them. while Gladys clasped
the wondering child in her arms.
weren't you scaredY' asked JEFF
after Gladys had told her story.
az didn't have time to be-" she re-
piled. "All | could think Of was to
hang on. was frightened when
saw Don. though. What If you hadn't
been hereY'