Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-07

confinement for her. The larger the
crowd, the greater the percentage Of
accidents to be reckoned with at the
hospital. Added to this, the list OF
fireworks accidents would be suffi-
cient to keep indoors few extra
nurses.
The crowds began early to troop
to the island by boat, train, trolley
and motor, and the young proprietor
of the new scenic railway watched
his ticket agent busily handing out
admissions to the platform He
walked about the premises with a
gratified smile and saw one after an
other of his miniature cars disappear
down the steep incline and into the
mysterious cave beyond. Then he
saw them emerge, breathless and
laughing. The spirit Of the day and
of the place was in them.
The white streets were fairly alive
by early afternoon and all conces-
sions we're being patronized to their
capacity. Children dashed torpedo
fireworks to the pavements; lads
shot punches Of flrecrackers; girls
waved flags ;Dld footed horns and all
drank lemonade, ate peanuts and mad
themselves weighed. The gala Fourth
was being celebrated in a way to
stir the blood of the forefathers who
helped to make 1t a day renowned
But-Allen Donaldson, inventor.
owner of one OF the best patronized
amusements in the village, felt ut
terly alone-and lonely. There was
no one with whom he felt at home.
He could see not one familiar face
in the vast throng. He almost
longed for the good old Fourth back
in the small Ohio town where his
father had taught him how to handle
fireworks.
Suddenly, he heard the changing OF
bell. He saw the crowds on the
street separate The ambulance was
approaching; it's rubber-tired wheels
whirled over the hot pavements.
In front of the scenic railway en-
trance a small boy was struggling
with an obstinate fire chacker from
which he had lost the fuse. He had
broken it open, boy-like, to see II
there was powder inside. Then, with
his bit of punk, he was intent upon
making "fizzer" when the ambu-
lance. swerving as quickly as pos
sible to one side to avoid him, passed
over his hand.
Allan jumped quickly to his side
and gathered the screaming lad to
his shoulder, telling the surgeon on
the back of the ambulance to drive
on. He himself, carried the boy to
the hospital, for he knew that the
rubber-tired wheels could have done
little damage. The child was more
frightened than hurt.
At the hospital he placed the little
fellow In the hands Of the proper
authorities and was rewarded for his
trouble by sight of little Miss At
wood hurrying noiselessly through
the corridor. She gave him a look
nf recognition when she saw his
small charge.
IN the course Of a few hours the
lad was restored to his parents. with
a badly smashed hand properly ban
daped and cared for. They felt thai
|it was to Allan that they owed theil
small boys life and they could moi
do enough for him in the days to
come when they Journeyed from their
seaside cottage nearby to the hos.
nital to have the injured boys hand
dressed.
.sThere is one thing you may do Tor
me-" Allen told them the last time
they came to see him on their way
to the hospital with their SON.
The mother looked at him IN glad
surprise. what it it,"
Allan colored, self-consciously
"Miss Atwood-the nurse you spoke
of-at the hospital"
"Ah!" exclaimed the father, smile
Allan nodded. Exactly" he con
fessed. eve been trying for nearly
three months to find a mutual &C
ouaintance. IL want to know her.
"And you shall, indeed declared
the impulsive little woman. Come
sonny. we must not be late for the
doctor"
She took her sons hand and hur
ried off in the direction OF the hos
pital.
After that it was as if the island
were different place to Allan Don
aldson. Since the night when he hac
been asked to dine with the father
and mother of the lad he had rescued
and found himself face to face with
Winifred Atwood he had left moth
ing undone in the way of attention tc
her.
ut took me three months to fine
way to know you," he said to hel
one night when the season was near
" over and they we're both about te
make future plans, "and think thai
was long enough to make up for the
short time I've let pass before telling
you
.What?' she asked, turning away
her head.
That / love you,' he said.