Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1910-06-09

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 / can't induce her royal high
ness TO change her mind"
But Gladys was down In the back
pasture sailing the sheep and refused
TO be founG, so the others were forced
to start off without her, much to Har-
olds dissatisfaction.
| Mr.. Sanders had just started his fall
! blowing when he was called away,
and he had intended to finish il when
he came back. But TO Gladys the long
stubble field with its one narrow
streak of turned earth was a chal-
| lenge, and ever since her father had
! left she had been longing to try her
hand at the plow.
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 sullly plow and started out to
the field One OF the three, a colt
which Mr.. Sanders was breaking for
one of the neighbors, was a little skit-
fish at first. but after a few rounds
he settled down and pulled quietly
along with the older team.
I't-arVtIino. want ,van on1 CIo1Vc
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 bumblebees'
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 mad
run across the field, followed by doz-
ell of the outra ged insects As soon
as they turned so RS to bring the fur
row wheel up on the solid ground the
plOw cut only a thin Siice-not enough
20 retard the speed Of the frightened
team The colts first Kick had jerked
the lines from Gladys hands, and now
she chung helplossly to the seat while
the pillow bounced mp and down as it
was ierked along over the rough
ground
In Il moment more the horses had
reached the road that led TO the house
and with a quick turn that almost up
set the plow headed toward home.
There was Il field of corn that hid the
road ahead for few rods The team,
scared out of their senses by the bang
ing of the whitiletrees against their
heels and the clatter of the plow, 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
ten rods ahead, was Don, her little
ive-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
ing? 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 JETS cry came again, more
distinct this time. 1.-The lever! Drop
the lever!'
In fash she understood. With a
quick jerk she grasped the big lever
and sent the point of the plow down
into the hard road. With sharp
crack the stout whiffletrees snapped,
but the shock threw the runaways to
their knees and checked them for a
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 scaredT' asked JEFF
after Gladys had told her story.
81 didn't have time to be-" she re-
| piled. "All | could think Of was to
hang on. l was frightened when
saw Don. though. What If you hadn't
been hereT'
81 didn't do anything" said JEFF in
an embarrassed tone. I'm going to
pillow the rest of the forenoon, though.
Father gave me a day off, and l was
SsISMA
TNCN&1A