The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-10-18
Z Go ahead. dron it'Peat. Peaty said.

There might most anything happen to
you Peat he said, there might humble bee
come along he said. Drop it Peat or there
might come along humble bee and sting
you he said.
Peat didn't drop it, on account of being
SO brave suppose, and Peaty hitched along
a ittel on the bridge.
There's other things could happen too he
said. Drop it tell you or there might come
along blue jaye and peck at you he said.
$ Peat looked as if he felt just httel
SCARED then but he held on to the shatelane
bag just the same, and Peaty hitched along
a littel more on the bridge.
= Tain't sensible to run right into danger
Peat he said. There might come along a
zebra and step on you he said
4 Peat crowched down real low when he said
that, but he was just as brave as ever.
Peaty was almost up to him too, but he
kept on talking just the same.
Or there might come along cuppel of
cammels and jostle you he said, or ginny
pig and butt you he said.
B Well Peat was as SCARED as anything L
could see that just to look at him. But he
Nheld on to the shatelane bag as if it was hang
on or dye, and Peaty stopped right there
beside him and put his hand on his collar.
! Good for you Peaty! hollered, You've
got it, l hollered, Snatch it quick Peaty!
Well that was what | said and it was
awful. And | don't know whatever could
make me do it. Because knowing about
Peat's disposition and all there didn't really
seem any excuse. And yet | said it. Just
that way. Good for you Peatyl You've
got it! Snatch it quick, Peaty!
And Peat, of course he heard me, and just
jerked his head right round and dropt it in
the water. ~'~*
Peaty turned round and gave one look at
me. felt awful when / saw the way he
looked. He looked asif he wouldn't have
thought | would have done it. He looked
SCARED too, but he never said a word
There WASH t really time because he jumped
right in the water. | was SCARED most to
death myself then. It's anawful deepbrook,
so deep they call it creek sometimes, and
Peaty he didn't come up. ~
Oh Peaty, Ihollered, Peaty, andTran so
hard across the bridge most fell in myself,
and Just when | got the other side Peaty
came up. He caughtthold'of the bank and
climbed out only be looked,as if he had been
really drowned. And besides that he looked
discouraged. -
didn't get it that time, he said, But can
make another try for it. And he jumped
right in there again. It is over his head he
is so short and small, .andI couldn't believe
he would keep jumping Unlike that. don't
know what | was going to.do. Iguess was
going to jump in too. Anyway was run
ming down the bank and hollering was
coming, and just as I got down there he
came up again, and this time he had the
shateane bag in his hand. Peaty always
looks kind of thin and small, but when he
came out OF the water this time he seemed
to look SO littel and shivvery | couldn't
hardly believe it for a minute. ButlMother
said once she knew that misrable woman
over there didn't half feed him and I guess
that is the trouble She meant hisau
You cold Peaty? said when he sat down
on the bank.
Kind Of he answered, only histeeth'were
chattering so / knew it must betmore than
kind of, and / told him he bettertrun round
and see if he wouldn't dry off
| guess we better be hurrying, hadn'twe,
he said, we got to find that lady.
| thought so too, and / was glad the'sun
came out from a cloud real hot,then, land
Peaty ran round and began to dry off.
Peat thought 'raps he would start for home
when he found he couldn't get the shatelane
bag again, and we layed it right m the sun
till it got so dry you wouldn't hardly know
it had been wet, and then we, started for
home oursefs.
Peaty didn't talk much but it was nice
and warm now so his teeth didn't chatter
at ALL |. couldn't help wondering if Mrs.
Cotton Furhush would be calling yet, and
I'm ;lcst sure Peaty was thinking the same
from What he said. Because whenSwe were
getting over the fence beside his house he
dropped il, and it made it look Ikea good
many axidents. but he hurried, so to, get it
again he slipped and turned aisummerset.
It was what he said then showed what he
vas thinking. He didn't say it right off
either because be came down soihard he saw
stars | guess and he didn't say anything for
a minute but Just lay there kindiof blinking.
But when | asked him if he Thought he
broke anything, he got hold the bag again
and answered back, ! don't know if did or
not We got to hurry, amt we, i'll give her
her perse.
You going to give it toher, Peaty' | asked
him. couldn't help thinking howihe would
most always run when be saw man OF
lady
Course lam, he said, What did you spose9