The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1911-11-16
Placing the
Responsibility


Chester Albury Fletcher straddlec
his coaster and patiently waited tol
the old lady who was descending tht
steep hill to reach the bottom.
Chester did not like old ladies a
least when they were on the Gardner
street hill
Gardner street had gutter covers q
the street corners and one could coas
the whole three blocks of the hiii
and run along on the level Sidewalk
for perhaps another block. The Rec
Racer could 60 further than any
other coaster when the axles we're
creased which was whenever Ches
ter could find wagon and no dr1yel
watching.
Mrs. Halsey finally reached the bot
tom Of the hill and turned into Sut
ton street, so with a whoop Chester
drew up his feet and the Red Racer
was OF. The coaster gained speed
with every revolution of the wheels
and at the end of the second bloch
was tearing along finely. Chester hac
lately encountered coal wagon
freshly creased and the axles Of MS
own wagon were now well supplied
He yelled a warning as he nearee
the corner of Sutton street. Ber
Travis was crossing the street IN
strangely absent minded manner. He
did not seem to hear the shouts nol
the rattle Of the wheels, and Chester
being but eight and yet to experience
his own first touch OF the master pas
sion, could not know that Elsie Bay
ard, coming along Sutton street in the
opposite direction, was responsible
for Ben's abstraction.
1t is rather embarrassing to come
face to face with a girl who only the
night before has passionately declared
that she never wants to see you
again. Travis was wondering
whether to bow or to act as though
he had never seen Elsie before. II
the face OF such an absorbing prob
lem it was not strange that he should
not hear the coaster.
Elsie herself was equally engaged II
trying to decide whether she would
bow coldly If Ben did bow and 50 i
happened that, unconscious of the rat
tie Of the wheels. she stepped almost
directly in the path Of the speeding
coaster.
With a quick twist of the wheels
Chester essayed to pass between the
two. He could have made It had not
Ben sprung forward to push Elsie out
OF the way and had come himself di
rectly in the path Of the machine
There was crash, a cry and Ches
ter rolled over into the gutter while
Ben lay still and white at Elsie's feet
UnmindfuI Of her dainty dress, Elsie
threw herself upon her knees beside
the unconscious man. A little crowd
soon gathered and proffered aid One
brought glass of water and with this
Elsie restored Ben to consciousness
and assisted him into the drug store
on the corner. He had been badly
shaken up, but Elsie's ministrations
we're more potent than the stimulant
that the druggist proffred, and pres
emily he rose weakly to his feet ane
announced his ability to get home un
assisted.
Il am going with you. declared El
sic. You are not at to go by your
SELF"
do not trouble" urged Ben, though
his eyes twinkled. you have done fal
more than have right to expec
from a stranger"
"Don't!" cried Elsie with little
shudder. 4 was thinking Of that wheI
you lay there so still and white. Hat
you died / never could have forgiyei
myself.
"Then you mean" questioned
Ben.
4 mean that i ana sorry for GAS
night, she confessed. But II II has
not been for the accident should Ne
have realized It."
Funny didn't hear the cart com
ing. | saw you and was wondering
whether you would recognize me-
Il was wondering If you woulC
bow" admitted Elsie Then the frs
thing that / knew the cart was com
ing toward me and you sprang tt
save me and got hurt yourself. Thai
FL tcher boy ought to be given gooc
spanking
"To the contrary" demdrred Ben, =
think that we owe him great deal
i wonder what became Of him 2"
There's the cart, suggested Elsie
nointing to battered wheel and 8
splintered plank by the roadway.
Behind the. tree they discovered
Chester, bravely blinking back the
tears as he regarded the remnants Of
his once cherished possession.
What did you jump that way for?'
he demanded OF Ben, as he looked up
to encounter Travis gaze. Il could
have steered between you easy as
not
But we didn't want anything to
come between us, explained Travis
with the twinkle in his eye.
He was trying to save me from be.
ing run down" added Elsie proudly.
II could have made 1t easy de
clared Chester, his pride as a steers.