The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-10-22

steep hill to reach the bottom.
Chester did not like old ladies-at
least when they were on the Gardner
street hill.
Gardner street had gutter covers at |
the street corners and one could coast
the whole three blocks of the hill,
and run along on the level sidewalk
for perhaps another block. The Red
Racer could go further than any
other coaster when the axles were
greased-which was whenever Ches-
ter could find wagon and no driver
watching.
Mrs Halsey finally reached the bot.
tom OF the hill and turned into SUIT
ton street, SO with whoop Chester
drew up his feet and the Red Racer
was off, The coaster gained speed
with every revolution of the wheels
and at the end of the second block
was tearing along finely. Chester had
lately encountered coal wagon
freshly creased and the axles of his
own wagon were now well supplied
He yelled a warning as he neared
| the corner of Sutton street Ben
| Travis was crossing the street In a
strangely absent minded manner He
did not seem to hear the shouts nor
| 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 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. In
the face of such an absorbing prob
lem 1t was not strange that he should
not hear the coaster.
Elsie herself was equally engaged in
trying to decide whether she would
bow coldly if Ben did bow and so 1t
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 1t had not
Ben sprung forward to push Elsie out
of the way and had come himself d.
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.
: Unmindful of her dainty dress, Elsie
threw herself upon her knees beside
the unconscious man. A little cro"o
i, 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
:. were more potent than the stimulant
:, that the druggist prcffred, and pres
;, emily he rose weakly to his feet and
announced his ability to get home un
assisted.
81 am going with you" declared Ell
sic. You are not fit to go by your
d self"
y DO not trouble" urged Ben, though
II his eyes twinkled. you have done ia!
e more than have right to expec
y from stranger"
II "Don't!' cried Elsie with a little
x shudder. IL was thinking of that wheI
p you lay there SO still and white. Ha'
you died never could have forgiven
myself"
Then you mean" questioned
Ben.
II 81 mean that | am sorry for las
10 night" she confessed. But If 1t ma
= not been for the accident should no
- have realized It,"
~ Funny | didn't hear the cart con
ing. | saw you and was wonderln
whether you would recognize me
Il was wondering if you woul
l bow" admitted Elsie. Then the firf
| thing that knew the cart was con
| ing toward me and you sprang
Il save me and got hurt yourself. I'M
II Fletcher boy ought to be given goo
II spanking"
II ITO the contrary" demurred Ben,
ii think that we owe him great def
IL / wonder what became of him."
II There's the cart" suggested Elsl
III pointing to battered wheel and
HI splintered r'ank by the roadway
Behind the tree they discover
n Chester, bravely blinking back q
II tears as he regarded the remnants
NJ his once cherished possession.
N What did you jump that way for
N he demanded of Ben, as he looked
to encountes Travis gaze. 81 cou
have steered between you easy
not"
But we didn't want anything
come between u.s." explained Tra'
with the twinkle in his eye
HE was trying to save me from
ing run down." added Elsie proudly
IT could have made 1t easy" Z
clared Chester, his pride as stee
man aroused. 1T was because
jumped when he shouldn't that !
him"
IF you put 1t in that light" s.
gested Travis with laugh, "suppc
that you take the wreck over to