Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-05-25
CHAPTER ri.

Y eyes. The Sc, soft . snow ,. had ,.
from getting hurt. She looked around
for Mollic and saw her standing in n
drift up to her knees little ways
down the road. with nothing left Of the
cutter but the thills. III Il moment
Gladys had waded through the snow
to the mare and WAS looscning the
thll straps. AS soon as the thills were
unfnstened she leapcd to Mollic's back
and headed her again toward town
and the doctor.
Molle was much better as a driver
than as rider. and Gladys found rid
ing her without Il saddle hard, jolting
work. But she set her teeth and held
grizzly to the little mares name. urg-
ing her to Il still faster gait.
She was almost to the town now and
could see the light III the doctors big
house on the corner. In another mo-
mcnt she was at the door. Giving
Mollics reins twist around the post,
she ran UP the steps and rang the
Goorbcll.
| The doctors wife opened the door.
The doctor?" she said in reply to
Gladys brcathless question. Pm sor-
nv, but he started to Kensett just
about ten minutes ago"
Gladys started back as if she had
been struck. The doctors wife sprang
forward and caught her. "Why, my
girl she cried. you're all tired out
Come in and get warm"
Gladys shook her head. IL must
catch the DOCTOR" she gasped. Has
he saddle l can take"
The doctors wife, quickly realizing
that this was no ordinary call, pointed
toward the barn and hurried into the
house after the lantern. 1t was but
q moments work to throw off the
harness and replace it with the sad
die Gladys hesitated an instant and
then reached for the doctors riding
whip. She was so stiff that she could
hardly swing into the saddle. but she
smiled bravely back at the good doc
tors wife as she turned away into
the darkness.
Kensett was directly west, and her
could catch the doctor soon enough
he might still be able to get there in
time. But what chance did a weary
colt ridden by still wearier girl have
of overtalling Il fresh team of bron-
chos? Gladys leaned forward and
spoke carcssingly to Mollie. The little
mare sprang nimbly forward, but
Gladys felt rather than saw that she
was not running as easily rs at first.
Minute after minute passed and still
the mare held pluckily to her pace. Vt
last after what seemed hours of hard
riding Gladys heard the tinlsle of sleigh
bells ahead. She knew the time had
come for the final squirt. she raised
her whip to strike the struggling mare,
but threw it in the snow instead.
"Molie" she cried, leaning forward
"Go, Molic, po-just for few mo
mcnts more
MoIie gave Il snort that was almost
IL groan ana struck a Slightly faster
pace. Louder and louder sounded the
bells. and soon Gladys could see the
sleigh as black speck ahead.
Then she called with all her might.
and the sound of the bells stopped
abruptly. In moment she was be
side the doctors cutter and in few
gasping sentences told her story.
"Ride up to the Greys' aud have
them put that colt in the barn and
give hor good rubin" down." the
doctor ordered. she's done a great
nights work tonight. and tell Mrs.
Grey to give yen some hot coffee and
put you to bed" He shouted the last
words back over his shoulder as he
turned quickly around and commenced
his part Of the race with life nn0
death.
That climb mp the hill to the Greys
seemed harder TO both Mollie and
Gladys than I'll the rest together. Mr.
Grov lifted the exhausted girl from
the saddle ana led the stcaiGin" mare
away to the barn, while his wife put
| Gladys in tie big chair back OF the
stove and set the old granite coffeepot
! on TO boil.
, At homo Mrs. Sanders and Mabel
watched and waited anXously. Mr..
, Sanders moaned and tossed in Il fever
sh delirium. The towel which they
} had twisted tightly around his leg had
r failed to stop the bleeding entirely
and the faces of the silent watchers
e grew white with fear as they saw the
/. blood slowly ooZuS from the frightened
? landaSes.
t The patient grew weaker and moro
lelirous as the hours passed. MIS-
Sanders ran to the window every MN
ute or so to peer out into the darkness
"IIe ought to be comlng" she cried
Historically. "Oh. what if anything
has happened to GladysT
Mabel tried to comfort her, but witt
! little success. At last they heard thu
jingle of sleighbells, and almost be
, fore they had time to look the bis
| doctor himself was at the door.
II wonder if you can put my team
; In" he said to Mabel as he threw of
his coat and stepped over to where the
/. injured man lay.
Mabel ran to put away the bronchos
and then came back and stood holding
her mothers hands while the doctor
worked Somehow his masterful pres
:, ence was reassuring, and they brcathet
3 freer In the confidence that their re
t spect for his skill inspired
D There" he said at last, straighten
t ing up. He'll be all right now "a
s soon as the fever goes down. Wei