The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1911-09-15

Chester did not like old ladies-at
least when they were on the Gardner
street hill
Gardner street had gutter covers al
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 tho Axles were
greased-whieh was whenever Ches-
ter could find wagon and no driver
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 on. The coaster gained speed
with every revolution of the wheels
and at the end Of the second block
was tearing along finely. Chester had
freshly creased and the axles of his
own wagon were now we'll 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 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. 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 a crash, 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 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 minstrations
we're more potent than the stimulant
that the druggist proffred. and pres.
emily he rose weakly to his feet and
announced his ability to get home I'M
assisted.
II am going with you" declared Eel
sic You are not fit to go by your.
self"
DO not trouble" urged Ben. though
his eyes twinkled. You have done far
more than | have a right to expect
from a stranger"
DON'T" cried Elsie with little
shuader. II was thinking of that when
you lay there so still and white. Had
you died never could have forgiven
myself"
Then you meant" questioned
Ben.
81 mean that J am sorry for last
aight," she confessed. but II II had
not been for the accident should not
have realized it,
Funny | didn't hear the cart com
ing. | saw you and | was wondering
whether you would recognize me.
II was wondering If you would
bow" admitted Elsie. Then the first
thing that knew the cart was com
ing toward me and you sprang to
save me and got hurt yourself. That
Fletcher boy ought to be given good
spanking"
ITO the contrary" demurred Ben. Il
think that we owe him a great deal
| wonder what became OF him?
There's the cart" suggested Elsie.
pointing to a battered wheel aud a
| sp,intered plank by the roadway.
Behind the tree they discovered
Chester. brayely blinking back the
tears as he regarded the remnants OF
his once cherished possession
What, did you jump that way for7"
he demanded of Ben. as he looked up
to encounter Travis gaze. II could
have steered between you easy as
not"
But we didn't want anything TO
come between u.s." 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 It easy de
clared Chester. his pride as steers