The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-01
JIMMIE: A SKETCH FROM LIFE

faced. and very tired. they looked at
each other half despairingly.
ITS no use. Jim. I can't go. I
feel rocky, and you aren't fit to be
Ieft''
Then Jim burst into tears. All the
WEAKNESS and nervousness came out
In the torrent OF sobs that shook his
frail body. Ned was frightened.
Jimmie, don't cry, now don't. I'll
Jimmie! Don't be such a kid. I'll
take you down myself, and you can
sit In the stand and yell when l go
by.'.
"Ye-es. will" choked Jimmie. con-
soled. "i'll yell fer all I'm worth"
Two hours later the ladies in the
grandstand noticed n childish figure
with pale, eager face bending over
the railing; and as the half-clad con-
testants whirled into place below. Jim
leaned far out and waved his hand
frantically.- 1t was time for the start.
All was silence: then ringing note,
and they were off. The yellow Colors
on Neds. arm flashed in the sun as
he sped past. the rented wheel kept
pace with the Others. Around once
more, and Jim's face was white. Ned
was falling behind. Two, three had
passed him. and the others were gain
Lls btSduiiy. "A CICCI WCHl uP AOi tAC
blue. for the red. Then the little
trainer gathered himself together. and
In shrill treble called: "Yeller, yell
Ter. Rah, rah! Go it. Ned!"
Ned glanced up His face was set.
and by a glance he lost ground. But
his courage was renewed. and he
struggled on. Jim turned in despera-
ton to the crowd behind.
please. won't you yell for Ned?
ho hal chrfokaH fNr INV Nad
the one with the yellow, yellow. yell
low Rah. rah. rah." He pounued
with his crutch. he clapped his hands,
he screamed, and the crowd caught
his enthusiasm. One good natured
young man started it. and little by
little the whole stand appreciated the
situation, and in moment was on
It's feet giving deafening shouts for
the yellow, yellow" interspersed
with Brace up. Ned! Go 1t. Ned!
Rah, rah, rah!"
Ii came to Ned in dream as he
whirled past. He heard his name :
he heard the cheer. Perhaps he was
winning He did not dare look.
Once more around. He bent over the
BAR and his muscles turned to steel.
He passed the red with sudden squirt,
and the blue was Just ahead. He liz
gaining; his handlebar reaches the
others saddle, passes il, and with a
desperate. awkward. unscientific
plunge the rented wheel has cleared
the line, and Ned has tumbled Oft in
dead faint.
The hurrahs were sounding in the
air, and the little trainer was sobbing
with his head on the shoulder OF the
good young man. who wasn't
ashamed of the tears in his own eyes
1t was this new friend who took both
boys home. the exhausted victor and
little Jim, still trembling and sobbing
for joy.
But this is not quite all. Because
1t Is a true story. ] must tell you the
rest. The prize money bought the
crutches: and now, II you will go some
day to Ned's house, the good house,
keeper WIN let you In. Jim himself
will show you Ned's fine new wheel.
which the little brother .polishes and
oils daily; and you will be told that
it came from the great factory whore
Ned and the good-natured 20, ne man
are both at work. Jimmie II sure
that the factory belongs to Ned, and
the young man merely smiles.--Mrs.
Grace Duffield Goodwin. In C~stral
ChristiaH Advocate,