The Washington herald., 1915-11-21
ZNA 3


No horse or sleigh can travel the road.
hundred men could not reach 'em."
NO. shouted Bob Moreley, but the
Red Devils cani'' And he rushed out
or the kitchen like a wild man.
Tad had caught his meaning at once
ana began to explain to his father
! that the Red Devils would put on their
snow-shoes, and travel over the thin
crust across country and take relief TO
the snow-bound sufferers.
The "Whizzer' was quickly brought
out and another old toboggan was
dragged down from the stable loft
Tad's mother and the servants WORK.
ed as fast as their hands could move
packing the good things that had been
intended for the anniversary dime
and in less than an hour the ..whiz-
ger" and the old toboggan were heap
ed with baskets. In the meanwhile
the Red Devils. summoned by Bob
had been arriving. one by one.
But how about the doctor?" asked
Tad's mother.
Mr.. Wallace had sent for the doctor.
and he was in the house. He had
never snow-shoed, and It would be i'm
possible for him to travel over the
thin crust any other way. But Bob
came to the rescue.
why not pack the doctor on the
toboggan and drag him there?- he
said.
There's no more room on the to-
boggans." said Tad.
Then We must make another said
Bob.
Two smooth boards were nailed to-
gether. and a snow shovel was fas-
tened at the forward end, so as to
make the curve. A soap box was
nailed on the seat for the doctor, ropes
were attached. and two hours after
the messengers arrival the Red Devil
relief expedition was starting over
the drifted fields.
The boys did not try to follow tn.
roads. but made a cut across the coun-
Try. taking their directions from the
doctor, who had a small COMPASS on
mis- watch chain. But in spite Of the
fact that the doctor had none of the
hard physical work Of dragging 10
perform, he probably had the worst
time OF any Of the rescuers More
than once he was upset into snow
drifts where the crust was too thin
to support the toboggan, and then II
took the combined efforts of half a
dozen Of the boys to get him out
otherwise the expedition got along
pretty well. until II came to the ton
OF a hill that sloped down for fully
han mile. Tad suggested that It
would be much easier and quicker 70
, coast down the hill on the toboggans
than to go down any other way. Tho
coctor objected vigorously to this. but
before he knew what had happened
ne was whizzing down the hill with
couple Of Red Devils on either side
OF him. and with more Red Devils
charging down the hills behind him.
nowNng Ike savages.
Now an improvised toboggan is not
the best thing in the world to race on.
II Is not fitted for strain Consequent
~, when the doctors tobogean ran
afoul Of concealed stump halfway
down the hill. the boards and IN.
snow shovel parted company with a
crack and a shock that sent the doc
tor and his companion Devils rolling
head over heels down the icy incline
into an icy pool.
1t took them Just three-quarters OF
an hour to repair damages and to
pacify the doctor. who was so much
irritated that he wanted to walk the
rest OF the way: but at the end Of that
time they got started again. and in
half an hour they caught sight Of the
train almost completely buried in ths
snow.
At the anniversary dinner, which
occurred about a week later, Tad's
eldest brother made a speech, in
which he told of the adventures OF
the party IN the special car.
Il sat looking out Of the window
of the car" he said. wondering II
some sort Of assistance might come to
us. Suddenly. far on, saw what
looked to me like a band of Indians
moving about in the bushes in all
their feathers and war paint did
not believe 1t possible that there could
be any savages in New Hampshire,
but I could not discredit my eyes
when the figures came in full view and
set up a wild war-whoop.
It was not until the band was all
most upon US that We recognized the
boys, and I shall remember that sight
and the feelings I had as long as I
live. Heaven bless the Red Devils!
They came over the snow like a hur-
ricane, and their impetus was so great
that they could hardly stop their to-
boggans. We picked the doctor up
from under the baggage car, and took
him in and thawed him out And
don't blame him for refusing to 60
back with the Red DEVILS
(CopyriSnt by Harper and Brothernl