Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1916-07-01
GETTING
A SHOCK
BY M QUAD
Copyright. 1916. by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.
BY M QUAD

ISL In the suburbs of a smart little citv
was as bright a talker az Won xonId
ma among hundred youths. Then
hlgn wind blew a shade tree down
on MN while he was hurrying along
lne streets No bones were broken.
ana ne was not badly bruised. but
from the hour of that accident he he
gan to stammer. The doctors said he
mad received nervous shock and that
Ii ne ever recovered from it it would
De from another nervous shock.
at the age of eighteen he went In
work Tor and resided in the family of
an uncle who lived on a farm There
were only four in the family. and the
stammer1ng would not be noticed nor
criticised
MISS Bessie Williams, a maid of 6f
teen years, climbed an apple tree one
day In her fathers back yard. Res-
sic mad attained the height of a third
branch when her hold gave way and
sne fell down with a kerplunk. After
she had been revived and found yerv
much alive it was noticed that she
stammered
AFTER TWO or three years, in which
the girls ailment got no better. she
was sent to live for awhile with her
aunt In the country and was told to
nope for a shock. 1t transpired.
strangely enough, that the two STAN
merers found an aunt and an uncle
hv1ng within quarter of a mile of
each other- They soon struck up an
acquaintance.
Did James Brice and Bessie Williams
ran In love? For sure they did.
good sized r-ivor Aoxzo<7
mile of the country homes of the
two unfortunates Young Mr. Rrice
bought a boat, and they often went
rowing or fishing. After a few lessons
In management Miss Williams learned
now to use the oars and often went out
by herself A mile below the little
landing there were a dam and a saw
hill Th1s dam was not a point of
danger except when the spring rains
mad brought about freshet
IL was a day in April and the rains
mad been almost steady for week
when the sun came out soft and warm
and Miss Williams aunt said to her.
You have been moping around the
mouse SO long that it will do you good
to get out Why don't you go a-fisb-
ing? You have lines and poles and can
dig your own bait 1t is an ideal day
Tor fishing. If James should come
over viii tell him where Won have
gone, and he viii join you"
Less than an hour later the girl was
seeking to lure the big fish of the
stream to swallow her bait. She fish
ed from the bank for awhile, being a
httle frightened by the high waters
winch rushed on to the dam, but after
naif an hours patient work without
getting so much as nibble she threw
Gown her pole and decided to take a |
row.
The river was bringing down LOGS
ana brushwood, and it was a half |
sunken log which brought about the |
accident The boat struck it with sucb |
shock that it nearly upset, and il |
was during this excitement that botb
oars went overheard and were lost 1t |
was In midstream, and what was tho
girl to do? There was nothing but m |
scream for help, and for a time her
screams seemed useless. Then James
brice came running. There was no /
otner boat, and for a moment he had |
no nope OF rescue. Then, sure that the
girl must Hoat down and over the dam
ne Threw on coat and vest pulled off
nls boots and plunged in to swim to her
BOAT He did not notice that the oars
we're gone, but thought her strength
had given out
He reached the boat to hear her saw:
You idiot, you, Why didn't Won run
along the bank until you found an
Empty boat? Now we shall both 90
'ver the damn
James did not notice that she was
peakiHg as plainly as anybody could.
Tor did she notice the Improvement in
lis pronunciation as he replied:
i thought you still had the oars
Wen, wei have to go over together.
ND there may be one chance in ten
or u.s. Let US keep as cool as we can.
me men at the sawmin viii put out a
'oat below the dam
There were five minutes more before
he boat reached the dam Clingine 10
ne side of the boat, James looked into
er eyes, and Bessie returned his look
lot another word was spoken. With
rush the boat went over the dam.
nd those who were looking on from
ne shore never expected it to reappear
kcept in fragments But Providence
-1iied it otherwise 1t was partly
mashed when it came to the surface :
gain. and beside it floated two human ,
cures, to be rescued five minutes .
ter They had come safely through
he peril and had received the shock
he doctors had talked about and thew .
Id hoped for 1t was two days before