The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-09-08
Quick Work
By Johnston Grosvenor.

that we have been given the PRIV
lege of publishing it in the Junlor.)
I'm glad that they put cement
curbs on this new road" said Gan
sey Ward, gazing down the gradual
slope of the long white cutters. II
is the best place in town to roller
skate
mo one can come along to see
us or to stop our fun, until the ROAD
is open to traffic." Jimmy Farlan
cried, as he clanked his skates
ready for coast.
1T gives me gooseflesh and
scares me stiff when slide on the
narrow strip over the creek, CON
fessed Sissie Burt. But like TO 40
t. he added valiantly.
Peeler Smith scoffed. I'VE would
Mt be hurt if we did fall Off. The
creek is nothing but soft mud holes.
There isn't much water in it, and
away he raced.
Jimmy followed.
Gansey said to Sissie, "You may
come last when we cross the creek;
you will feel safer If you are close
behind me-"
Then he started. Sissie followed
him.
The skate wheels sang a shriller
and shriller tune as they turned
faster and faster with the dip OF
the hill.
Rah! 'Rah! 'Rah!' Three
shouts of triumph rose as Peeler,
Jimmy. and Gansey passed the
creek.
Sissies yell was a wild shrek.
The others turned abruptly, to see
him shoot off the road and fall head
first into the biggest puddle of the
creek.
His vail of Jaw. Aw, Aw."' end
ed in breat "Blub! Blub" as he
went under. For an instant two roll
err skates stuck straight into air.
They then sank from sight.
'sWhoop-ee." cried the boys,
scrambling down the bank to watch
Sissie crawl out. But Sissie did not
crawl out There was no sign of
him anywhere.
He's gone to the bottom-drown-
ed" whispered Peeler. Quite beside
himself with the shock, he turned
and ran up to the road, skating for
help with all his speed.
Jimmy threw away his cap and
sweater and jerked Gansey's off.
This water isn't deep. 1t can't be.
Wade in, Gan. Sis must be stuck in
he mud"
Gansey's teeth chartered so that
he couldn't answer His whole body
shook with strange feeling. But
lie waded in beside Jimmy. The
water came only to their armpits.
n three steps their skates hit some
hing.
Take a breath" said Jimmy. Fill
ng their lungs, they bobbed under,
!lutched Sissie, and dragged him
lshore.
The little body dropped in a heap
Is they tried to make it stand. The
eyes and nose and mouth-even the
ears were full of mud. A horrid
wight!
There was no answer to their
frantic shouts of, isis. Sis. Sis!"
md "Are you all right"
He is drowned. He is drowned"
noaned Jimmy. He had never seen
ieath so close at hand before. This
lideous thing was more than he
Gould bear. He turned livid and
sank on the ground sobbing.
There wasn't person in sight in
any direction. No help,
But Gansey, whose thoughts had
suddenly leaped to his First Aid les
sons. already had Sissie's body flat
on the grass, face downward and
the arms pulled above the head.
With his own knees on the ground,
he bestrode Sissie's back at the
hips. pressing the palms of his
hands as hard as ever he could on
Sissie's sides between the short
ribs. He lifted his hands and count
ed slowly, Zone. two, three, four"
Then he put his hands down
again and pressed with all his
weight As he lifted them. he kept
the count by kicking Jimmy on the
Z