Gilpin observer., 1917-08-09
Worth Price


Mr.. Peaslee no. led. Lots of times
1t happens like that" he agreed;
'therell be one young one that the
rest don't pay no 'tention to, und all
he can do Is to stan round and wish
for n chance to git in and have good
time with the rest of EN-. Kind OF
hard on little tike. seems to me-"
AS he finished speaking one of the
minor accidents of childhood hap
pened swiftly. A rope carried by two
Of the larger boys caught the lonely
little fellow across the feet; there was
twinkle of stubby little legs in the
air and the sound of soft little face
striking the gravel. His screech Of
pain and anger brought the two GlM
men to their feet, while the group od.
playing children converged unerrlngly
on the sufferer.
"One sure thing-he amt killed, to-
go by the uprOar he's MAXIM" OBJ
served Mr.. Hyne.
Even before they reached the scene;
of the mishap the noise had partly
lulled, and some of the larger boys had
raised the little boy to his feet and
We're assiduously brushing him of,
while others hung about him with SYM
pathetic chatter. The unwonted at
tention had its effect upon the victim.
and a certain perkiness became visible
In his demeanor. For once he was the
center of interest-and he was making
the most Of it.
down." said Mr.. Peaslee. and as they
settled once more into their chairs he
was moved to further speech.
Beats all," he commented slowly
show much alike children and grown.
up folks are. They've both got bout
the same hankerin's and feelin's after
all. For instance-all that touse out
there Jest now put me in mind Of
Solon Padden."
Mr.. Hyne debated deeply. II guess
remember him, now you speak OF
him." he said, "but l dknow when
ever thought Of him before"
"That was jest It," said Mr.. Peaslee
sedately. ''That was what wore on
Solon all his life; there want any.
thing special about him for folks tc
notice or remember.
'Mebbe he might have lived and
lied and never'd have known how he
felt" Mr.. Peaslee went. on deliberate
ly, "if John Barton's hosses hadn't
took notion to run away one day
when he left 'em down to the grist-
mill, with his little grandson settin' on
the seat holdin' the reins. l dknow
what started em. The fust any of US
knew about it, they come down the
road, with the tip cart swayin' and
bouncln' and the child hangin' to the
reins and stickin' onto the seat by
mlraclel
"Four-flve Of us jumped for 'em,-
Caleb said soberly, "but the best we
could do was to swerve 'em little
and mebbe slow 'em mite. They got
by and started down the hill lords the
brook-and right then Solon come In.
to it!
'He was right at the top Of the hill
road. but nobody give any heed to him.
not thinkin' he amounted to anything;
anyway. We all looked for him tC
dodge and let 'em get by him, butt
stead of that he jumped square at their
heads and made out to grab both
brides, although how in the world he
done 1t l never could make up my
mind. And of course. no hosses are
goin' to lug man on their brides o
greet ways. SolOn KEEP saggin' on 'em,
and pretty soon they stopped.
swell, Solon was considerable
bunged up. One leg was busted, and
he was hurt some other ways. We got
him laid out side of the road, and then
we all stood round tryin' to make our
selves see jest what a courageous
man we had amongst us, and John
Barton was tryin' to tell him and not
maxim very good Job OF It. Fin'ly
the doctor come to take him home,
and went along. too. After the doc.
tOr'd fixed him up. I undertook to tell
him how sorry was. but he stopped
me.
"'YOu needn't be sorry a mite says
he. with his face shining perfectly con-
tented. I amt sorry-rm glad This.
Is the fust time in all my life,' he says.
enrnestlike. that the men In this town
have ever gin me any notice or reck-
oned l was n man. same's they be.
don't baprptch hrankin' n LOG IN shnuy-
em-or two legs, II twas needful. It
was wuth It, he says. contented as If
the hosses had done him u favor
which mebbe they had, the way he.
looLad at fl d'kpnwv