Grainger County news. (Rutledge, Tenn.) 1917-current, 1919-07-31


ferent somehow since hes been away.
He's a different man now. after go
ing through all those terrible experi-
ences. You ought to see his eyes
shine when he tells how he went over
the top and OF course. you don't
care to hear about those things, You
didn't have to go through them"
Gilbert smiled dryly. No. he hadn't
had to go through them but he sim
cerely wished he had been given the
opportunity.
"Then there isn't any chance for
me?" he asked, placing his hand on
the knob Of the door, preparing to
step out into the dark world.
Tears started in her eyes.
"Tm-I'm afraid not, Gil. I'm so
sorry, but l can't help 1t because Eye
changed. l believe. though, you hid
better stop coming 10 see me. You
see, Herbert and 1--we are thinking
rather seriously"
81 understand" he said, with a
queer little catch in his voice, and he
went out into the black night, where
all the stars were hidden by somber
clouds.
1t was two days later that the vii
lage was aroused from its customary
lethargy by a sensational event-the
third that had occurred since the town
was founded or discovered, or what
ever 1t was that gave it birth. The
first was the burning of the town
hall In 1901 and the second was the
robbery Of Sam Hankins' henhouse
only a year ago. This third sensa-
tional event was the near drowning
of Bobby Hobart.
The news was passed around town
as II on electrified waves 1t was
shouted across back yards by house
wives and along the streets by men
and children. AS q result ~housework,
business and playing soldier were
abandoned, and the village focked TO
the channel down at the flour mill.
The channel branched from the river
and took care of the water power for
the plant.
Into that channel Bobby Hobart had
fallen while playing on the edge with
Willie Nobscott. The latter had gone
screaming from the scene. Two or
three men who heard his frenzied
shrieks managed to CLEAN some idea Of
what had happened and they hurried
to the place where the accident had
| occurred. They were just In time to
see a bedraggled figure climb out OF
| the channel with Bobby in its arms.
The child was pretty fay gone, but the
work Of resuscitation finally bore fruit
end the lad began to breathe and splut-
ter, and opened his eyes; and then
every one-the crowd had begun to col
leet-sighed deeply and looked around
for the rescuer.
The rescuer was in a bad way, for
the water was cold. The young mans
teeth chartered and he was in a ver-
liable CONFUSION of shivering.
Marguerite Hobart came hurrying tc
the scene, and finding Bobby was safs
and wrapped in warm blankets, and
already on the way to his home, she
took it upon herself to look after the
rescuer.
"Put him in our car and we'n take
him to our home" she told n of the
men. "It's too far to his own home
out in the country. I'm afraid of pneu-
monia."
A short time later the young man
who had saved her brother lay in sleep
in the guest room of the Hobart resi-
dence, while Marguerite sat beside the
bed.
poor Gill;" she said, stroking his
brow, although the doctor had not sug-
gested q message. Gilbert did not re-
ply to her remarks, but she talked on.
1--WE learned who the real hero is.
Maybe Herbert Drew fought Germans
in the Argonne, but I'm not so sure.
What / do know is that he saw Bobby
fall in the channel, and that, instead of
leaping in to save him, as you did, he
ran to find q rope to throw to brother.
There were some heroes who stayed In
camp, Gill;"
At this second mention of his name
Gilbert opened his eyes, and a glad
look o~verspread his face, and when he
looked out the window the world was
sunshiny and smiling again.