The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-02
Chapter %
Peter Walks

Peter Walks
DETER was sitting up in bed, his
eyes wide and shining.
"You--what?"
Il walked" Peter said. II
took six steps without the bracel
mat swimming pools curing me,
Cousin DavidI"
"Gosh" David said. He sat
down upon the side of the bed. He
pulled the boy over against him.
Gosh, that's SWELL"
Shall show your" Peter
asked, eagerly, kicking back the
covers: Shall ! show you, Cousin
David?"
mo. Peter, not tonight" David
said. ITS after midnight. Go to
sleep like a good kid. You can
show me in the morning"
"Okay," the boy said. 7But I'll
do il"
David grinned. "All right, Pc
ter" he consented. LET me see
you do your stuff" 1
Peter got out of bed. He held
to David's hand until he got his
balance. Then he started off. One
Observation-Disclosures
seven, Then once more the
small boy toppled over. David ran
to him.
"Oh. boyp' he said. "You did do
i'll You did Seven steps, instead
of six"
Peter looked up at him. This
time he wasn't sobbing. He was
smiling - happy. his face was
flushed.
Il fell" he said, but not like
the--the--other time"
No" said David, "not Bit like
the other time"
Shall | walk back to the bed
for you, Cousin David?"
mo. Peter. you mustn't oyerdo
it. You must take it easy" David
lifted the boy in his arms and
crossed the room with him. IA lit
tie each day" he said. Eight
steps the next time-then nine
and so on and on"
Peter snuggled down beneath
the sheet. Then he reached UP and
Rugged David tightly to him
"Pll be riding that horse yet.
won't n" he said. "Just like my
Great,great-great Something. or
Other"
"You betr' said David 60 to
sleep now-Peter."
Hn ftfrraA of the Enhk
And as he went out of the ROOM.
walking very softly. he once more
thought of the magic" which
Polly had mentioned. Or maybe
Peter was improving because he
had made up his mind he wouldn't
go on being a crippled little boy.
Plucky little kid, that small Peter
Wiley.
David went on into his own
room
Il reckon Polly would make a
darned good doctors wife," he
told the four walls there about
him. Shed be able TO help in
lot of ways-after all her expe.
rience caring for ailing relatives"
He drew deep sigh, and got
into bed,
Thinking of doctors reminded
him that he had promised 10 take
Warren MCNEIL to see old Doctor
Ben the next day.
He stretched out his long legs
until his toes touched the foot.
board, and tried TO go to sleep.
But this was difficult. He kept re-
Numbering the things Polly had
said 10 him on their way home
from the picnic.
He flung himself over upun his
stomach, and thrust his hand
under the pillow, his favorite way
OF sleeping
But even then he couldn't drift
off into Inconsistencies
He found himself thinking
about Margo's kiss underneath
& the wistefia arbor; the way she
had clung 10 him.
Gould Polly be right? Was Mar
90 in love with him2 The very
Thought carried conceit. he felt.
But Il was hard to tell about girls.
Df course he had got Kick out
AZ kissing Mango, out of being
nth her. but all along he had
&en telling himself that she sim
Nv liked men, liked being with
Gm--and that since there wasn't
mach material 20 work on there
&Ardendale. she had picked him.
But now he wondered ~ and
wandered very seriously.
A socialist for Peter. The boy
wen and strong, and walking as
th@gh there had never been any
tkiM the matter with his leg.
Freaiv's Folly fiourishing. max
Ing money, helping a lot of boys
tAatwere afflicted like Peter.
OF ana on 49, David's thoughts
rush&n pell-meil here and there
DriVMa him. Worrying him
Until 81 last he fell asleep from
Sheer wearinesS. -.
warrcnss Problem
TT was late afternoon two days
y Later when Warren McNefii
Came oat to the lumber plant. He
leNna David just preparing to
Aesve fM home,
How sbout driving cut TO the
inn Warren asked.
rs al right with me" David
replsa5 i've had a tough day Of
IL and aswGEn would 60 good.
VIZ MNe ore myself. Warren
said Sail we pick up Peter az
ths hoslsk and take him with u.s."
&sisa IA David. Hes taken
ws.. -. - ~rrv,r