Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 44, Number 197, 31 May 1919 — Page 16

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Heroic Pad Saves A Life "Ultah you upsaddle the little tiV;. nnd rM out to FTiefnnton with some medicine this afternoon?" asked the doctor. "There 1b a child over there who will be dead be fore midnight If no aid 1b forth coming and I have had a call to Cluckdrop." I'll go, father. Is the stuff ready?" said Paul, coming to take bis father's horse, which was worn sixty miles since dawn. "It shall be ready in ten minutes. Get Home food for yourself and be prepared to start by that time," the doctor answered with an anx ious look at the sky, as he turned ' In at, his surgery door. There was a storm coming tip, but when life and death were In the balance, one could not wait for weather, so Paul must go, and make the best of it. Paul unsaddled first. The little roan was apt to be a difficult beast to manage, and If It took ten minutes to get her ready, he would have to eat as he went along. It was six minutes before he lipped the bridle over the hook on the post of the stoop, and called himself ready to start. Then he hurried Into the kitchen, where his mother was looking after the household Kaffir, and stuffing a big piece of current loaf into his jacket pocket, he spent his remaining minutes in eating mealies hot from the saucepan, which the grin2&r Kaffir bo forked out for him. "Ready?" shouted the doctor. So Paul stuffed the last mealie scalding hot Into , his mouth, hurried into the surgery and had the leather bag containing the medicine strapped securely on his back. Then, having received some last Urectlons as to his journey, he went out to mount. But the roan objected to the pro-1 cess, and kicked vigorously, until Paul called the Kaffir to come and hold up the near foreleg after which things quieted down a bit, and he was able to get his leg across the saddle. His mother came to the door to see him start, and, waving his hat to her, he was off, down the wide street, the roan going at a tremendous pace. Riefonton was thirty mile away over the veldt, and Paul had been there anly once before. While daylight lasted this did not matter, as objects eight and nine miles distant were plainly visible in the clear air, so it would not be easy to miss the way. For the first ten miles the Jour ney was pure pleasure, for the roan swept along at racing pace, and the filercest heat of the day was over. Dut the storm was traveling on behind. Happening to turn in his aaddlo, Paul was startlled at the blackness of the sky. "We are in for it, Nell, and no mistake about It!" he exclaimed slaDDing the side of the little roan which responded with a squeal, and tore onward at top speed. Blacker and blacter grew the EXCHANGE COLUMN Open to All Boy and Girls. These Acts Cost You Nothing; tnd In Your -Wants" to Th Palladium Junior. LOST Wreath artificials flowers, between Eleventh and Fifteenth streets on C. Phone 2366 or call at 206 U. Eleventh. FOUND A girl's bicycle in an at ley near North G street. Call Junior Palladium office. FOR SALE A small bird house. Price 13 cents. Call Claude Bond 1237 Main street. FOR SALE Delgian hares at 1212 South J street. FOR SALE History Of the War. Life Of Theodore .Roosevelt. Call 23C South Third. FOR SALE Eight months old fullstock male calf. . Liberty, Ind., Phono 10-1. Raymond Johnson. WANTED Boys to Join the Lone Scouts of America. - Application free. Inquire, 1215 South C st. LOST A blue angora cat, white feet and white nose, answers to the namo of "Fluffy". If found Please return to Rhea Louise Pyle,

or phone v"2. Kewaro.

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sky, a cold wind roared across the veldt. Then the sun went down behind a blur of clouds and a clash of thunder sent Nell, forward with bounding leaps, just as If someone had given her a stinging blow in the flank. Paul bent lower, clinging to the saddle, and prepared for what ever might happen. He was only twelve and a half, but he had ridden since ho was six, so he was not going to be afraid now. Nell was running wildly, and was for the time completely out of hand. She often dtd bolt in a thunder storm, but providing she kept straight on, there would not

be much harm done, and although he could not see the way they were going, he knew that bolting horses rarely stumble A flash of lightning showed the road clear before him, so he crouched lower still, clinging to the saddle like a limpet to a rock, foi Nell bunching her feet together, was progressing by a series of bobbing bounds, something between the hopping of a kangaroo and a bounce ball. Another flash of lightning of a brllliatn violet streaked with vivid green, and Paul saw that they were racing along by a spruit. The next moment dense dark ness came down upon them, and, by the sensations only, he knew that Nell was in the water. Then came a violent Jerk, and, despite his clutch of the saddle he went flying oyer his horse's head plump into the stream. It was deep, too. Plainly Nell had floundered into a hole. Gasping and choking Paul came to the sur face, and was Immediately con scious of a drag on his left wrist. Then he remem'uered that he had twisted the reins around his left arm, so that it must be Nell pull ing, and, though he had no desire to get anywhere near her heels while she struggled he was very willing that she should pull him out of the water. Letting Nell tug him along, he soon found firm ground beneath his feet. But it was so pitch dark that he could not see where he was going, and In a minute floundered into another deep hole. He still kept his clutch on the rein, however, while the horse tugged forward all the time, and when he began to stumble at the rising of the ground, he guessed j that he was on his way to dry land once more, or at least land that should be dry, only now the rain was coming down in torrents, and it was pretty nearly as bad as being under a pump. The bag with the medicine was strapped firmly across his back, and Paul knew that his father had packed it securely, so he did not bother about it. What did wory him was that, owing to his fall and the black . darkness, he did not know which way to go and he was afraid that if he mounted and gave Nell her head, she would set off back to Bloemville as hard as she could pelt. But the medicine must be de livered somehow. Ilia father had said that the child would die if he could not get relief before mid night, and Paul shivered at the thought of failing in his errand, seeing that a human life hung on Its being promptly done. He was by Nell's head now, soothing and patting the badly scared little beast, and trying to get her quiet enough to. allow of his mounting. Thunder always did upset the nerves of the little roan, and the plunge into the Bpniit hole had made her more restive still. But Paul had a way with horses that was hard to beat, and it was not very long before he had Nell pacing steadily along, with her nose poked insinuatingly Into hlo hand in the hope of a bit more of that rather sodden current loaf which he had just fetched out of his pock et. The rain was lessening, and the moon was coming up. Joy of Joys! He would be able to see his way now! After a little more coaxing and patting Nell stood still long enough for Paul to scramble Into the saddle again. Once there, he looked eagerly about for some trace of a direction to take, and presently he espied a dim light burning away out in the wide, dark distance. Perhaps that was the winkel or store at Rlcofonton. In any case, It was something to guide him, and ho made for It as straight as he could, thankful thnt the thunder the torrential rain had ceased.

THE RICHMOND PALLADIUM, SATURDAY,

British Piplomat at Rome May Bring Small Daughters to Visit U. S. Soon

- im urn ( "A 'MS v T 7 I r asw , n t l if l-fo ik I

Peggy and Romola Ersklne. Pessy and Romola Ersklne, the beautiful little daughters of Mr. and

Mrs. Ersklne of the British embassy in Rome may visit the United States with their parents after the signing of the peace treaty. .These

little girls have won the hearts of thir companions during their stay Britalns charge d'af fairs at Rome, Rome and Venice social circles. Nell's pace was slower now, and it was an hour before the light got near enough for Paul to be sure it was the place he had to make for. Even then he was only near enough to recogniae the winkel by its corrugated roofing, when suddenly the light went out. But there was the moon to guide him now, and he soon rode up to the door and knocked loudly for admittance. He was cold and tired, his wet clothes clung round him in a horrid ' clammy fashion, but his one thought was that he had arrived in time with the medicine, and nothing else mattered very much. A slouching step sounded on the boarded floor of the store, and the door was unbarred by an enormously stout woman, who held an evil smelling lamp in her hand. "What do you want?" she asked in Dutch and Paul replied in the same language: I "I have ' brought' the medicine from the Doctor Thome, and it is to be administered at once." "It Is of no use Jan Is too nearly dead for medicine," she said, stolidly, her great fat face wrinkled with grief she could not surpress. Paul gasped as if some one had struck him In the chest and knocked the wind out of him. To have come through so much, only to arrive too late, was bitterest, of disappointments. Then he remembered how ignorant country people were about sickness, and tried again. "Tant Melin, let mo come In and see Jan, please. Father said that if Jan got the medicine before midnight there was hope, and it isn't yet by a long way." by a long way." "No, it is ten minutes past nine Tant Melin, who was too fat to deal with more than one fact at a time. Then she said, in her slow, puffing way. "You can come in and see Jan if you like." It never once occurred to her slow mind to express any gratitude to Paul for coming so far through sucii a storm to bring help to her sick child. But Paul was used to Boers and their ways, so this did not trouble him. He was chiefly concerned to see that the medicine was given to the patient, and guessed that the only chance for the boy to get it j was to ive it to him himself. Sol ho followed Tant Melin through

MAY 31, 1919

the Ialian children who have been in Rome, and Mr. Ersklne, who is and his wife are very popular in the dark winkel to the crowded living room beyond, which was also the family bedroom, for father, mother and five children. Jan, who looked about 10 years old, lay on a sort of settee near the stove with white face and bine lips, breathing in loud gasps which frightened Paul. But his father had said that there was hope if only the medicine were in time, and as It was in time of course, there must be hope, so he would not let himself despair. Shivering a little from cold and excitement, he dropped on his knees by the settee, and, slipping the bag from bis back, took out the bottlo of medicine and then called for a spoon, "It is of no use," sighed Tant Melin. "No use at all," echoed the store keeper who was as big and fat as his wife, and who seemed too upset to do anything but meekly fol low her about and get in everyone's way. "He is so nearly dead," sobbed Tant Melin. Then the four children who were not ill sat up in their bed, staring curiously at the English boy in wet clothes, and wondering what he wanted to do to Jan. "I must have a spoon," insisted Paul, then catching sight of a dirty cup which had a spoon In it, he reached for the spoon, washed it on his wet sleeve, wiped it dry on the blanket covering the sick boy, and pouring out a Bpoonful of tho medieine gently inserted it between tho blue lips. Jan's breathing seemed easier after the first dose had been swallowed. Then, as half an hour had to elapse before the next could be given, Paul turned his attention to stabling and feeding Nell. When this was done he begged the loan of dry garments from Tant Melin, and when he had changed into them it was time to give Jsui the medicine again and he hurried to his side. No one suggested that it was of no use now, for already Jan's breathing was better, and soon after the third dose had been given he fell into a quiet sleep. "It is a miracle!" cried Tant Melin, bursting into such a noiny fit of sobbing that the four children bounced up in their bed, and all fell crying together under the impression that Jan was dead and

their mother was weeping for him. Paul hushed them all as quickly as he could, being fearful lest his patient should be disturbed. But

there was not a happier boy in alj Griquland or Indeed In the whole Cape Colony, than he was then, for he knew he had saver Jan'8 life. The fat storekeeper and his wife knew it, , too, and nearly overwhelmed him with their gratitude. He did not get much rest that night,, because he was so afraid of Bleeping beyond medicine time. But for once disturbed slumbers did not matter, and he devoted himself to his patient with as much carefulness as if he had been an experienced doctor. When he set off at sunrise next morning it was with the assurance that Jan was fairly started on the road to recovery. This even conBoled him for the humiliation he suffered In being kissed by Tant Melin, while a white man and three Kafflirs looked on grinning at the spectacle. Contributed by Howard SatchwelL : 5 Grade, St. Andrew's School. . A Little Kindness A herd-boy once lying in a field tending his sheep, heard a deep groan. The boy started to run in dismay, but a voice stopped him saying: "Dont run away, but come and help me, and I will re ward you handsomely." The boy finding the voice to be kind and honest, came and found a giant had hurt his foot in uproot ing a large tree. The little shep herd took off his shirt and tore it into strips to bind up the foot After he had finished, the giant got up, and began to limp telling the boy to follow him. He led him to an underground hall in which a large banquet was being held. On the table were many golden goblets and viands spread in great profusion. The giant told the boy to fall to. The youth ate and drank lustily, and when he had finished tho giant gave him a loaf to stow away under his tunic, and to eat when he felt hungry. The next morning the boy being hungry, at once thought of the loaf the giant had given him. Taking it from hJs tunic he tried to cut it, but all in vain, then he bit into it and out rolled a piece of gold, the second and third time the same thing happened, and he saw by biting In it, he made no dint in the magic loaf. Seeing he was the - possessor of a large amount of money, he went to a big city and spent it in a useful way. The people who knew him wondered how he had grown so rich in such a short time and they came to him to get the prescription. The only answer he would give was "By a little kindness we can obtain many things, do unto others as yon would have them do unto you, and you shall have your reward here and hereafter." Contributed by Florence Muey. St. Andrew's School. The Small Lion Once upon a time there was a lion from Africa which was put into a cage with some other lions at the Zoo. This lion was smaller than the rest, and was always walking back and forth trying to gel out. The other lions soon grew tired of this and tried to make it quit. One night the Zoo caught on Are and the keeper came with a wagon drawn by horses and let the other animals out into a cage which was on wheels. All tho animals execept the small lion were rolled away. Then tho firemen came and the fire was put out and they Baved the Hon. A small hole had been burned in the small lion's cage which the keeper failed to see. One night when all the animals had fallen asleep the small Hon crept softly out and ran away to the woods. When the keeper heard that the lion escaped, ho sent some men to hunt for it, but not a trace could bo found. Winter rnmo on, nnd the lion not being used to U, got vcrycold. Again men were sent out to search for it. This timo they found it and took it back to its cage in the Zoo, H was very glad to get back and did not try to escape ngnin. Albert Foster Garfield School.