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Show , .... . - - ru, , PRICE FIVE CENTS I DOLLY BROWN did it." , "Don't believe it " " "Ves, lie did Wc saw Iiini " The i:idivi-mm i:idivi-mm vidual at whose head these and a multitude 1 of similar exclamations were hurled was a i lad who at the moment was seated on the gate-post in front of a pretty cottage in the village ot Browntown, industriously engaged in whittling '. He was surrounded by half a dozen or more smaller and younger hoys whose costumes varied, 1 from the country hoy's accepted summer style of a cotton shirt, a pair of butternut trousers held by one suspender, and bare feet, to that of a well-dressed and booted city lad In one respect at least these boys were alike, the hair of all was soaking wet. Proof positive that they had just returned from swimming. Xed Saunders, for so ur whittlcr was named, was a city boy and not a product of Browntown, but he had spent so many of the summer-, of his short life there, he was just past fourteen, that he regarded himself half a native, at any rate, and m fact was so regarded by the villagers. The whole river on the banks, of which Brown town stood was a magnet strong enough to draw any boy; and fishing and swimming formed the principal occupation oi all the village lads. In these sports, especially in swimming, Ned Saunders was an acknowledged leader among the boys. Of course he did not claim to ie with George Brush, who was eighteen years old. But within the limits of a boy's strength even George could not view Ned as anything but an equal. When wc say, however, that Xed was a leader we do not mean that he was the leader of his m.itcs. There was another, the folly Brown whose name opens our story. What 'Toll)'" stood for, no one knew. It might he Pollux or Polyphemus or Appolonius. The nickname nick-name certainly was not given for any trace of girl-ishncss girl-ishncss in his character, lor if there ever was a strong, manly, boy he was one. Born in the village, the son of a boatman, Polly's life had been spent in the open air, and, straight as . a lance-shaft and as lithe as a hare, he was a danger- . ous competitor at any sport, and divided with Xed the swimming honors. Such were the rivals, both, self-respecting boys, who also each respected the prowess of the other. . Ned's brain then was continually racked to "stunt'' Polly in swimming, and the hitter's ingenuities were no less taxed to down Xed. , Up to the day our story opens the accounts were even between them, each one having s3tcly accomplished ac-complished every task set by his mate. "Well," said NeJ, finally, when the babel of voices had ceased, "what did he do?" "He went off the cedar pile!" shouted the chorus. "Jump or dive?' queried Xed, "Jump." lie inwardly heaved a great sigh of relief, Jump- i f&Zx&fi- f '. 't' " - ' V..V. " Y- r-.,";' '-p';. '' i V--' '' ' '' . ' : " ':. ".'? ;"'.'-'.' "0jfr ftV'H-A-fe :. v.&;i ;;vr -' ' ''',' ?:'!f,i :, . . .-. s-: p m '; :' - h -.-r. ' . V. .,...:,...;.; v? VA-jiVw'' ?':.i''.: - ' k ' ' .'. 1 i' ,. ) ": ' ' ' i , , . 'v, 't'y y '."' .V- ' 'ySu':-V:r Z': -;v- V- - - .: ; - 'S - y:-:-:.:. t(S .r: w.;.. A,-; . r-. - ' .' M-... . K-- . : ': . - .GV-vv Vv'v; - v"V:r-: f;-.':C-" v C::.-- :i r- '. 'p .iV' v; A'-- ".s'.-'f v t; -V . : - ' -: . V; -. ;'.f ::- v-VS;. ;v- J,-' i- a vs -'v..1. ' - -: . ' : , ' T--in: i";- -:V'y-:.j:t;V; ;y';--V ':;:y-' , ; -,-:' v ; A : :A...''v-.'..:.,v 'V: c-r y:- , - . v,- ':.. ' ;yO;y :-2:Jil:svf'l c:: A-r ;;i:vr.; : .' :;y vVviL'.V. s : C-t l W lint's tli.it" The llulter of an eyelid, another, a tinge of red on that deathly cheek, a taint sigh, and, as Ned lifted his hands, a long-drawn breath, hurrying hur-rying footsteps near and the 'doctor's cheery voice, "i.ruvcly done, my boy; you've saved him," and Xed, past the limit of bis endurance, fell like a log in a dead faint. Returning consciousness found Xed in his own white bed at home with a vague remembrance of being be-ing carried and of riding in a carriage, but with a very real throbbing headache and a soreness of body that he was at a loss, for a while to account for. Gradually, however, the whole exciting experience of the morning came back to him. His first question was- "How is Polly, molhcr?" "Alive, dear, thanks ' to your skill and courage. And now, not another word about it. The doctor :ai s you must be quiet." It was all very well to be dubbed a "hero," and a "noble son," and all that, but that little performance of his in the early hours of that morning was certainly cer-tainly neither noble nor heroic. It was, he admitted to himself, "low down" and "sneaky," and he went . to sleep with a firm determination to tell Polly all about it as soon as he saw him. No evil effects developing m the morning. Xed was released from confinement and r-trolled in to breakfast with all the airs which he felt his present dignity rcquirtd. Xed had called with nunu-roni messages to Polly, who was improving daily. At last, one evening, Mrs., Brown told him that as t'olly wished to see him, they thought he might do so the next morning if Xed would come up a ho t eleven o'clock. He was promptly on hand, and was ushered up to the sickroom by the nurse. There was Ins friend, propped up on his pillows, with an eager smile of welcome on his pale face. "Hello, Xed. Im mighty glad they let you up. I've been aw fully lonely." said Polly. "Sit down." Xed took the chair which the nurse placed for him at the bed-ide "How is your back now, Polly? Does it pain you much? he asked. "Not half so much as it did when old I-'arnier . llaskins got through with us the day he caught us liding nis old mare. Do you remember?" "Do II' replied Xed. put at his ease at once by thi.s assurance of Polly's interest in earthly affairs, "I should say I did!' "Polly," said Xed, after an interval of silence, "h.v.c on ever done anything so mean and sneaky that you were ashamed to tell of it?" "Xc, I never have," answered Polly. "I'm mightily might-ily ashamed of some things I've done, but I'd just as soon tell about them. Have you, Xed?" "Yes," said Xed, "I have, once " "When was that? or don't you want to tell?" "I'll tell you some time when well " with a side glance at thc mtrse-w ho sat reading -by the win-dow win-dow "when you get well," stammered Xed. "Oh, I'll run away if you bo s have secrets to talk about," laughed the nurse, jumping up; "only ilc .n't get loo interested, because Master Saunders will have to go in hall, an hour," nun she -retired. "( want to tell you this thing, Polly," sail Ned, when they were alone, "because well. bccaue:l'vc been waiting to tell you; because well, because 1 want you to know." ; This was certainly a rambluig preamble, but Xed lid not know just how to start the confession be was about to make. , . "Happen since, I've been sick?"-, asked Polly. ; - "No o, not since; in fact, Polly, it was just before be-fore It was something 1 did to you.. Oh,. Polly! I'm so .sorry I did it. It's all my fault that you .hurt Your hack. 1 didn't mean it; 1 really didn't; and I X'cd could scarcely wait for Monday to come so excited was he at the th ought of the "surprise party,' as he termed it, he was preparing for his friend. On Sunday, Tolly was pronounced fit to sit up, and the next daj, in honor of Xcd's birthday, he was to be allowed to come down-stairs. It must be confessed ti.at Xed, on his birthday morning, when he looked over the gifts laid out for him in the breakfast room, did feel as if he was making mak-ing a pretty big sacrifice. His mother's present and his sister's, and those of an aunt or two, who still remembered to send hirji a necktie or a pair of gloves, were there, but his father's gift, always the great prize of these occasions, occa-sions, was, of course, absent, and the boy felt for a minute rather like a martyr to duty. This feeling, however, was only momcntarv, and after thanking them all he hurried through brcak- fast and ran ott to the Browns. lie found Polly down-stairs at last, and after receiving re-ceiving his and Mrs. Brown's congratulations, they sat down to a game of checkers. Xerl was usually the master at this game, but this time was disastrously disas-trously beaten through his inability to attend to his play. Several times he started up at the sound of approaching wheels, only to find- that they were not attached to the vehicle he was so anxious to see; but at last, when his patience was almost exhausted, up drove the expressman and stopped at the door. 'Wonder what he's -ot?'' queried Tolly. "Come for the nurse's trunk, though, I suppose." "Probably that's it," answered Xed, with on-derfully on-derfully assumed calmness, considering his state of mind. "But. Polly, he seems to be taking something off". It's a long box and there's another, a square one." '.'What in the world can it be," said Tolly. "Suppose "Sup-pose you call mother, Xed. Mr. Slocum will want his bonk signed." Xed, choking with excitement, summoned Mrs. Ilrowp from her housework and resumed his scaC as siie opened the door to Slocum. "Morn', Mis' Brown," said the latter, as he stood on. the door-step wiping his brow with his red, handamu hankcrchici, for the morning w.n a warm one; "I got two boxes hardware from Xew York for e.'- Xed volunteered to bring the boxes into the sitting-room, and did so, while Mrs. Brown went to get "the ax and hammer. "What do 30U think it i, Polly?" asked Xed. "We must all guess, you know." "I'll tell you what I'm afraid it is, Xed," replied Pollv,' solemnly. "Yhat?" ' Crutches. Doctor Watt said I might have to use - them feir a while, you know.'' "Crutches, nothing.'' responded Xed savagely, relapsing re-lapsing into slang under the pressure. "There is something heavy in both boxes. I guess it must be an electric fan. You know in those hot" nights how' you needed one' Perhaps they sent for it." "If you will only hurry, we'll soon find out," urged Polly. "I am almost dying with curiosity." "Take it easy, pardner, I'm almost ready with the long one. There, off she comes. Whatever it is. it is all wrapped up in paper I'll move it over and you can unpack it yourself now, while I open the other one." He attacked the other box with seeming fury, under cover of which he slyly watched Polly as he carefully laid hack the paper coverings and a length lifted out the flannel cae containing, Xed well knew what: " TIJE REStfli" ing into the water from a height is one thing and diving is quite another. Xed, like most boys, had never figured out all the reasons why it was easier to jump than to dive, he only knew that it was, and it was a relief to him to'know that if Polly had really set ar.y new "stunt" for him it was a jump and not a dive from the cedar pile. He turned to Bob Spencer and said; "Now, Bob, toll me honest. Did he jump ofl the cedars?"' ' Yes, he did, Xed. but arc you Roing to try it?" "I've got to," gravely answered the older boy, "as long as Polly has." The next morning, just as the first rays of the sun began to lighten the sky, the back foor of the Saunders' house was stealthily opened and Xed emerged. Hastily proceeding along the deserted ..'trects he soon reached Smith's Dock. With him he took some twenty-five thin wooden wedges made of "Id shingles which he had found in the woodshed the day before. Hastily climbing on the pile of logs from which Poll) jumped, he inserted the wedges under the logs in such a way that a firm path was made to the very edge of the pile if you knew just where it was. Xow, there was more than ordinary reason for Ned's taking all these precautions; he intended not only to take up Polly's "dare," hut to give ge.od measure and. dive instead of jump. But of this he said nothing to his friends. Two hours later Xed answered the bell which summoned him to breakfast. break-fast. Breakiast over he strolled out of doors He was too absorbed to play a game of tennis with his sister and her friend, who was their guest- So after a stroll about the grounds he wandered out to the street and had barely mounted to his familiar scat on the gate-post when he spied little Spencer and Redncy Foster coming down the street together, to them. Without a moment's hesitation Xed walked over "Redncy," he said, abruptly, "you arc a friend of Tolly B row n, arcn t you." "Yes, sir-re," responded Redncy. "Well, you're the fellow I want."' continued Xed. ""'till you come down and uc witness if I do it? "When"'" asked Redncy, sarcastically. ' Right now, replied Xed. "Let her go," assented Redncy, with ready slang, 'fad they then started off for Smith's Dock. A walk of a few minutes brought the three boys to their destination and the two witnesses stationed thnnjclves on the string piece at the outer end. while " . -Vd. after carefully measuring with his eye the dis-tisii-e from the pile of-logs to the edge of the crib '!!., v limbed to the top. lie walked carefully over hi pathway, testing it to re that it was undisturbed, and then hailed his Waiting companion!. tried to stop you, Polly, but you wemld do it. I want to tell you all about it and I will, so listen"; and Xed doggedly went over the whole story, and at its conclusion sat with averted face waiting the burst of anger which, from his knowledge of his friend's character, he felt he had every reason to expect. Not a word came to his ears, however, and when Xed at last turned to look, Polly sat with hand outstretched out-stretched to his unhappy friend. Xed scied on it. and gave it such a squeeze that its ow ner winced, and in sj itc of the big lump in his throat Xed managed to gulp out. "Thank you, Polly." "That's all right. Xed," and then they were interrupted inter-rupted by the nurse, who announced that time was up ,'and abruptly bustled Xed off home, lighter hearted than he had been for many a day. That evening Xed sought out his father as he was enjoying his quiet evening cigar alone on the veranda after dinner. "J'.-vther," said he: "do yu remember that you asked me some time ago what 1 wanted for my birthday present?" "Yes. my boy, I do," . responded Mr. Saunders; "and you modestly asked for a new breech-loading shot-gun." ""Well, sir, I would very much like to know if you had decided to give it to me," proceeded Xed. "Xow, Xed," said his father, "this is altogether te.o eager. Your birthday does not arrive until next Monday." "Xo, father," persisted the boy; "that is not what I mean at all. I saw Polly to-day and I told him about the whole matter, just as I did to you last night, and he was so kind and generous, and so forgiving, for-giving, that I thought a: I had been so hateful to him I should like to do something for him. Xow. he has no gun at all, and whenever wc go shooting he has to borrow one from somebody, and 1 thought that if you meant to give me a new gun, I should like it better if you would give it to mc to give to Polly." "But, Xed, what will you do?" "I'll do very well. I can use my old single barrel still, and it is not so much of a nuisance after all when one is used to it Please let mc have my way about it, father: that is," he added, "if you did mean me to have the new gun." , "Very well, Neil: it shall be as you wish, and I'll order the gun to-night from Xew York. How would you like it marked?" "I hadn't thought of that, but I will, and let you know in a little while." answered his son joyfully, as ' he started to go upstairs. "Thank you so very, very much." Retiring to his bedroom he closed the dorr, emerging an hour later with a slip of papers which he , . handed to his father, saying. "That is what I sheuld like. sir. if I may. Only it might be engraved belter than that." Mr. Saunders smiled as he read this legend laboriously labor-iously traced on the slip of paper: POLLY BROWN. from XED SAUNDERS, Aug. 4, 1906 "I think I can understand this, Xed. but you havs nude a mistake about the date. Yeiuc birthday will be a reminder to Polly of our making up to-day. "All right. Xed. but don't you tell Polly, and we will make it a surprise. I want to do something for him myself. will have U all shipped by express to arrive Monday morning." "Why, Xed. exclaimed Pollv, a little anxiously, "come here J This can't be for mc. I think it's a gun, it feels like it." . "What?" responded his "innocent" companion. "Let me heft it. Why, :t is, Polly, sure as you arc born!" ' It can't be for mc," said Polly. "I presume there arc plenty of P. Browns in this world." ' Let's have a look at it, .any way," cried Xed. "We can' have that satisfaction Slide off the case, Polly." Off it came and disclosed a beautiful double-barreled, double-barreled, breech-loading shot-gun, with pistol-grip and safety-guard, all silver-mounted and inscribed on the side of the lock in letter and device inlaid with gold: Polly Brown, from Xed Saunders. Aug. 4, 190o. i "Ned." cried Polly, "what docs this mean?" ' It means, Polly, that 1 had a new gun given me, and I just couldn't bear to part with my old one yet-, so I had the new one marked for you."' "Oh, Xed, how could you! But I can't take it. X'ed, 1 can't indeed. You wanted a new one so much. You really must take it back." "Impossible, old fellow. It's marked now, and wouldn't shoot for any one out you." "But, Xed, the date, August 4th, what does that mean? Why, that was last I sec now," he went on, after a pause, "what you iliean and I'll "keep the gun, Xed. and always remember. But it shall shoot for you, Xed, and we will use it together every day this autumn, if," he added, mournfully, "wc can ever afford to buy shells for it." "Father has settled that part of it. The square box is full of shells. That is his present to you. He is a brick, isn't he, Polly5" "He has been very kind to me, X'cd, and some daywhen I grow up, I hope in some way to repay him. I'll have to hurry up and get well, for I cannot stand it long to have that gun and not fire it. But, Xed. what in the world is this?" for Polly while talking had been fumbling in the gun box and now drew forth a second flannel case. "It's another. Open it Xed, quick, quick! Qh, hoo-ray! hoo-ray!'' he shouted as Xed tore off the enveloping flannel and disclosed n :ecnnd gun. the counterpart of the first in all save the inscription, which read: Edwin Saunders, from his Father, August 10th, 1906. Xed stood still for a few minutes gating at the . gun, which he held at arm's length, and speech- j less with delight, and rather sobered by this new , token of his father's generosity. j "A. brick! Ned. you said he was a .'brick. I think he is a whole aiainoud mine. Hurry up and open -the other box and let us feast our eyes on it all." . ; Duly opened, the second box was found to contain con-tain 'not only ammunition in abundance, but two hue cartridge-belts and two corduroy shoot-ing- jackets, dined with blanketing, and proof against j cold and storm, and -with pockcU everywhere of all iizes desired bv a sportsman. Two happier hovs Browntown never held than Ned and Pollv that morning as they sat and fondled fon-dled their new weapons and chattered away. making mak-ing plans for the future, so that, by the time Mrs. ; Brown came in to say that "Ned must run homo to dinner as it was one o'clock," they had already, ; in' spirit, become mighty Ximyods. and had ever' planned a huntiiigtrip to the l'ar West. - j i i I. i; I "All ready down there"3" " Yes."; "All right," came up from below, and Xed retired to the further end ot his path and turned te start. Then, swinging his arms two or three times, . he leaped into the air, in a graceful curve cleared the edge of the pier, and, with both arms extended well over his head, took the water like an arrow. The instant he lelt the coolness of the water, out went his legs and arms to stop Ins downward rush A lew strokes :.nd he emerges on the surface, and, amid I bunders of applause trom Bobby Spencer and a rather rerfunctory hand-clap from Redncy. swam quickly to and clambered upon the dock. Polly, who, strangely enough, had come around the dock in a boat just in time to see him jump, called heartily, "That was a great dive, Xed. I guess we're square now.'' "Don't you think wc are something more than 'square'?' replied Xed, ignoring Polly's .Mtempt at being friendly. l olly's resentment rose like a flash, and he walked ener to Xed and said: "I'll show you right now that you can't and never could stunt' inc. But if I ain hurt remember it's your fault and not mine. I nearly rolled off those loose logs at the top, the last time I jumped"; and Polly beg;:n to pull off his few garments. Xed watched this pr ceeding with varied emotions. emo-tions. Polly's warning troubled him, and he thought of the advantage his solid path had given him in a go-id firm footing. He knew he had not been fair about this, and now Polly would go up there ignorant ignor-ant of it, an-l over those rolling loj;s Xed shuddered shud-dered He must tell him. But how could he stand the ridicule of the boys. Polly might, but they never would forgive him. On the other hand sup-peise sup-peise Polly should slip and fall. He glanced down at the jagged rocks with which the old crib was Idled. He must tell him. Polly was by this lime at the foot of the incline. way which led to the lop of the pile. Xed hastened after him and called, "Polly, don't try it. It's, too risky.'' "Much obliged for vour kind advice," replied the lad, without pausing in his climb nor deigning to glance back. "Polly," continued Xed, "hold on, will you. I don't want you to try it. I'll take back the dare. Ccjmc on down." "T will stop him,' he thought, as he began to climb the pile, "if I have to light him for it." But ;.l:;s! As hii lie .1 rose above the pile bis ii-st glance showed Polly running across the insecure logs right at the edge. " Ned's lips opened to shout a warning, but ere he could utter the words Polly- was gone, Having no . trace of his presence behind, save, at the very edge, one cedar log, rocking ominously on its uneven base. Hie group of boys watching from below had noticed the loose logs, and. relieved to see him pas-, saiely beyond them, watched with absorbed interest his p.ogress through the air. They saw his head and arms turn down and at tli c same Imic his legs sin.ightcn eml and begin l swing upward more and iii-.tc slowly till his whole figure was in perfect line and liying downward to the rapidly ncaring water. A ourst of applause greeted this clever performance perform-ance but was quickly hushed as they noticed that the diver's legs were slowly passing the perpendicular. They understood his efforts to control tncni, throwing back his head, following his back, drawing draw-ing his arms back, but no. I mg availed, and slowly, but without a check, bis feet went farther and farther from a straight line. Then they noticed the agouied and helpless face, the final struggle, loss of control, and "splash", he-struck he-struck the water on his shoulders and back and disappeared. dis-appeared. They waited silently for him to cemic up a second sec-ond two; be did not appear Faces began to grow red, then white, till Jack Grilfiih broKe silence with, "He's fctchin" bottom to fool us." "Xo, he isn't, lies drowned!'' exclaimed Xed, as he rushed to the edge of the dock He had heard of many rescues of drowning men and boys, and had witnessed the resuscitation of one such case, and he knew that if he kept bis head, with George Brush hastening to the rescue in the skiff, Polly niiylit be saved. "Here,' Xed! 1 think I can see him on the bottom," bot-tom," shouted George to X'cd, as the latter was pulling pull-ing oft Ins shoes. "Where5!' cried Ned. ' Right there,' the latter replied, and in a moment Ned had plunged straight for the bottom. Stretched out llat on the rocky bottom lay that lithe form he knew so well. Horrified as he was at the sight he struck out wildly for it. That minute and a half seemed an hour to Ned He never could well remember just what he did. but the first thing bo can recall was seeing George Brush's face over the edge of the boat, and feeling his arm clutched, and being drawn into the boat, where he fell helpless help-less and tense on the scat at the stern. A few derp-dravvn breaths of the fresh summer air revived Ned wonderfully, and he looked up and saw hr?t Polly, laid across the middle thwart of the boat, resting on his chest, with his head and arms dangling on one side and Ins legs on the other, and beyond him George pulling Ins hardest to the dock, which they soon reached. Here together they liftei out the lad as gently ;s possible ami laid hmi first on. his face, while George, kneeling astride, pressed (irmly on hi shoulder-blades and back to expel the water from hi chest, under which he placed a tightly rolled tvraf. Flit n, turning him on his back, he endeavored to induce respiration." . Ned. under George's direct i..n. lk) already dispatched dis-patched PnM.v for Dr Watt, whoe house was n carat car-at hand, and had set Foster to chafing Polly's leg-, and thus they worked for nearly ten minutes. COPYIiTGTTTET),, 9r |