BOBOLINK IS A HERO
Jack and Paul mounted their bicycles and peddled along very leisurely.
The other six, in formation, marched on the side walk. Suddenly a
shriek pierced the air. Bobolink was the first to notice. Dropping out
of line, he began to run at full speed. The others, although they were
not sure what it was all about, nevertheless also joined in the run. A
blue sedan was speeding down the street and bearing down on a little
boy of about three who, unconcerned of traffic or any danger, was
crossing the street. Half way across he paused and stared for several
seconds at the cobblestones, then he continued walking to the other
side, thus getting into the path of the oncoming, speeding automobile.
Several women screamed. The mother, about ten yards away, fainted.
Bobolink ran until his breath was gone. It was the fastest hundred
yard run a human could do. The speeding car was barely a yard away
when Bobolink reached the spot. With his outstretched arms he gave
the child a shove that sent him sprawling. The next moment he saw a
galaxy of stars, a piercing pain made him cry out and then darkness,
unconsciousness. The automobile had side-swiped him and scraped his
right side.
A great number of people immediately collected and surrounded the two
victims. The child, except for being shocked and very slightly bruised,
was unhurt. Bobolink, however, lay stretched out, appearing more dead
than alive.
Paul and Jack, on their bicycles, saw the incident. Immediately
they wheeled around and peddled vigorously after the speeding car.
Ordinarily, the chase would have been a futile and useless gesture. But
the boys knew that about 500 yards away was a very sharp left turn, and
at the speed the driver was going, he was sure either to crash or turn
over. And sure enough, the driver, ignorant of the sharp turn ahead,
did not slow up until it was too late. Frantically he swung the wheel,
so he would not crash into the wall that loomed up in front of him. The
side of the car bounced against the concrete wall and turned over into
the ditch. Just as the boys came up and jumped off their wheels, the
driver had extricated himself. He was a tall, husky, evil looking young
man. Dazed, he stood wavering on his legs and shaking himself trying to
shake off his dizziness. Without hesitation, the boys jumped on him. He
offered no resistance. He lay stunned. Paul said, “Guess he’s out all
right.”
They looked down at the unconscious form sprawling on the ground. The
man’s face was a mass of blood and his hand was twisted as though
broken at the wrist. Paul said, “I’ll stay here and watch him. You ride
back and get the police and have an ambulance come.”
Jack nodded. “But suppose he comes to, do you think you could hold him?”
Paul looked down at the victim. “Even if he comes to,” he said, “he’d
be too weak to run or put up any fight.”
“All right, then,” Jack said, “I’m going.”
But just as he was about to mount his bike, he saw an ambulance come
speeding toward them. Evidently someone in the house a short distance
away had seen the accident and immediately reported it by telephone.
The ambulance stopped. An interne jumped out and with him a policeman.
The doctor examined the man, then had him put on a stretcher and into
the ambulance. The policeman examined the wrecked car, took the license
number, removed a valise, and then questioned Paul and Jack who told
him all they knew. They asked him about Bobolink but he knew nothing of
what happened to the boy.
The ambulance turned around and went back to town. With heavy hearts
and wondering whether their friend was alive or dead, the two boys
mounted their bikes and wheeled back to town. Jack sidled up to his
chum. “What are we going to do now, Paul?” he asked.
“I guess we better try to find out how Bobolink is,” he answered.
“He was a swell guy,” muttered Jack.
“He certainly was,” echoed Paul.
“Do you think he was killed or just hurt?”
Paul shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t know,” he answered. “We better wait
and see.”
They peddled along slowly and mournfully. At last they came to
Bobolink’s home and found all the other boys idling dolefully on the
porch.
Paul approached the twins and asked, “How is he?”
Wallace shook his head and turned away. William whispered hoarsely,
“Don’t know yet.”
About ten minutes later Dr. Morrison emerged from the house. Noticing
the boys congregated on the porch, with their faces drawn and appearing
quite sombre, he looked puzzled, then suddenly smiled. They rushed up
and surrounded him. Paul asked, “How is he, Dad?”
“He’s fine,” Dr. Morrison replied. “Nothing to worry about. He’ll be
back with you and running around as though nothing had happened, in
three days.”
Bluff for once didn’t stutter and cried, “Hooray! Hooray for Bobolink!”
The other boys joined and they cheered the hero. When they quieted
down, Paul asked his father, “May we go in to see him?”
The doctor nodded. “Yes, of course. That is, if it’s all right with
Mrs. Link.”
So Jack was delegated to go in and ask Mrs. Link for permission to see
Bobolink, which was granted. So they entered in a body to cheer up the
invalid and hero.