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CHRISTMAS IN THE ADIRONDACKS
17
and besides he had a game leg, made it tougher and tougher.
"Go ahead, fellows," he shouted bravely. And soon they were out of sight.
From here on, let's hear the Kid's own story:
"My legs were like logs, my fingers were numb, and I dropped the banjo in the snow. God, no, I couldn't leave it there. I picked it up, or tried to, and staggered on.
"Suddenly a strange, dark peace seemed to settle over everything. I just let go and settled back into the snow. It was soft and warm and inviting. Things began to waver and whirl, and the world was warm, but dark. I could see mother, a thousand miles or more back home, going in and out of my empty room. There was something about a Christmas tree. It seemed that my dad got up early that morning, looked at the Christmas tree, but didn't smile like his usual, good-natured self. I tried to make them understand, but they just looked around the room as though it were empty. It grew darker. I could hardly see them. Funny, I thought, snow is supposed to be cold but I felt real warm. I settled back. It was almost dark now.
"Then suddenly came an annoying voice. Someone calling my name: "Wake up, Kid. You'll freeze! . . . My God, I believe he is freezing already.' It was the voice of big Russ Winslow, and the boss himself, who had come back after me. They formed a cradle with their hand?
and I remember being carried, some where."
"Boy, he was damn near gone . . . Fm telling you," Russ told the boys.
^ H:
As the day wore on it cleared up. Snowplows came through and they pulled out the bus. Night came, and at ten minutes of ten the band unloaded in front of the hall. The manager was fit to be tied. He said m.ost of the crowd had gone home. Said he wouldn't pay but half price. He'd see about that.
But after 1 1 o'clock things were pretty well smoothed out and the boys were back in the groove. They weic doing a nice job on a special arrangement of "Ain't Misbehavin'."
Then, from a side entrance, came the figure of a slight, 117'pound youth. Slowly he and his precious banjo jostled past the dancing couples. They looked at him curiously.
In a minute or two he had the banjo out of the case and he came in with his breaks on the last chorus.
The floor manager strode by, paused in front of the newcomer with the sparkling, rhinestoned, $550 banjo on his lap and pointed.
"Drunk, huh?"
Strange, but not one of those mu' sicians thought it was funny.
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