function newImage(arg) {
  if (document.images) {
    rslt = new Image();
    rslt.src = arg;
    return rslt;
  }
}

var preloadFlag = false;
  if (document.images) {
    blood = newImage("http://www.robinsonridge.com/images/eventannounce/blood.jpg");  
    leaves = newImage("http://www.robinsonridge.com/images/eventannounce/leaves.jpg");  
    preloadFlag = true;
  }