Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-11-13


''Sir, sir-r-r!' she stammered as she
| met old John. The fire will soon be
upon US! Young John is not here. Help
me harness Jim into the plow!"
''W-w-what?' he stammered in reply,
SO dazed that he was like one palsy
stricken.
Hannah few out of the house and,
quickly embarrassing Jim, attached him
to the plow Fat Mrs. Tutherly was
better in an emergency than one would
have supposed. She now came up
| bravely, like an old-fashioned Dutch
| cruiser at critical moment in the bat
tie hour.
"You drive the horse, Mrs. Tutherly,
Ind I'll hold the plow, and we will make
furrow all about the buildings Oh, if
Mr.. Blasland would just help and burn
the grass on the prairie side Of the fur
rowr'
Hannah was more deferential in her
style of address than was the house
keeper. The latter was plain and per-
| emptory. "Here, here, old John! Come
and helpr' she screamed, in the same
breath giving the order: ''Git up
there lively, Jim! Up with you,
git-t-t"
She resumed her command to the
ranchman: Burn the grass all outside
| the furrer! Quick, sir, quick! We will
all be burnt to cinder If you don't fly
roundi Git up there, Jim! Faster, old
boyv'
After this last equivocal order, the
fat housekeeper, rosy and putting, skill
fully steered Jim down the east side of
the farmhouse. Hannah guided the
pillow, the muscles swelling in her firm,
shapely hands and along her barred
brown wrists. Her eyes glanced down
ward to sec that the plowshare was run
ming right, and then they were lifted to
the heavens. Those deep eyes of blue
were filed with prayers reverent sup
plieation.
''God help us, God help us!' she muir
INJURED Behind the pillow tottered the
old ranchman, kindling the grass ou5-
side the furrow, and leaving rapid
widening space of black, fire-ravagtd
ground between the ranch buildings ard
that awful conaagration driving over
the prairie.
''Now the north sidel' said HANNAH.
''The east side is of the most conse-
quence. Ready!'
''Git up-up-up, Jim! Come on, oil
Johnl" screamed Mrs. Tutherly. Tie
smoke was now all about them, but
Hannah would say: THE east side is
safe! Thank God!" and press stubborn
~ on.
But where was young John? Mora
than once Hannah had prayed: ''Got
keep him. Had he been overtaken 10y
that awful fire, scorched, suffocateG,
burnt to death? He was somewhere
out on the prairie His horse was swi {.
His pluck was great lie knew tie
prairie; but there was that terrible
engine Of flame, without wheels, ye0
rolling on, the horrible dragon of fir,
without wings yetsteadily flying! Who
could escape all this?
The north side had been furrowed and
burnt over, when Hannah caught the
quick beat of horses hoofs, and on came
beautiful brown Betty, bringing her
master, young John!
Thank God!' he shouted as he
leaped from Betty's steaming back,
kissed Hannah, and then selling the
plow-handles, cried: leave this west
side and go for the south side! Quick!
Run, Hannah, fast, and be firing the
grass up in the southeastern corner!'
There was crouching form that soon
appeared, torch in his wrinkled hand
His face was blackcned by the SCOT of
the burnt prairic. ''L{3 don't see me!
he don't notice me. lie kissed Ter. I've
been sco-ched and sin ed. They don't
notice me- muttered CID John.
They did notice him when tho wc-k
of saving had been completed, when ct
of wide, blackencd waste rose up Tie
uninjured buildings, safe behind t. t.
long. protecting furTow. They fou 1
him lying inscnsible at one expo i
cornar, an expired torch in his har
The heat, the cxc.t,m mt of the ua-
usual effort at his a%2, had Overcome
him. They carried him to his b. /.
What did he murmut It last?
Nobody cares for me here"
moaned. Send for r3y john"
"Your son?" asked young John. T
sufferer bent his head in assent.
Nobody cares for me here" he thin
murmurcd again. ''::5anI for him.
1--WE will; but VIC care for you, graz l.
pa" said Hannah. We are our Joh1. )
children"
"W-w-what?" as.;od the old man, @
faded brown eyes orcning wide in J.
constituent
YES, grandpa" said yourg 10 !,
Hannah and I-wc-wc arc brother d
sister; and-and-we thought if Q
came, somctimI it wou!d como abo :
that we could tell you and you wos d
hear u.s. and you wouli be reconciIed o
father and be willing to SEQ him, and -
The old man hero b7ol1o il with "
that came out of heart once more t, l.
der and sincere: Thank God! I'll q
you, bless you, and send for my job. -
''My John" came, ard the conf :
wrought wonders in the old father =
Edward A. Rand, in Golden Rule.