Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1892-03-31
GRAY BILLY.

!. !. J. ]: !. ! !.
AELL. take care OF your
@E4Ef9, se.;en, children; shall
VHANgh come home some time
S' tomorrow. Remember
MEY that you're the head OF
M the family, Rod; and
4l Nell, you're the little
&H/ housekeeper, you know.
SH& Goodby!' Mr.. Lums
az den picked up his reins,
and spoke to his horses, and the
brightly painted farm wagon rnmbled
away down the marrow wheel-track
The Lumsdens lived "out West" On
all sides great prairie spread away
to the l=vel horizon, a sea-likeexpanse
OF monotonous grass. broken only by
the buildings and cultivated ground
OF the farm. A lonely enough land
scape, to tell the truth; and to-day it
seemed even lonelier than usual, for
mother had died years ago and father
was now away.
But there was plenty of work to do,
both indoors and out, SO that the
day passed without leaving much
time for melancholy thoughts, and
when bedtime came both were so tired
that they fell asleep before they had
sairly settled themselves among their
pillows.
"Rodney! Rodney! Wake upl Wake
up!"
| 1t was Nelie's voice, and there was
| a. &c bo4 .lo k,a
boy spring out upon the floor before
he was we'll awake and stood staring
about him with bewidered, half-open-
ed eyes, hardly knowing where he was
or what had aroused him Great
waves OF red light trembled upon the
walls and flashed over the bit OF sky
that could be seen through the small
window. Rodney rushed to look out.
Tho prairie's on tre" cried Nell.
The whole country appeared to be-
ablaze and a high wind, almost tenn
pest, blew from the very center OF the
conhagration. Between the fire and
house and all around spread the tall
dry grass, quick to catch as powder
and as impossible to quench.
"Oh, ii father were only here!"t
thought both children. Like any 9TH
er Western boy Rodney knew in an in
slant what ought to be done. Mr..
Lumsden had been so occupied since
taking the farm that he never found
time TO run fire break" in order to
protect his property apainst the very
danger now threatening it. A fire
break is made by blowing two lines of
q few burrows each some hundred
yards apart, and then burning the
grass between. The flames reaching
this burned belt, bordsred on either
side by damp. freshly turned earth,
are at once arrested and die away for
want OF fuel. Every exposed prairie
farmhouse ought to be defended in
this manner. Nellie, too, perfectly un.
derstood the situation.
I'VE must run break" said she,
while her brother was hastily dressing.
He looked up despairingly.
How can wei Father has both
horses. If they were here know /
could manage; but what am going to
do with no team?"
Why not use Gray Billy?" asked
Nellie.
In spite OF his anxiety Rodney al.
most laughed. Gray Billy, the saddle
horse, who had never pulled a pound
in his lie! To even dream OF putting
him in pillow.
ats just the same as having no
horse at ALL
Perhaps; but somehow feel that
Billy will do it. You know how bright
| he is--how be seems to understand
every word you say to him. Oh,
Rodney; please. please try.''
well, It's the only thing we can try
But I know he'll never do it; never
in the world" While yet speaking
Rodney leaped down the stairs, ran out
OF the house to the stable a few steps
distant, and throwing open the doors
hurried to Billy's stall. He could gee
the bright eyes OF the gray horse, who
turned it's head and inquisitive ears
toward the disturber of his nights
rest, plainly wondering what this un
timely visit could mean. Billy was
the family pet. He came OF a, famous
stock and had Thoroughbred blood il