Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-05-23

How Peto Fourd tho Beot Homo
10 Had Eve. Known.
Hello, hunk! Come along, good old
crcatur."
Pete patted the shoulders Of the COW
he was about to drive to pasture. 1t
was Squire Hills COW, and the squire
thought a great deal Of it. lie had n
large farm, on which he raised little
but horses, keeping only this one COW.
The squire was passing, and stopped
to give a more sturdy carcss than
pets's hand had been.
III you ever let anything happen to
that COW, Pete he said, M be likely
to break every bone in your body
"Yessir,' said Pete, as soberly rs II
the words had not been accompanied
with genial twinkle in the squires
eyes
you're the first small shaver I've
ever let drive her."
"Yessir,' repeated Pete, with an i'm
pressive shake Of the head.
You'll always look out for the rail-
road?'
"Yessir-sure.
"And the mill. There's a mighty
mean slope down to the log boom II an
animal got started down"
"Yessir-awfulm
"And no fence along it."
mot q Bit
he sharp, then"
go long, llunkl"
Pete trudged after the COW, very glad
and proud Of being trusted with such
an important duty. He was a poor lit
tie stray, who had turned up on the
farm from nobody knew where. After
hanging about for awhile, making
friends with the animals, attracting
attention by his light-hearted, fun
loving spirit, he had gradually fallen
into place as chore boy and general
convenience, rejoicing in every new
labor set him as giving evidence that
he was gaining foothold on the big
farm, on which he soon came to have q
home feeling.
Bunker ploddsd lazily along until,
coming near the mill, Pete faithfully
frightened his hold on the rope by which
he led her,
The mill and Its surroundings pos.
sessel a fascination for Pete. lie had
spent hours and hours lounging about
the old-fashioned building, taking a
kind of awe-stricken delight in It's won
derful tangle Of queer machinery lie
had watched, with his breath held, the
great saws eating their way through
the logs which were hauled up an In,
cline by the help Of heavy rope and 81
gantic hooks, The dam, tie boom
every feature bore Its charm for him.
The other Of the squires bugbears
the railroad, passed just beyond the
mill crossing the road One danger
passed, Pete always began looking fol
the other, always bearing on his mint
the many stories told by the squire 0
valuable animals killed BY locomotives
lie usually aimed TO- ai Bunker pas
The slope abov Q boom ns fast as posi-
bic. But just now he made II suddel
pause.
Hello, Billy. What you doinl
thcrc?"
Billy was n diminutivc hoy belong
ing to the miller, Pete had spcn
many an hour playing with him befor,
his duties on the farm had become s,
well defined.
Billy was playing truant, Pete knew
at glance And not only that bu
the truancy was Of q dangerous char
acter,
"Billy, come here
ME ont, said Billy, with an obsti
nate shake Of his shoulders.
BILLY, you keep off that Log"
"Nle goin to sail my boat"
The small rebel held In his hand
block of wood, and with the words
stepped out on the first OF d number 0
logs which lay side by side in the boom
Pete fully appreciated the DANCE
which the little rascal was Drawing.
"Billy, I'll give YOU come nuts i
you'll come here
Billy stepped on the next log
"A whole pocketful, Billy"
As Billy set his foot on the third lol
II gave a little roll under him, but h,
recovered himself by IA quick step OF
the fourth.
"Billy" petes voice took on Il tom
Of desperation, III you don't come her,
I'll thrash you within an inch Of you
life"
Billy fastened his step on the fftl
log.
Pete looked around In despair. N,
one was in sight There were still tw'
or three hours Of the long summe
evenings daylight, but the saws wer'
stopped and the wheels qulet.
What should he do? With every mo
ment his frightened eyes perceived thu
increasing danger to the small boy
When he should reach the other lot
and attempt to launch his tiny craft
what then?
Pete called aloud for help, but wa
answered by only the hollow roar
the water washing over the dam. TIL
miller's house was beyond the mill
back out Of sight.
A switch was 80 arranged az 10 baol
cars up for the convenient loading
lumber pete's psrplexed glance fel
upon q loaded oar standing on tn
track. With q rougher pull on TIL
rope by which he was leading Bunke
than that animal had ever before felt
Pete dragged her towards It. Anothe
moment and he had secured the COW b
one Of the iron step-ladders and wa