The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-04-05

was wholly original. The smoke house.
which was of logs, stood at the back
end OF the yard, the rear of it forming
a part of the yard fence. The ground
sioped considerably from the smoke
house to the kitchen door.
1--WE a climb in at the gable end of
the smoke house." Billy explained,
land take one of the empty barrels
there and put it out at the door; and
one OF US can get in it and roll right
down to the kitchen, Then there won't
be anything to do but Just turn Ring
loose and watch the woolfY."
Dick was enthusiastic over this plan
as o a as he heard it. HI was sure
that it would succeed.
Climbing through an opening in the
gable, they were soon in the smoke
house. There were three or four empty
-four barrels against the wall, each
having an end out, One of these they
moved to the door, and were on the
point of opening the door to put it
outside.
How are you going to get in, Billy
head first or feet frst9"
Il expect, maybe, you'd better roll,
Dick, You're smaller than I am, and
you can get in the barrel further"
Dicks enthusiasm died out very sud-
denly at this suggestion, and he looked
discouraged. He had taken it for
granted that Billy would be the one to
get into the barrel.
Ion, you can crawl in easy, Billy 4!
There's lst lots of room in there for
you"
But I can start the barrel to rolling,
better than you can" insisted Billy.
Perhaps Dick would have consented
to go, but lst then the sheep, hearing
voices in the smoke house. came nearer
to investigate, and Dicks courage
failed.
There was another long discussion
between the two boys, each urging the
other to get into the barrel. Finally
Billy took out his ''barloW" pocket
knife. 1t had but one blade, and had
cost ten cents.
I'll give you that if you'll roll" he
proposed.
Dick had no knife, and looked long
ingly at the offered reward. Then he
looked out through a crack at Aleck,
and shook his head.
Billy put his hand in his other pocket
and took out some marbles. ''Then I'll
give you Them" he said, spreading
them out temptingly on his hand.
viii you give me them and the
knife tooG"
mot much, 1 WON'T" Billy answer
ed, empbatically. 81 wouldn't give
you bothif you rolled all the way to
Granbury." Granbury was the near,
est town.
Again they discussed the matter foE
several minutes. A1eck was nibbling
at some tufts of grass. The boys were
growing hungrier, and now and then
glanced up longingly at some mid
dlings of bacon hanging rel THEN
heads.
ST don't care" said Billy at length,
being rendered desperate by hunger
You can have the marbles and knife
too. Let's open the door enough tc
put the barrel out"
Dick did not seem to at all elated
over having his Offer accepted. 81
don't know about it," he said, hesitat
ingly. Don't believe l want to-"
but you said you would" urged
Billy "If you don't, thatll be back
ing out"
''Aleck might butt the barrel with
me In it." obj cited Dick.
WHO ever heard of a sheep butting
a barrels And what if he doesG he
can't hurt you and you inside of it."
IN tell you what I'll do. If you'll
give me the knife and marbles, and
that long lead pencil of yours to boot,
then I'll get in the barrel and roll"
mo, street" declared Billy, indig.
nant at Dicks cupidity. "You don't
get any ead-pencil from me. I'll stay
here a year first. Why, I wouldn't
give you that pencil and all the other
things besides if you rolled all the way
to Missouri" Billy's parents had re,
moved from Missouri to Texas when he
was small, and Missouri was farther
than any other place he knew of.
They remained silenta short while,
hunger all the time gnawing at their
vitals. 1t seemed several days since
they had eaten anything. At last