The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-07-26
By David BuTum

but a roar. such as horses rarely give,
| but which, when they do give il. is so
/ awful as to strike terror into braver
mon than Pat. rs Pat valued his life.
this was the time To hold the line
strongly, but he lcapcd back. dropping
it in his excitement Mike ran. terror
stricken to the house. and in moment
Peter was up
His off forefoot. il is true, was still
strapped up, but he could handle him.
self on three legs. With another roar
he reared and struck fiepcely at his tor
mentor with his free forefOot. The
blow struck him fairly and squarely
on the head-and Patrick's career as a
horse-trainer was permanently closed
Peter was now that most Stunned
and dreaded thing among horses--a
mankillei. There is little doubt that
he realized fully what he had done
but if he had any thoughts on the sub
ject they We're probably those of salts
faction
But lie was too sore, too lame to
think of much besides his own suffer
ings. He wandered aim,esSly about
the yard. and as his excitement grad
ually left him. became desperately
thirsty and longed greatly for some
soft ground, where he might lie down
After a long time-for help had to
be summoned from a neighboring
farm people came and removed Pat
rick's body; but except for Standing
him orr with whips and clubs. no one
paid any attention to Peter.
Two days later, Budget Pats wild
ow, came into the yard. The horse
being now too exhausted and lame to
cause her any fear she cut loose the
strap that confined his forefoot, re-
moved the bride and surcingle. and
turned him into an adjoining pasture,
where was a brook of running water.
Here Peter ran for many weeks,
and fully recovered from his injuries,
although the ugly scars on his knees
Of course remained. as well as some
Of the marks left by the cart-stake.
On the side of the pasture next the
highway was a white board. bearing
the notice For sale, sound young
horse, warranted Kind in harness"
People looked at the sign and smiled
derislvely as they drove by.
From time to time. however, the
more curious stopped and looked over
the fence. 1t was not every day one
could see a real mankiller. But they
always gave the horse 4 wide berth.
At last one day, came Ruth: and
Peter, although with some hesitation
walked slowly up to the fence where
she stood
Ruth had not intended to speak TO
him or caress him-this mankililng was
too horribla-but when she saw his
broken knees and. all over his body.
the scars left by the heavy cart-stake,
she relented.
Poor Peterr' she said. "Poor, poor
fellow"
Then Ruth fell to musing on the pos
sibilities for good and evil that often
exist i'm The Same individual ana the
/ kind OF discipline needed to hold the
/ evil impulses in check.
Whatever the right discipline is, Pc
ter has never had it," she said. She
was a wise little horsewoman. was
Ruth.
But 2 purchaser had been found fol
Peter before. and n purchaser was
again forthcoming This time it wa,
/ Hobbs. who ran the coal and WOOD
/ yard i'm the village and he wanted the
horse to put i'm his tread-power II,
had always used cheap horses for thi,
/ purpose, and here was q chance to OBJ
tain for a small sum 4 good young
horse, who would last for a long time
Peter gave a snort of relief when b,
was taken from the lonely pasture
whore for many weeks he had hat
neither equine nor human companion
shin. Use was far better than thii
enforced solution
ia looked almost pleasant rs Uobb
uot 0u his halter ANA lad him ont o.
;An field. and he trlttgd along benin,
the buggy with his head up. his thin
rosrils disrendcl aul his warm bloc,
laaDing n bis veins.
Half way TO the village Hobbs mo
Ruth. he halted 20 teu har of bis pur
chase and the use TO wh,ca he intend
cl 10 put the horse.
Ruth looked aghast "P ter I'm
treadpower? Why he's half thoi
oughbred" she exclaimed
$50 much the more reason why he
stand mp 10 that hard work" sal
t Hobbs 81 amt much Of a hossmai
but accordiu' to what I'm told, thol
3 oughbreds don't quit"
"No, and I'll guarantee Peter not {
, quit" said Ruth. with a little ring q
pride in her voice, but that kind 9
work is too far removed from wh0
+ nature intended him for. TIL brea
his heart'
= Hobbs shrugged his shoulders.
Maybe" he said "But If he doe
1 his work ! amt frettin' about hi
2 heart And he drove on.
Peter had a good supper and flr
] bed that night. for Hobbs, although i
4 worked his horses hard. fed an
j. stabbed them well.
i Ia the morning Peter was led out
,. the tread-power, and it was evident {
j. him that he was expected to enter !
l. II was a strange-looking thing. bl
?. Peter lad never yet shown fear. II
@ entered IL at once, and stood perfect
l. still while the cross-bar was put acroi
h hchind him ana his head tied firm
s down, SO that he could not iump on
Q Then the brake was taken off and ii
5 floor began TO slide backward und
him.
. pa4ar ,,o.,o a snrino, fo,.,,o.1 l.