Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1906-07-19
when the long fight was over. ant


empty sleeve, the horse raW-boned
starved out of all likeness of his Ole
gallant self.
A man may still do mans work
with one arm if he has also right
good will. Maury proved that whef
ne set himself and the King TO plow'
ing out cotton for a planter who was
sadly in the grass.
BY time frost came the King was
really horse-a caricature OF
his old self, it is true, but rea
sonably sleek in a new winter
coat, that was more than ever
snou and spl. .cileu WIFI ~nlto
his, together with his crop-ear, gave
him somewhat waggish, not 50 say
rakIsh, aspect. In genuine kindli-
ness the plantation master advised
NIaury to get rid OF him, adding that
1t would be mighty hard for stranger
either to live up to, or live down
such q looking horse. Maury smiled
thanks, and said he would think the
matter over. Next week he bought a
-l1uAO--UllAo, puL YUM" vi
credit, and agreed to work a little out
lyme farm the next year on shares.
April came in with gusty rain dashes
inset between hours Of translucent
blue sky. Underneath, the stir OF new
life strengthened. Something else
strengthened with 1.-THE mysterious
mpulse-instinct or memory - that
sends dumb things, and flying ones
straight to their earliest home.
The first April Monday, and quar-.
rerly court day. Maury had let himself
be carried off to the county town, in
his landlords buggy. The King was
left loose in the shambling door yard.
Maury knew the fence would never
have held him back in the old days
Dut, then, no fence quite did that, and
latterly, what with age and temper,
The King lad got in the way OF refus-
ing to do more than step over two
rails laid one on the other.
AS the buggy vanished round a turn
of the road, the King gazed fretfully
for five minutes. Stock-still, the
very moral of sleepy innocence,
the King stood. Then his head
went up; he took three fences
one after another, never SO much as
tipping a rail with his heels. and was
out on the road. A minute he seemed
to listen. then, head and tail up, he
plunged into the woods and made fol-
he nearest creek.
The creek ran westerly. He grazel
an hour in it's valley, then struck
across the boundary hills, his course
due north. Night found him at another
stream-side. Again he grazed and
drank, and at last lay down to rest
But he was awake at dawn, and away
snatching at richly budded twigs as
he passed.
He might well have been in love
with such vagrancy, but there was
something strong - something that
whipped MIN imperiously forward, al.
ways to northward.
Two weeks he wandered. Then one
day the King came to the top Of q
of two whole counties. THEME re-
membered. Lettering ended. AWAY
| he went at a pounding trot, now am
then slackening to a walk, now ant
.hen quickening to a run. Toward
nightfall, whinnying triumph, he fount
himself at Fairfeld's gateway.
The King had grazed there thre,
days, when he heard Maury's whistle
and looked up to see the blind mule
head well over the stone wall. In
stantly ne ran, neighing welcome al
le ran, to thrust his nose into hi
masters cutstretched hand, while hi
master said, reproachfully: Lad,
didn't think you'd do it--go and leav
me in the lurch! What will become o
the crop?"
"Over lad! quick!" he cried. "W,
have no time to lose. You see, / can
come inside"
The King wagged his crop-ear, bu
lid not bulge. Again Maury said
Overt" this time in deepest ches
zones. When the King stood stock
still, nipplng his masters sleeve, Maur,
wheeled upon him scornfully, cryin,
out: "Ho. no! A deserter! At thi
late day! thought you feared moth
ing, but find out you're afraid Q
work.
NO! It's only that he has NOR
sense than his master-sense enough
to come home, where he is sadly want
ed" Col. Winchester said benin,
Maury. He had ridden I'D unseen
and was lighting hard to keep his oil,
pose OF testy dignity.
The first glimpse Of Maury's empt,
sleeve put an end to that. He droppe,
reins, caught Maury in his arms, an,
said, hoarsely: My boy-they sal,
YOU We're dead. Thank God! Than
God! Now He has given you back
shall never let you go away
Fairfield house stood bare. and a,
most empty. But why say more tina,
that the place had been for months 4
a stretch army headquarters? Thu
fate's grim irony had ordained tina
the only loyal citizen in the count,
i should be worse despoiled than an,
Of his neighbors.
Col. Winchester looked about. smil
: y..<~ xxl.s. 49, :