The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-10-18


BY Cora 8. Day. 8
s''ssssssssseessessssssssss'" ssss
"Hey, Billy: let me have a ride?"'
cried a boyish voice, and Billy pulled
up his handsome roam mount to speak
to his friend, who came running down
the dusty country road very hastily
to meet him.
I'm afraid can't, Hal" Billy an
swered rsgretfully, sorry that he
could not oblige his friend in this re-
quest. i've just had him down to
the blacksmith shop at the cross
roads, and must get home and feed
him and rub him down before the
doctor comes in with the machine.
He wants to drive the horse this af-
ternoon, out somewhere where he
can't go in the automobile, on &C
count of the bad, sandy roads,"
Hal was strokinS the smooth side
of the fine horse while Billy talked.
Now he looked up and persisted in
his request.
, But I won't hinder you. Just
take me up behind, for a ride, and
I'll walk back he said.
Billy saw that he would have to
be quite frank with Hal. NO. Doc
tor Barnes said, when I first went
to help around the stable, that l
should never let any one else ride
Arrow. So you see really can't. I'd
like to let you have ride, but must
get him home as soon as I can, now.
Goodbye" and Billy was OF: at
trot, while Hal stood at the gate and
watched horse and rider until they
were out of sight.
Billy was thinking deeply as he
rode along. The subject was. one that
often occupied his thoughts, when he
had the horse out for exercise, or was
busy with his work about the stables
at the doctors home.
TOO bad that Hal can't have my
place at the doctors, and I have what
I want. I think :tis is a mixed up
old world anyway. We get the things
we don't care a snap about, and the
things we'd give our heads for, al
most, don't come our way" "Get
along, Arrow, old fellow, can't wait
for you to eat grass to-day" and he
urged the horse into a trot. Some
times Billy had time to let him crop
particular fine bunch of grass, and
Arrow remembered it.
Into the village street they turned
from the country road in few min
utes, and trotted down the long,
straight thoroughfare. He rode past
the post-ofice and general store, with
its porch decoration Of idlers: past
the pretty notion store windows, and
th> town hall; and on toward the
doctors home, at the extreme other
end of the street.
But they did not get home without
an interruption. AS they went on
down the street, and past several
houses, Billy saw ahead the familiar
automobile of his employer standing
In front of a house.
wonder who Is sick at Harris'?"
he thought, and glanced again at the
car as he neared it. Hello, doctor
has Myrtle out with him." he added
as he saw the golden head Of the
doctors little girl over the back OF
the seat.
Myrtle saw him at the same in
stant, turning around at the sound
of hoofs in the street. She smiled
and waved her chubby hand as he
passed, and b, waved back, for they
were very good friends.
Almost as soon as he had gone
past the car this happened. He heard
1t start and looked back, expecting
to see the doctor in his seat, with his
hand on the lever; but he saw Instead
Myrtle, grasping it with chubby fin
gers, laughing mischievously, hel
curls tossed back and her face aligh1
with daring.
Bill gave one gasp, and pulled the
roam around so suddenly that ne
wheeled on two feet. Even as he
did so, the big car gained headway
and the child in j.. realizing some
thing of her danger, but zgnoran
how to avert it, or stop the car
screamed helplessly, "Oh, Billy, come
make it stop, quick:"
Even as she spoke the macEin'
passed the boy and horse, running 81
smoothly and swiftly that he palet
at the danger before the child. tn
thought came: IF he had made m
chauffeur, instead Of stable boy, a
I wanted him to do, this would no
have happened" For only the da,
before, the man who had held tha
pocition-the place Billy wanted witt