The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1906-07-20

Sstarved out Of. al likeness OF his old
gallant self. A Y
S - man may still do mans work
with one arm IL he has also = right
good Will. Maury proved that when
ne tet himself, and the King to piow-
ing out cotton for a planter who was
sadly in the grass.
By time frost came the King was
really q horsea caricature Of
his old self. It IL true, but res
sonably sleek in q new winter
coat, that was more than ever
streaked and splotched with white.
This. together with his crop ear, gave
him somewhat waggish. not 80 say
rakish, aspect. In genuine kindli-
aess the plantation master advised
Maury to get rid Of him, adding that
It would be mighty hard for a stranger
either to live up to. or live down,
such looking horse. Maury smiled
thanks. and said he would think the
matter over. Next week he bought a
mule-b!ind, but quick-stepping
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
impulse instinct or memory - that
sends dumb things, and flying, ones.
straight to their earliest home.
The first April Monday, and quar-
terly 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 he'd him back in the old days
Dut, then, no fence quite did that, and
latterly, what with age and temper,
The King had 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 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 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 for
The nearest creek.
The creek ran westerly. He grazed
an hour in its 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.
hut 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 him imperiously forward, al
ways to northward.
Two weeks he wandered. Then one
day the King came to the top Of a
rise whence he could see the spread
of two whole counties. Then-he re-
;nembered. Lettering ended. Away
he went at pounding trot, now and
then slackening to walk, now and
then qIickening to run. Toward
nightfall, whinnying triumph, he found
himself at Fairfield's gateway.
The King had grazed there three
days, when he heard Maury's whistle.
and looked up to see the blind mules
head well over the stone wall. In
stantly ne ran, neighing welcome as
ne ran, to thrust his nose into his
masters cutstretched hand, while his
master said, reproachfully: Lad.
didn't think you'd do it-go and leaya
me in the lurch! What will become O.
the crop?"
"Over lad! quick!" he cried, eve
have no time to lose. You see, I can't
come inside"
The King wagged his crop-ear, but
lid not bulge. Again Maury said:
"Over!" this time in deepest chest
Zones. When the King stood stock
still, nipplng his masters sleeve. Maurv
wheeled upon him scornfully, CRYING
out: ''Ho, no! A deserter! At this
late day! thought you feared moth
ing, but find out you're afraid OF
work"
"No! It's only that he has more
sense than his master-sense enough
TO come home, where he is sadly want
ed" Col. Winchester said behind
Maury. He had ridden up unseen
and was fighting hard to keep his old
ross Of testy dignity.
: The first glimpse Of. Maury's empty
sleeve put an end to that He dropped
reins, caught Maury in his arms. and
said. hoarsely: my boy-they said
you we're dead. Thank God! Thank
COD! Now He has given you back
~ shall never let you 90 away 4
Fairfield house stood bare. and -.
most empty. But why say more than
that the place had been for months sat
10 stretch army headquarters? Thus
fate's grim irony had ordained that
the only loyal citizen In the county
should be worse despoileds than any
OF his neighbors. s \. ats 8ssss .,s5
e ~, Nyl,, ~. y - IS -.