The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-10-10

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, "Hey, Billy! let me have a ride?''
led 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 I can't, Hal" Billy an
swered regretfully. 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 ac-
count of the bad, sandy roads"
Hal was stroking 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
IL w din UdSh, uC Saio
Billy saw that lie would have to
be quite frank with Hal. "No. Doc
tor Barnes said, when I first went
to help around the stable, that I
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 / can, now.
Goodbye" and Billy was off at a
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 have what
I want. think this is 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 10 eat grass to-day" and he
urged the horse into a trot. Some
times Billy had time to let him crop
q 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 ttoroughfare. He rode past
the post-ofice and general store, with
its porch decoration of idlers; past
the pretty notion store windows, and
tn, 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, Ely saw ahead the familiar
automobile of his employer standing
in front Of 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 hin; at the same in
slant, turning around at the sound
of hoofs in the street. She smiled
and waved her chubby hand as he
passed, and h. waved back, for they
were very good friends.
Almost as soon as he had gone
past the car this happened. He heard
it 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 mischiGvously, her
curls tossed back and her face alight
with daring.
Bill gave one gasp, and pulled the
roam around so suddenly that he
wheeled on two feet Even as he
did so, the big car gained headway,
and the child in it, realizing some
thing o. her danger, but ignorant
how to avert it, or stop the car,
screamed helpleSSly, ON, Billy, come,
make it stop, quick"
Even as she spoke the machine
passed the boy and horse, running SO
smoothly and swiftly that he paled
at the danger before the child. The
thought came: IF he had made me
chauffeur, instead Of stable boy, as
/ wanted him to do, this would not
have happened" For only the day
before, the man who had held that
ipositior-the place Billy wanted with
all his machinery-loving heart-had
been discharged for drunkenness.
Then came the plan. Quick as a
flash he urged the roam after the ma
chine, kicking his feet free of the stir
rups as he neared the automobile
The car ran faster and faster-whar
he was going to try, must be done
quickly.
And then the doctor came out just
in time to see what Billy was going
to do, and to stand breathless while
his child in the big car. and his sta
bio boy on the splendid roam horse
ran the race that was the talk oi
the village for months afterward.