Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-03-03
FOLLOWING
old SIDE
pY Roe /. Hssps1cx


gasping from an attack Of his old
enemy, quinsy. Mrs. Younglove hur-
ried in from the kitchen with poul-
sace for his throat. Then Lucy and
George entered.
you children will have to take
the hogs to Blakeslee's," he said.
huskily " got cold butchering, AZ
l almost always do. The carcasses
are in the pung. You put. ON the
thills and harness up old Side; the
I colts are too skittish for the station.
Blakeslee knows the price. AN you
have got to do is to- see to the
weighing. Lucy, take the money. and
hurry right back home. for / can't
do any chores today" 81
In fifteen minutes the girl and boy
were ready to start. "a 81
The horse, "Old Side" Whose full
name was Sidestep- othe- Right.-wa
attached to the heavy sleigh, in which
we're the carcasses OF six hogs, killed
and dressed the day before.
Lucy was fifteen, George only ten
Z years old, and this was their first
! important business trip from the
: farm: so. despite their fathers i'll.
ness, they felt pleased at the respon-
Sstbility.
The snow path was in fair condl-
tion for their ten:mile journey, al
though the road was little travelled
for the first half OF that distance.
Old Side was a perfectly safe horse,
but by no means speedy.
He had earned his singular name
owing to peculiarly ne had ac-
QMred when q colt. The moment
he stopped, when In harness, he in
variably threw his hind quarters far
to the right and stamped heavily, q
startling manoeuver to strangers, al
though 1t no longer more than faint
" amused the family. A wide band
i OF sorrel hair was worn OF. by his
right leg and flank where he had
rubbed against tug, pole or thill. in
this manner. q. -.
A mile from home, in place where
hollow made the snow deep and
scggy, Side pulled on his near mind
shoe. which George got out and re.
covered. Thereafter he limped where
the path was hardest, and went even
more slowly than before. !.
When the Corners was reached.
George complained Of being 30 cold
that Lucy turned into the church
yard, fastened the horse beneath the
shed, and after carefully blanketiny
him, followed her brother into Rog.
: sr's store. The glowing stove proved
such 8 source OF comfort that TWEEN
" minutes passed before the hoy
could be induced to leave.
Upon walking back to the shed. the
two Found 1t empty! They stared at
each other in amazement, Side never
pulled at his hitching.strap; more
over 1t was not broken, but had been
neatly united from the ring.
The snow showed where the horse
had been backed out, and there were
large boot-tracks Just under the
caves. Then the sleigh had gone
{ eastward. on the road to the sta
: don.
Lucy ran across to the blacksmith
shop. 20 Mr.. Walden" she cried,
did you see anybody back our horse
and pung out Of the church shed Just
now?"
The huge, slow witted man she adj
dressed raised himself from bending
over the anvil atshis task.
81 Why, no. Lucy, l didn't" he re-
piled. scratching his head. "But may
be fifteen minutes ago saw old Bill
Simmons drive his sleigh out, loaded
with hogs,
That was our pung!' Lucy ex-
claimed. Didn't you notice old
Side?"
The boss was sluein', that's q
fact said the blacksmith, with awak.
ening interest, "but l was busy and
pawn no particler attention. Come
to think. maybe 1t want Bill Sim
mons. 1t didn't hump down like him,
but the man wore a Scotch cap and
yellow, oyercoat," &
George began to cry. and Lucy did
not know what to do. A little group
gathered, asking questions and gis-
ing all sorts OF conflicting advice. A
farmer offered to drive to Blakeslee,s.
70 head the thief OFF Mr.. Rogers was
sure the man would never venture to
90 there. lest the rig be recognized
but would head for Morton, the coun.
ty seat; or else swing south over the
hills to one. OF the two cities a score
OF miles away. &
Suddenly Lucy reused herself.
"You go right back home, George"
she said, land tell father. I'm going
to follow the sleigh"
Z Not afoot?" gasped Mr. Rogers.
\ Eyes; old Side has lost shoe and
can track him. He can't 60 fast,
{ and on foot i can tell wherever he
{ stops. II you'll please telephone to
Mr., B!akeslee and to Morton, Mr..
Rogers. I'll try to overtake the thief.
But YOU haven't any money, sis, !"
George interposed.
Well. she began, biushing, when
Mr. Rogers handed her a bill.
Here's flye dollars, Lucy" he said.
and II that doesn't carry YOU
/ through. call me up by telephone.
But you're undertaken big contract
& for q girl no older than you are, i
4 don't know what else you can do.
though; and I'll give the warning, as
\ you say"
George started reluctantly for
h home, after he had seen his. sister
leave, 1t was near MON = ~ s+ho