The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-01
Dan, Our Young Colt.
ny Finest 7, Johnson. u. BratilebOr


lBy Ernes, Z, johnson. u. Brai,leboro,l
Dan was the name Of our colt. lie was
about two years old aud was black, lie
had been raised ON the ranch aud, Of
course, was used 10 III. saddle more than
To the wagon, onc day the master came
oul and ordered Clip 10 harness Dan 10
the wagon, Clip instantly obcycd and
was back ia about twenty minutes all
ready Tor his master While Clip was har'
messing up, his master had gone into the
housr TO LAY good'by 10 his wife aud son,
Bob. In a little while Clip came 10 the
window aud told his master that the ear
rage was all ready
IAN right, Clip, I'm ready was the re.
ply. lie kissed his wife and child and then
started for the town. After he had done
an oi his erfands he went 10 the hotel for
his dinner. After his dinner he went Out
on the piazza to have quiet smoke,
While he was sitting on the piazza alone
stranger came over aud asked him TO
have a new cigar The master took a.,
threw The old one away and lighted the
other one. After hc had smoked his cigar
little the stranger asked him where he
was from. lie replied, About six miles
gu, yonder road. After they had talked
for about half an hour the stranger Aked
Mr.. Wood. Bob's father, II he would have
a couple drinks vi whi,kcy. lie agreed TO
take one or two. Mr.. Wood. who was not
used 10 drinking felt a little unsteady, lie
went outside the hotel unhitchcd hi,
horse and started 10 go home, When he
had got about three miles from hi- home
two men came from behind tree. They
ordered him TO stop He did 50 without
hesitation Then they ordered him to
throw up his hands One man searched
him while the other stood M front OF him
with pistol pointed At hl- head II he al
tempted 10 escape They found nothing
ni value on him except watch that he
had paid twenty-five dollars Tor about
year ago. When the thieves were through
searching him one asked, We'll, what did
you findt" The other replied, Nothing
Of any worth only a watch. We'll, what
viii We do with him, let him go!"
No." said the other, who was more
bloodthirsty, Well string him up against
yonder tree and shoot him at sunrise to-
morrow morning" They ordered MIR.
Wood To walk to the tree. lie did as they
had ordered While they were tying him
up against the tree the colt started of
full pace towards home. When he arrived
at the back door Bob was there cleaning
up his boots. lie looked around and was
just going to say, Hello, father when he
spled the carriage was empty. lie ran
into the house to tell his mother. When
he had finished she told him TO go and
get Clip He found him out in the barn.
Bob quickly told Clip about his missing
father Then Clip told him they had
better go and hunt Tor the missing man.
They quickly got into the carriage and
started back the way the colt had come.
When they were about three miles away
from the ranch the colt stopped. Bob was
lust going to urge his colt on when he
heard faint groan. He pricked up his
ears and listened for a while, when again
he heard a groan. He stepped softly out
of the carriage and making a motion for
Clip TO follow he crept slowly on his
hands and knees for little distance. Then
he looked up tree that was IN front OF
him, and saw his father tied to the tree
by a halter rope. Instantly Bob reached
into his pocket and brought forth a jack
knife. lie cut the rope and set his father
free He told his father the carriage was
outside the woods They jumped into the
carriage and the colt started oil at full
pace. When they were about ten rods
away they heard two pistol shots ring out,
but none proved fatal. When they reach
ed home Mrs. Wood was waiting for them.
She ran forth to kiss her husband, but
tainted in his arms because she was so ex-
cited The next day they gave the young
colt party, treated him on cakes made
out of oats, aud fed him sugar and other
sweets 1t was a day that the colt remen-
bered.