The Delta independent., 1915-01-15

Tom Dobbs, retired farrier.
Shod, rested, well fed, well curl led,
at the end of a week decrepit old Fire
brand seemed to have taken a new
lease of life. Hitched up to the farm
wagon and the wagon loaded with
| garden truck, the grateful animal
whinnied at his kind young master
as though anxious to show his willing
ness to work for him.
Il declared" cried the delighted Mrs.
Tascott at the end of week, as Ben
ny handed her well-filled purse. Pm
proud of you, my boy!"
She might well be. Diminutive as
Benny was, he had solved the problem
of the family necessities. His mother
and two sisters loaded up the wagon
and he drove to town and sold the
stuff. There was stream of revenue
now coming in, and life frightened
more than little for the Tascotts.
"Oh, mother!" exclaimed Benny one
day, coming in from the pasture, what
do you think?"
Il am sure l cannot guess" replied
Mrs. Tascott, smiling at his excite
ment
"A HAL Cdlue ny duu OAcIcu Mc $oV
for old Firebrand."
Better not tell Mr.. Woods that.
Benny"
Il should say not! And, say, l
wouldn't take eighty hundred dollars
for the dear old fellow! The rascal!
Look at him. He's getting so fat and
jolly he's up to regular coltish tricks" :"
Benny ran out into the pasture
again at a sight of Firebrand in the
open. The horse had nosed back the
gate that his young master had care
lessly left unlocked. AS he saw Benny
coming he kicked up his heels and
wagging first one ear and then the
other in gay frolic.
Here. you get back where you be-
long!" ordered Benny.
Firebrand snorted playful defiance,
ran down the road, leaped fence and
made bee line towards the river.
He's headed in the direction Of the
Woods place" ruminated Benny.
Maybe he's proud to show that he's
a real horse once more. Well, I've
got to put after him"
Treading the bramble bush and COM
ing just in sight of the river, Benny
gave a great shout. He broke into a
furious run.
"Oh, dear!" he painted; its little
Nellie Wood"
Directly in the middle current OF
the stream, clinging to a plank and
screaming for help, was Mr.. Woods
little child. Benny could figure out
how, playing about the landing, the
little tot had tipped one of the planks
into the water and had fallen in
after it.
He could hear shouting up the shore.
probably the voices of her friends, who
had discovered her plight. Benny
threw of his coat as he ran. Then in
terror he saw Nellie let go the plank
and disappear under the surface.
I'm too late!" he fairly sobbed out
"Oh, you glorious Firebrand!"
Well might he say 1t! Either the
sensible animal recognized its formel
little mistress or it had a great soul
Straight into the stream Firebrand
ran, then swan, caught in his jaws the
fringe Of Nellie's dress as she came tc
the surface and waded ashore.
"Oh. my child! my darling child
cried Jasper Woods, approaching
breathless and terrfned upon the scene
as he clasped his rescued daughter
safe in his arms.
The strong man wilted as he regard
ed the brave old animal he had turned
from his door to die.
Then his hand rested gently on the
head Of the little fellow who had made
that rescue possible.
Benny" his tremulous tones
sounded. I'll give you 1000 for Fire
brand"
Nor ten. nor twenty! Nothing car
buy him." declared stanch Benny. "II
give him to dear little Nellie II hac
to. but hope she won't ask me-"
An humble. contrite man, Jasper
Woods appeared at the door Of the
Tascott home that evening.
"Neighbor," he said to Mr.. Tascott
extending a folded paper, there's ths
release of your mortgage. Money ISM
everything in the world, I've foune
out. and little Benny has shown me-
the way to better things!"
Copyright. 1914. by w. G. Chapman.)