The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-02-03

much We have to be thankful for. We
have our health. and our home. End
the bright sunshine, and-I declare
she interrupted. catching a glimpse of
something through the window, eff tie
cows haven't broken from the lower
pasture and are all through the oat-
field You'll have to take Collie and
get them back, somehow, or bring them
up TO the corral"
Pulling sun-bonnet upon her head
Beulah called the dog, which came
leaping upon her with boisteFous af-
fectiOn, and hurried down the path to
the field where the COWS stood almost
lost in jungle of green oats. She
soon located the breach in the fence
| and. with the help of the dog, quickly
! turned the COWS toward it. But alack
just as victory seemed assured a rab-
bit was frightened from its hiding
place in the green oats and sailed
forth in graceful! bounds across the
pasture. The dog. of course. conclud-
ed that the capture of the rabbit was
of much more vital importance to the
Harris homestead than driving any
number of stupid cattle, and darted
across the field in pursuit, wasting his
breath in sharp, eager yelps as he
went. WhereupOn the cows turned
I Oatward again, not bOisterOusly nor
insOlently, bu- with calm persistence
that steadily wore out the girls
strength and patience. She was in no
| joyous mood at best, and the perverse-
ness of things aggravated her beyond
endurance. Her cailings to the cattle
/ hnaaron
presently ended in a sob.
There, now, Beulah. don't worry;
we will have them in a minute" said
a quiet voice, and looking about she
found Jim almost at her elbow. his ON
nipresent smile playing gently about
his white teeth. 81 was down at the
creek filling the tank, when l saw you
/ had little rebellion on your hands,
and l thought re-enforcements might
/ be in order"
you might we hollered farther
/ back she said. half reproachfully. but
/ there was a light of appreciation in her
! eye when she dared raise it tOwai-
him. I'm afraid l was beginning to
be very-fOOIish."
! She tripped again on the treacherous
I OuNNHL OOl HC AlCiO AiCA 81 Al III a
strong grasp against which the weight
of her slim figure seemed but as
feather blown against wall. Then
they set about their task, but the
! sOber-eyed cows lad no thought of be-
ing easily deprived of their feast, and
it was some time before they were all
turned back into the pasture and the
fence temporarily repaired behind
them.
4 can't thank you enough" Beulah
was saying. you just keep piling one
kindness on top of another. Say, Jim,
honest, what makes you do it?''
But at that moment the keen blast
Of an engine whistle came cutting
through the air-a long clear note, fol-
lowed by a series of toots in rapid sue
cession.
81 guess they're running short of
water" said Jim. ST must hustle" So
saying ne ran to the ford of the creek
where the -tank-wagon was still stand
ing. and in a minute his strong frame
was swaying back and forth to the
rhythmic clanking of the pump.
Meanwhile other things were trans
piring Harris had returned from
lOHu lIIS US1OIG Will lllC H4Cu
intention of paying an early visit to
the Farther West. He and Rifles had
spent more time than they should
breasting the village bar, while the
] latter drew a picture of rising color of
the possibilities which the new lands
| afforded. Harris was not a man who
abused himself with liquor, and Rifles,
! too, rarely forgot that indulgence was
| expensive, and had to be paid for in
cash Moreover, Allan OccasiOned his
/ father some uneasineSS. He was young,
/ and had not yet learned the self-cOn-
/ troll to be expected in later life. More
| than once of late Allan had crossed
| the boundary of moderation and John
Harris was by no means Indifferent to
! the welfare of his only son. Indeed,
| the bond between the two was so real
and so intense that Harris had never
| been able to bring himself to cOntem-
| plate their separation, and the boy had
not even so much as thought of estab
fishing a home of his own. The idea
! of demonstrating together assured fur
| Their years of close relationship be
/ tween father and son, and the younger
man fell in whOle-heartedly with it.