OCR Text |
Show .1 Heads I Win By KATHLEEN M. DUCLOS McClure Syndicate WNU Features. V'OU are surely not leaving right in the middle of the haying?" The girl's sweet voice Indicated amazement and reproach. The tall young fellow who, with his pack on his back and his dog at his heels, had just come out of the bunk house turned to face the speaker. "Yes, Miss Irene," he answered, "I'm sorry, but J.B. fired me about fifteen minutes ago. I guess I won't be seein' the old J6 ranch for quite some time." "I can hardly believe that Dad fired you. Tell me all about it." Irene Hammond commanded. "There isn't much to tell. Two of your dad's prize whitefaces lost the ends of their fool tails and he blames Timmie here." "And was Timmie to blame?" "Miss Irene, he couldn't have been," Garry said earnestly. "That dog is a born 'header-offer.' He never drove a cow from the tail end of her In his life. I told your dad that and he said to come out to the pasture and prove it. There was a bunch of wild steers in the pasture and they Just took one look at Tim and high-tailed it for the tall timber. I tried to call him back but he never even let on he heard he was having too much fun. Naturally, Natur-ally, your dad booted us both out." "Oh, Garry, I would keep him for you gladly, and love him too, but you know Dad." "As long as you don't hate me," he said, "I'll come back." Garry shouldered his pack and made for the highway. Cutting had That night Irene and Garry stood looking down at their dumb friend, swathed in bandages but, still able to wag a friendly tail. begun on the alfalfa fields that stretched on either side of the road. When he reached a point opposite the outfit Garry put down his load and drew out the makings of a smoke. He could see his late employer talking talk-ing heatedly to some of the men beside be-side one of the machines, to which was hitched a team of sturdy farm horses. As he watched they all walked over to the big red truck drawn up beside the field and the discussion was evidently resumed. "The durn fool, to leave his knives down," muttered Garry. "Oh, my gosh!" The exclamation burst from him as a small figure appeared from the uncut hay and climbed to the seat of the mower. The boy caught up the long whip and brought it down on the startled horses' backs. Garry was over the fence before they were well started but he could make very poor headway in the tall thick growth. The plants caught at his ankles and tripped him so that he stumbled helplessly. The men by the truck were shouting directions that only spurred the creatures on to wilder pace. The wicked blades clicked as the mower bumped over the uneven ground. The horses went on dovJn the field as though totally unaware that there was anything hitched to them. Garry was thrown headlong. When he rose he saw that a new actor had come on the stage. Timmie, a mere black and white blur, was in swift pursuit. "Timmie! Come back here," Garry Gar-ry shouted and then stopped. It was no use. He expected any moment mo-ment to see the tiny figure thrown down from the iron seat to those cruel blades. And then he saw that the course had changed. The horses had seen the dog and were turning in a large circle. Once more the mowing machine entered the standing stand-ing alfalfa and they slowed slightly. It was not much, but it was all Timmie Tim-mie needed. Cutting across the circle cir-cle he ran past them and, with a mighty leap, canght the nearest horse by the nose. They reared and plunged while the collie hung on for dear life. And then came relief as the child was thrown to the ground, mercifully on the side away from the cruel knives. With a mighty plunge the animal shook the dog free. There was an agonized yelp. Then the mower caught on a fence post and the team stopped. But no one had any eyes for them now. J.B. held his small son to his breast and Garry knelt beside Timmie: Tim-mie: poor Timmie who henceforth would go about bis doggish business on three legs instead of four. That night Irene and Garry stood looking down at their dumb friend, swathed in bandages, but still able to wag a friendly tail. "Didn't I tell you he was a 'header-offer'?" Garry said triumphantly. "Your dad says he has a home here for the rest of his life no matter what he chews up. So there's nothing noth-ing to keep me from joining now." "But you'll come back," whispered whis-pered !ftle, putting her hands in |