Chapter 42
George Frockmeier, Taylour’s neighbor who lived about a mile down the road, was outside replacing the hay in his barn. As he emerged from the sweaty work to get something to drink from his farmhouse, he noticed the smoke coming from the direction of Dixxon Manor. Because his view in that direction was partially blocked by the tall sycamore trees that bordered his property with that of his neighbor to the west, he scrambled up the stairs to the second floor window in his bedroom. He squinted his eyes as he peered through the distorted glass, and what he saw was unmistakable. There was a prairie fire in the distance, no doubt about it.
Mr. Frockmeier stumbled over to the other side of the bed, where he grabbed the phone and dialed 9-1-1. After reporting the fire to the dispatche
