The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-01-28


daughter. The beauty OF the Blood Re- |
serve. that he would beat the Pinto on
a horse he refused 10 name. 1t was a
novel bet. even In that western land
where everything went. Indians might
buy their wives. and oftentimes
wagered them when their stock of |
ponies ran out. but daughter was lit
tie bit different; and in the face of a
prohibitory liquor law 20 bet ten gal
Ions OF whisky with a half-reb lious
Indian, altogether shocked the moral
sense of the Saskatchewan. But the
Saskatchewan wanted TO see the Pinto
pony run.
The Englishman had explained 10 the
American that the only way he could
get Grey Wolf 10 put up his daughter
was 10 bet the whisky. A Blood Indian
would sell his mother for frewater. and
he knew Grey Wolf. The only thing
would be the bother Of getting the
whisky IL he lost. But Pierre stuck TO
me the time had the rueiion with
those Stonies in the Peace hills year
ago" the Engishman had said, "and
il is the only chance Of doing him a
good turn before | 60 down east. Grey
| Wolf will never give his daughter TO
half-breed Cree interpreter Of the
mounted police IL he were offered
thousand ponies. The Cree dash In
Pierre Spols him in the old Blood's
eyes. Pierre wants her. though and
think she wants him. and. IL win this
afternoon. I'll do the paternal bless
/ .ht NJ Ia try a
make my peace with the major
Every body didn't know this. and
when the Englishman went up 10 the
majors party. the ladies were cool and
the major became interested in his con-
versation with the Hudson Bay factor,
and he slipped away under cover Of the
yells and sounding tom-toms that an
nounced the appearance OF the Pinto
the Indian horse.
che was beauty as she loped past in
her slender litheness. An Indian pony?
Yes But in her complex nature the old
Arab blood Of her Spano-Moonsh an
cestry had asserted itself and slowed
In the brightness OF her eye. the poise
Of her head and the grace Of her slim
legs. The marks OF the Arab could even
be seen in the piebad spots on th- sleek
coat that had given her the name Pinto.
And the American felt that the ma jor's
horse would have TO run TO win.
The course was half mile straight
away. and the TWO contestants moved Off
10 the starting point The Englishman
avoided the crowd, but, even in the dis
tance. riders. horses, and trarpings
showed the characteristics OF the races
they belonged TO- The coal-black horse
OF the Englishman looked heavy and
strong contrasted with the almost cat
like amble OF the pony. His rider sat
erect in the cavalry saddle Ike the
trained soldier he was. while the In
dian almost crouchod on the bare back
Of the mare that he controlled with his
gripping knees and the shaganapp'
thong about her lower jaw. And then
il seemed TO come. as ii oftentimes did
on the prairies Of the west, that ii wa
a race OF races-whte and red And the
white men bet their hard cash against
: the ponies and rifles and furs Of The In
dams, bet them 10 finish--that is,
when the red man has nothing left OF
earth TO bet
There was a pistol shot, a fierce yell
from civilized and savage. and they
were off. The Pinto sprarg easily "a
the front and seemed for the Ist few
; hundred yards to be increasing the lead
at every stride. The trooper was hell
we'll in hand, and was going magnifi
Gently. The American knew that tho
Englishman was relying on the su
perior staying qualities Of his half-brec
horse over the grass-fed pony. But hal
mile is a short course, and at the quar-
ter the Englishmun was four lengths
behind The Pinto did not fa.ter Al tn,
terrific pace. and the American felt thai
the race would be wen or lost On TIL
I home stretch. No pony can keel tha
pace up on grass alone, he thought bu
she seemed to be doing ii. The trooI
horse was letting himself out now, an,
I the space between the two was dimin
: ishing. Oats will tell" muttered TIT
American, but will he have timer
Gradually the Englishman drew NJ
! until his horses nose was at the pony
n flank. Only a hundred yards now! Tn
: game little pony seemed 10 realize tha
! il was now or never. The black hors
OF the whites was at her quarter, an
= the cheers OF anticipated victory wer
already coming from the white men
= throats. She gathered herself togethe
!, for last effort. and as she gained FEY
feet there was silence still as death i
= the swaying mass OF onlookcrs. Onl
. so yards, when the stiffness was broke
= by a shrill call from the lips OF younI
: squaw, who thrust herself little bt
!, yond the crowd that lined the course a
!. the galloping horses came up. No on
y needed it except the Pinto. 1t was I'll
: call the pony had never disobeyed, tn
!, call il had known from the days wher
\ a frolicsome lilly, 1t had been the con
panion OF Grey VOLTS daughter TO
~ a strange understanding grows up b.
- tween the horse that dwellsin the tent
. OF men and its master or mistress. An