Evening journal., 1899-02-14

nurse hc iclbetA W hah4t. ~ WIS 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 a daughter was lit
tie Bit different. and IN the face OF n
prohibuorN liquor law 10 betsten gall
nns OF whisky with hali-rebellious
Indian. altogether shocked the moral
sense OF the Saskatchewan. Brt the
Saskatchewan wanted 10 see the Pinto
pony run.
The Englishmau 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 bis mother for nrrwgitr.and
he knew Grey Wolf lAs only Thing
would be the bother OF getting the
whisky II he lost. "But Pierre stuck 10
me the time had the ruction with
those Sionies 10 the Peace hills year
ago. the Englishman had said. "and
Il is The onlS chance Of doing him a
good turn before 60 down east Grey
Wolf will never give his daughter TO
haif-breed Cree interpreter Of the
mounted police IL he were offered a
thousand ponies. The Cree dash IN
Pierre spoils him In the old Blood's
eyes. Pierre wants her. though and 1
think she wants him. and. II win this
afternoon. I'm do the paternal bless
ye. my children act. and then Try and
make my peace with the major"
Everybody didn'i know this. and
when the Engishman went up TO the
majors pariy The ladies were cool. and
the major became interested in his con-
yersation with the Hudson Bay factor,
and he slipped away under cover Of the
yels and sounding tom-toms that an-
nounced the appearance Of the Pinto
the lndiup horse.
he was beauty rs she loped past in
her slender iiiheness. An Indian pony2
! Yes Eui in her complex nature the ola
Arab blood of her spano-Moorsh an
crstry. had asserted itself and showed
10 the brightness OF her eye. the poiso
Of her head and the grace OF her slim
legs The marks Of the Arab could even
be seen in The piebald spots on The sleek
coat thar had given her the name Pinto
And the American felt that the majors
horse would have to run 10 win.
The course was half mile straight
away. and the iNo contestants moved of
20 the starting point. The Englishmar
avoided The crowd. but, even IN the dis
iance. riders. horses. and irarpingi
showed the characteristics Of the race
they belonged 10. The coal black hors,
Of The Engishman looked heavy an.
strong contraaed with the almost cat
like amble Of the pony. His rider sa
erect IN the cavalry saddle Ike th
trained soldier he was. while the ln
dian almost crouched on the bare bacl
Of ihe mare thar he controlled with hi
I gripping knees and the shaganapr
thong about her lower jaw Ana the
s II seemed 10 come. as IL ofientimcs di
on the prairies OF the west. that IL wa
, q race of races-whiie and red. And IN
white men bet their hard cash agains
q the ponies and rifles and furs of he In
dlans. bet them to n finish-that j.
= when the red man has nothing left o
earth to bet.
a There was a pistol shot, a fierce ye
from civilized and savage. and the
= were off. The Pinto sprang easily t
, tho front aud seemed for the fist fe'
I hundred yards TO be increasing he lea
+. at every stride. The trooper was hel
p well in hand. aud was going magnii
e Gently. The American knew that th
p Englishman was relying on he 81
q perior staying qualities Of his half bre
, horse over the grass-fed pony But ha
s "a mile Is q short course, and al he quai
ter the Englishmnn was four length
b. behind. The Pinto did not fa!ter at th
h terrific pace. and the American felt tha
b the race would be wen or lost on IL
4 home stretch. No pony can keep ths
10 pace up on grass alone. he thought. bt
e She seemed 10 be doing II. The troo
n horse was letting himself out now. an
q the space between the two was i.mii
Z ishing. "Oats viii tell" muttered n
( American. "but will he have timer"
, Gradually the Englishman drew u
d until his horses nose was at the pony
0 flank. Only hundred yards nowl III
Q game little pony seemed TO realize III;
d IL was now or never The black hor.
OF the whites was at her quarter, an
q the cheers Of anticipated victory wei
b already coming from the white men
g throats. She gathered herself togethl
= for last effort. and as she gained a fe
e feet there was silence still as death
d the swaying mass of onlookers. On
g so yards. when the stiffness was broke
{. by shrill call from the lips of your
a squaw, who thrust herself little
a- yond the crowd that lined the course
J. the galloping horses came up. No OF
q needed it except the Pinto. IT. was Il
y call the pony had never disobeyed, Il
u call IL had known from the days whe
d frolicsome filly, IL had been the cor
pauion Of Grey VOLTS daughter Fl
N a strange understanding grows up b
d tween the horse that dwellsin the ten
n OF men and its master or mistress Al
& the Pinto Needed not the desire Of vi
r tory or the urging or voice Of its ride
Is but swerved whence the voice had CON
"a What caused the pony TO bolt was
~ subject Of animated discussion
5 prairie stopping places. around tep
t.