Evening star., 1902-08-23

I
haps Lauzanne II do the same some day,
| fer all 1 know"
| Ihere was such a tone of doubt in the
.Iaihef voice that even Mortimer noticed
big chestnut. Evidently Mike did not quite
| approve of him, though hesitating to say so
| IN the presence of his mistress
Yes, Lauzanne Is my horse" volunteered
| Alils. even ride him in all his work
now. since he took to eating the stable
| boy
And you're not afraid?' asked Morti-
mer.
the stall, and going up beside the chestnut,
VINO was standing sulkily with his head IN
the corner of his box, took him by the ear
and turned him gently around.
He's just quiet-mannered chap, that's
ALL she said. Hes big, lazy. contented
old boy" and she laid her cheek against
his fawn-colored nozzle. You see," she
explained. hes got more brains than any
OF the other horses, and when he's abused
he knows it."
But he's grateful when he's kindly
treated" commented Mortimer
Yes; that's why like horses better than
men,
oh" the exclamation slipped from Nor
timers lips.
Most men, I mean" she explained. "of
course, father, and Alan, and she hesi-
tated You see,' she went on to explain,
the number Of my men friends are limited,
but, except these and Mike and Mr. Dixon,
l like the horses best"
Il almost believe you're right, Miss Por-
ter concurred Mortimer. I've known
men myself that l fancy were much worse
than even Diablo.''
Mike thinks Lauzanne is bad horse
the girl said, changing the subject, but
you must win big prize on him this com
ing season. You just keep your eye on
Lauzanne. Here's your carrot old chap"
she said, strolSing. the horses neck, land we
must go if were to have that drive. Will
you you hitch hitch the gray to the buggy for us,
M1ke?' she asked of Gaynor, as they came
out of the stable. We'll wait here"
AS Mike started off there came to their
ears the sound of turmoil from Diablo's
box, impatient kicks against the boards
from the horse and smothered impreca-
tfons from the boy.
Hear that fend!" the girl exclaimed,
and there was wrath in her voice.
He does seem a bad horse" concurred
Mortimer.
Il didn't mean Diabo; it's the boy. It's
all his evil doing. Oh, I've only one glove"
she exclaimed. 4 know where it is,
though. That mischevous rascal, Lau-
zanne, nibbled it from the front of my
jacket saw him do 1t, but forgot to
pick it up
ALLOW me, Miss Porter: I'll get it for
you"
mo, please don't-' with emphasis, as he
started back She laid a OBTAINING hand
on his arm. I'D much prefer to go my
self. Lauzanne distrusts strangers and
might make trouDe.
AS the girl entered the stable Mortimer
sauntered toward Mike, whom he could see
a short distance away putting horse to
the buggy.
Alis opened the door of Lauzanne's stall,
passed in and searched in the straw for the
lost glove.
The noise of strife in Diabos box had in
creased There came the sound of blows
on the horses ribs; muttered oath, and
suddenly a scream Of terror from the boy,
drowned by the ferocious battle cry of the
enraged stallion. Mortimer. thirty yards
away, heard it, and felt his heart stand
still; he had never heard anything SO de-
mOniac in his life. He turned in such haste
that his foot slipped on the frozen earth
and he fell heavily.
At the first sound of the blows Alis had
started angrily toward Diablos box She
was at the door when Shandy's cry If ter
ror rang out. For an instant the girl hesi-
tated; what she saw was enough to make
a strong man quail. The black stallion
was loose; with crunching jaws he had fas-
tened on the arm of Shandy in the corner
of the stall and was trying to pull the bOv
down, that he might trample him to death
But for a second she faltered; if ever
quick action were needed, it was reeded
now.
Back-back Diablo, back" she cried, as
pushing past the black demon she brought
her hunting crop down with FIJI force be-
tween his ears.
Whether it was the sound of his mistress
voice or the struggling blowout Diablo
dropped the boy like a crushed rat, and.
half rearing, looked yiciously at the brave
girl.
Quick, Through the hay Window
commanded Allis standing between Shardy
and the horse, and drawing the whip lack
over her left shoulder, ready to give il
TO Dlabio full in the throat, Should he
charge again.
Cowed, the boy clambered through the
opening.
Enraged a the sight of his assailant's
escape the morse gave another scream of
defiance. and sought with striking fore
feet and spread jaws to pull down this new
enemy.
Not until then had Alls thought of call
ing Tor help; her one idea had been for the
boys safety.
Like flash the full peril of the situation
dawned upon her; perhaps her life would
be given for the boy, who well deserved lis
punishment. She had seen two stations
night, and knew that their ferocious ma
lures, once aroused could only be uuelled
by force stronger than she possess I'd.
Yes surely she would be kflled-iler Young
lie trampled out by the frenGied animal
lncoherent!y, not in sequence but all to-
gether these thoughts filled her mind: also
the knowledge that Mike was beyond he ar
ing.
'Help-Mortimer!' she called.
He heard it as he reached the rtabIa door
Even then he would have been too late had
not other rescue come more quickly
In rushing from Iauzanne's stan Allie
AT the first cry Of defiance from the black
stallion LauZanne had stretched high his
mead and sent back, with curled nostriI
an answering challenge. Then with ears
cooked. he had waited for charge from
his natural enemy
When the mingled call of his mistress and
Dlablos bugle note came to him he waited
no longer, but rushed across the passage
and seized the black horse by the crest lust
as he was overpowering the girl
1t was at this instant Mortimer reached
the scene In his hand a stable fork he had
GRABBED as he raced down the passage.
Even .xf Lauzanne's attack, though it gave
AIMS respite. would not have saved her
life: the mady fighting horses would have
kicked and trampled her to death.
MY God! Back! back you deyils,, end
pushing. crowding. hugging the side Of the
stall, Mortimer fought his way to the eirI.
once Diablos hoof shot out, and the mans
left arm, swapping like a pistol, dropned
useless at his side. His brain reeled with
the shock. The oddly swinging arm. dan
Cling like dolls, with the palm turned
backward, seemed to fascinate him. Why
was he there? What was he doing? WIN
was he hammering the horses over the
head with stable fork, held tightly in his
right hand? He hardly knew: his mind