Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1902-11-21


She tried to smother the giggle In the
sleeve OF Joel's great rough coat and
then continues
"There hasn't been a soul along until
)uu came. / was scarf to death.
Everything was 30 white an stiT, an
IN the woods the moon was lookln' at
me through the dark branches Of the
trees for all the world like a queer
face. IL don't believe l could have
stood It much longer"
BY this time Joel was %chuckling over
his rlval's p~redicament. and susannah
sat up In sudden dismay.
"But you won't tell anybody, will
you. Joel? The whole town1l be laugh.
I'm at me-"
Joel turned serious on the instant.
mo. they won't laugh atayou. If they
do, they'll have to answer to me. He
sides. the joke amt on you. It's on
Ed"
But just at this time Ed was having
fresh troubles OF his own. Careening,
swaying. he drew near Humesburg at
a racing gait. utterly unconscious that
Susannah was no longer clinging to
the seat before which he still stood.
Juggling at the reins. Occasionally he
threw an encouraging word over his
shoulder or told her how brave she
was not TO scream and add to their
danger. The horses would soon run
themselves out, and the road before
them was clear.
But, alas. Just as he turned into the
town a sudden obstacle appeared In
their track-Farmer Schneider's big
sleigh, laden with the rosy checked
Mrs. Schneider and three equally rosy
daughtersl At Eds warning shout
Schneider drew his placid white mare
to one side. but the flying team caught
the rear OF Schneider's sleigh. and n
chorus Of feminine shrieks was watt.
ed to the fleeing Ed. The drift was
deep, and the FIVE Schneiders. when
dlsentangled, found themselves unin.
jured, but nevertheless wrathful at
the reckless driver.
In the meantime Ed had reached the
center of the town, and his horses. ex.
haustad and steamlng, finally respond.
ed to the rein. With a feeling Of in.
tense gelief Ed turned to his compan.
ion. CONSERVATION seized him. Where
was SusanDah? Caught in the mael.
strom OF S%chneiders? No. his cutter
had not been injured in the collision.
He remembered with horror that she
had not spoken since the horses first
began their mad run. What II she had
been back there in the woods all this
time. frozen, perhaps attacked by
tramps? Ed was too frightened to be
logical. With a curse he turned his
tagged horses back into the road and
whipped them On ut u mad gait. Again
he passed the Schneider family. and
as the farmer once more pulled out Of
his way, this time more successfully.
his goodwife murmured:
II did not think Marcy Johnson's
wine was 30 strong as that"
Half a mile farther he met Joel and
stopped at the latter's vigorous hail.
Good evenin'. Ed" said Joel. with
a cheerful smile for his discounted
rival. Are you goin' to look for Su.
sannah? She's here, safe in my sleigh,
an you can just bet she amt goin' to
make such a mistake again"
Ed ignored the complacent Joel and
making his best bow-that is, the best
he could make while trying to hold the
two astonished and trembling horses
said:
I'm awful sorry l had such an acct
dent. Miss Peters; but If you aren't
hurt 1t don't matter so much, an ]
NOpe you'll let me see you safe home
Susannah choked back a persistent
giggle and chung to Joel's arm.
You see, Mr.. Sparks-Mr. Herrlck-
I mean Joel-an' I-we-I'm just as
much obliged
Joel took up her faltering explana.
tiOn and made 1t clear.
IL don't mind tellin' you. Mr.
Sparks, that hereafter Susannah an
I'll do our sleighin' together for all
time, but II you want n recommends
ton to any other girl Susannah shell
give 1t, an we won't mention this here
little affair"
And Mr.. Sparks. with a dignifed up.
lifting Of his fur cap and a few unin.
telligible words, whipped up his horses
swung around IN the road and raced
back to town.