Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-11-04
Turning, I sa,p mn pupil.

What are you laughing att Why
don't You cali back your dogs2 They
Will chase my pony beyond all reach"
She lifted her little head, shook back
her masses OF brown red hair, looked
at me as If were quite beneath con-
tempt and said "No, they will kill him."
Then" said ], for was very angry,
II will kill them" pulling at the re-
volver'in my belt.
''Then,p abe said, and for the first
time noticed her eyes blue black, with
gray rims, II will kill you, and she
whipped out an ugly looking revolver.
From her face had no doubt that she
would not hesitate to do as she had
said. changed my tactics, for was
anxious about my pony, and said, with
my best smile:
Cant you call them back7 Won't
they obey your
Her face changed in a moment.
"Is 1t your pony7 Do you love him
very muchY'
Dearly" said, persuading myself
Of sudden affection for the cranky
little brute.
She sprang upon her pinto and set off
down the trail. The pony was now
coursing up and down the slopes,
doubling like hare, instinctively
avoiding the canyon, where he would
be cornered. He was mad with terror at
the huge brutes that were silently but
with awful and sure swiftness running
him down.
The girl on the pinto whistled shrllly
and called to her dog: Down. Wolf!
Back, Loot But, running low, with
long, stretched bodies, they needed not,
but sped on, ever gaining upon the
pony that now circled toward the pinto.
As they drew near in their circling, the
girl urged her pinto to meet them,
loosening her lariat as she went. AS
the pony neared the pinto he slackened
his speed; Immediately the nearer dog
gathered herself in two short jumps
and sprang for the pony's throat. But,
even as she sprang, the lariat whirled
round the girls head and fell swift
and sure about the dogs neck. and next
moment she lay choking upon the
prairie. Her mate paused, looked
back and gave up the chase. But dire
vengeance overlook them, for, like one
possessed, the girl fell upon them with
her Quirt and beat them one after the
other till, in pity for the brptes, in
terposed.
''They shall do as say or shall
kill them! shall kill themp she cried,
raging and stamping.
Better shoot Them" suggested,
pulling out my pistol.
Immediately she flung herself upon
the one that moaned and whined at
her feet, crying:
IF you dare! II you daNs Then
she burst into passionate sobbing.
You bad Loo! You bad. dear old Loo!
But you were bad-you know YOU were
bad!" And SO she went on, with her
0rms about Loo's neck till Loo, whin-
ing and quivering with love and de-
light, threatened 10 go quite mad, and
Wolf, standing majestically near, broke
into short bowls Of Impotence for his
turn OF caressing. They made q strange
group. those three wild things, equally
fierce and passionate in hate and in
love.
Suddenly the girl remembered me-,
and standing up she said, half
ashamed:
"They always obey me. They are
mine, but they kill any strange thing
that comes In through the gate. They
are allowed to-"
at is pleasant whim."
"What?"
II mean, isn't that dangerous to
strangers2"
"oh. no one ever comes alone ex-
cept the Duke. And they keep of the
wolves"
1.-The Duke comes, does he7"
"Yesr and her eyes lit up. "He Is
my friend. He calls ne his princess
and he teaches me to talk and tells
me stcJes-nh. suck Monde rfuEHtories!'