The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-04-22

structions so far as. he could. This ad-
vice to strip for the swim was good-it
showed a practical grasp of the situa-
tion
Alden undressed hurriedly, resentment
warming him at fiyst against the sharp
afternoon breeze that came down from
the mountains. He rammed his boots
through the armholes of his coat, tying
them together with the legs of his trous-
ers, and wrapping in other articles of his
apparel in q bundle about the trousers.
At last he buttoned a bundle about his
neck and climbed to the saddle. Pejay
nodded in solemn approval and told him
to ride with his knees in the saddle. A
horse would always swim easier without
mans legs gripping its sides. Alden.
half standing in the saddle in silent ODE
dience. urged Schoolmarm into the water.
Keep her head UP stream" shouted
Pejay, then added with an obvious at
tempt to tighten the strain of the situa-
ton: Maybe you'll find out about them
waters under the earh'' Alden pulled at
the left rein. Schoolmarm stepped out in
to the yellow water slowly. Alden shook
the reins and spoke to the horse. A few
quick steps forward, and the water was
curling away from Schoolmarm's knees.
A dozen steps, and the yellow water still
broke into tiny double currents at the
horses mid-leg. Another shake of the
reins and a quick dig in the loins from
bare heel sent Scheolmarm forward at a
ludicrous half trot, splashing and beating
the yellow water into a froth Alden
heard Pejay shout, but he did not turn.
He knew he was drawing closer to the
opposite bank. yet he would have had
trouble in touching the mad waters of
the Arroyo by gripping the saddle horn
and reaching down with his hand. He
was heading too far up stream. A tug at
the proper rein brought the horses head
about. He was at least half way across,
yet the water persisted in bathing School
marms knees An appalling suspicion
crossed Alden's mind, but he did not turn
to look at Pejay
Not until the horse stood at the other
edge of the Arroyo and Alden's grotesque.
curiously humpedback figure had dropped
shivering to the earth, did Pejay fall
from his horse and roll shrieking in the
dust of the trail Then he beat the dirt
with closed fists, tears of joy yelling to
his eyes He murmured weakly over and
over: And it wouldn't a swum coyote.
1t wouldn't a swum a jack rabbit 4.
Alden saw 1.-THE whole elaborate struc-
ture OF the joke-and after the first mo-
ment of utter chagrin. smiled. His smile
grew. Incoherent. gursling, reproachful.
friendly unscholarly anathemas he hurl-
ed across Arroyo Grande at the writhing
puncher. Pejay came squirting over as
Alden put on his clothes. When he came
up Alden tiptoed over. jarefooted, to peer
up at old Pejay through Nstygmatic glass
IS. look of deep understanding in his
eyes. his face streaked with lines of holy
joy from the thin haired upper forehead
to his chin.
"Pejay he began. when ne could
speak. this is worth more to me than
I can tell you. Would you mind letting |
me touch your finger tips?
Il don't think l ever seen crookeder |
legs in my life" said Pejav soberly. put
ting out his hand TO the lawyer Then /.
ne sat hack and roared. going of into the /
old whimperfog plant: oh. IT wouldn't /
"a swum jack rabbit 1t wouldn't "a /
noated a terrapin." And they rode on 20 1
the hill pasture through a joyous after /
noon OF perfAct understanding " .
Dickinson. IN New York Post