The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-09-22
BY E. w. HoRNUNC


are w F. said the doctor, who was
certain enough of the immaterial
points. lie left his old post several
days ago, but it appears he's not due
at the new one till the new year. No
doubt he'll go before then to take
things over and settle in. You might
find him mp there and you might not.
II ! We're you | should write
"'That'll lose two days said |, and
more If lie isn't there for I'd grown
quite keen on this up country manager,
and ! felt that if ! could get Mt him
while the holidays We're still on Il
little convivallty might help matters
considerably.
Then. said the doctor, Il should
get quiet horse and ride. You needn't
use that hand
cant / 90 by trainY
"'You can and you can't You would
still have TO ride. suppose you're
horseman|
Yes
Then should certainly ride all the
way. It's a delightful road. through
Whttlesea and over the Plenty ranges,
It'll give you some idea of the bush.
Mr. Rafiles. and you'll see the sources
Of the water supply of this city, sir.
You'll see where every drop of it comes
from, the pure Yam Yean | wish | had
time to ride with YOU
"'But where can | get a horseT
"The doctor thought for moment.
"I've a mare Of my own that's as
fat as butter for want Of work. said
he. 1t would be a charity to me to sit
on her back for hundred miles or so,
and then | should know you'd have no
temptation TO use that hand
"'You're far too good | protested.
"'You're A. j. Rallies, he said.
And if ever there was prettier
compliment or finer instance of even
colonial hospitality | can only say,
Bunny, that never heard of either"
He slipped his whisky, threw away
the stump of his cigarette and lit an
other before continuing.
We'll, | managed TO write a line to
w. f. with my own hand, which. as
YOU will gather, was not very badly
wounded-it was simply this third
finger that was split and in splints-
and next morning the doctor packed
me off on Il bovine beast that would
have done for an ambulance. Half
the team came up to see me start; the
rest were rather sick with me for not
stopping 10 see the match out, as if |
could help them to win by watching
them. They little knew the game I'd
got on myself. but stAl less did know
the game i was going to play.
ut was an interesting ride enough,
especially after passing the place
called Whittlesea, real wild town
ship on the lower slope of the ranges.
where | recolect having a deadly meal
of hot mutton and tea, with the Their
mometer at three figures in the shade.
The first thirty miles Cd so was a good
metal road, too good to go half round
the world to ride on, but after Whittle-
sea it was a mere track over the
ranges, a track ! often couldn't see
and left entirely to the mare. Now il
dipped into gully and ran through
creek, and all the time the local color
was inches thick-gum trees galore
and parrots all colorS of the rainbow.
In one place a whole forest of gums
had been ring barked and were just
as though they had been painted white,
NH.ithnnf a lnnf n iix-inu fhinu FOR
miles. And the first living thing / did
meet was the sort to give you the
creeps 1t was riderless horse COM
ing full tilt through the bush, with the
saddle twisted around and the stirrup
irons ringing Without thinking | had
a shot at heading him with the doctors
mare and blocked him just enough to
allow a man who came galloping after
to do the rest
"'Thank We, mister growled the
man, huge chap in red checked
shirt, with beard like w. G. Grace,
but the very devil of an expression.
"'Been an accidentT said l, refining
up.
"'Yes,' said he, scowling as though
he detied me to ask any more.
well, Bunny, may be black
guard myself, but l don't think l ever
looked at a fellow as that chap looked
at me. But stared him out and
forced him to admit that 1t was blood
on the twisted saddle, and after that
he became quite tame. He told me
exactly what had happened. A mate
of his had been dragged under a
branch and had his nose smashed, but
that was all; had sat tight after it till
he dropped from loss of blood An
other mate was with him back in the
bush.
AS I've said already, Bunny, l
wasn't the old stager that am now,
in any respect, and we parted good
enough friends He asked me which
way l was going, and when / told him
he said should save seven miles and
get good hour earlier to Yea by strik-
ing off the track and making for a
peak that we could see through the
trees and following a creek that /
should see from the peak. Don't smile,
Bunny. l began by saying was a
child in those days. OF course, the
short cut was the long way round, and
it was nearly dark when that unlucky
mare and saw the single street of
Yea.
81 was looking for the bank when a
fellow in white suit ran down from
a veranda.
"'Mr. RafilesT said he.