Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-08-31

rsadyr said Staples. "Ready," said Dick,
"what's the timer Past H." was the
reply; "can You mako Tits nigh on fifty
miles, che round trip hither and yon." II
reckon" returned Dick, shortly. "Whar's
the murei" "1,ill and Jacks holdin' her at
the crossin'" "Iet tm hold on a mint
longer" said Dick.
Hc turned and rc-entered Tho house softly.
BY tho light Of tho guttering candle and dy.
ing fire he saw that the door Of the little
room WINS open. Hc stepped toward Il on
tptoe and looked IN. The Old Man had
allen back in his chair, snoring, his helpless
feet thrust out in line with his collapsed
shoulders, and bis hat pulled down over his
eyes, Beside him, OH narrow wooden bed
stead, lay Johnny, mufied tightly In
blanket that hid all savo strip Of forehead
and few curls damp with pcrspiration.
Bullcn made step forward, hesitated, and
glanced over his shoulder ir... the deserted
room. Everything was quiet. With sud-
den resolution he parted his huge mustaches
with both hands and stopped over the sleep
Ing boy. But even as he did so mischievous
blast, lying in wait, swoopcd down the Chin
ncy, rekindled the hearth, and liz up the
room with a shameless glow from which Dick
fed in bashful terror.
His companions were already waiting for
him at the crossing. Two Of them we're
struggling In the darkness with some strange
misshapen bulk, which as Dick came nearer
took the semblance of . great yellow
horse.
1t was tho mare. She was not q pretty
picture. From her Roman nose to her rising
launches, from her arched spine, hidden by
the stiff mschillas of q Mexican saddle, to
her thick, straight, bony legs, there was not
limo of equine grace. In her half blind but
wholly vicious white eyes, in her protruding
under lip, in her monstrous color, there was
nothing but ugliness and vice
"Now, them" said Staples, stand cl'ar Of
her heels, boys, and up with you. Don't
miss your first holt OF her name, and mind ye
get your of stirrup quick. Ready"
There was leap, a scranbling struggle, q
bound, wild retreat of the crowd, circle
OF flying hoofs two springess leaps that
Jared the earth, rapid play and jingle of
spurs, a plunge, and then the voice of
Dick somewhere in tho darkness, "All
right"
Don't take the lower road back oness
you're hard pushed for time! Don't hold her
in down hill! Wen be at the ford at &.
Glnng! Hoopa! Mulal Col"
splash, a spark struck from the ledge in
the road, clatter in the rocky cut beyond,
and Dick was gone.
Sing, O Muse, the ride Of Richard BullenI
Sing, o Muse, of chivalrous men the sacred
quest, the doughty deeds, the battery of low
churls, tho fearsome ride and grewsome perils
Of the flower Of Simpsons Bari Alackl she
is dainty this Muse! She will have none Of
this bucking brute and staggering ragged
rider, and l must fain follow him IN prose-
afoot!
1t was o'clock, and yet he had only gained
Rattlesnake hill. For in that time Jovita
had rehearsed to him all her mperfections
and practised all her vices. Thrice had she
stumbled. Twice had she thrown up her
Roman nose In a straight line with the reins
and, resisting bit and spur, struck out madly
across country. Twice had she reared, and
rearing, fallen backward; and twice had the
agile Dick, unframed, regained his seat before
she found her vicious legs again. And mile
beyond them, at the foot Of long hill, wa.
Rattlesnake creek Dick knew that here wa.
the crucial test Of his ability to perform hi,
enterprise, set his teeth gri,nly, put his knee,
/ wpll into har Aankc and Choun a
fensive tactics to brisk aggression. Bullie,
and maddened, Jovita began the descent Of
the hill. Here the artful Richard pretended
to bold her in with ostentatious objurgatiol
and well-fsigned cries Of alarm. 1t is UNI
necessary to add that Jovita instantly raj
away, nor need state the time made in tht
descent; it is written in the chronicle,
of Simpsons Bar. Enough that il
another moment, as it seemed to Dick
she was splashing on the overlooked bank.
of Ratslesnake creek As Dick expected, til.
momentum she had acquired carried her be
yond the point of baking and, holding bel
we'll together for mighty leap, they dashed
into the middle of the swiftly flowing cur
rent. a few moments of kicking, wading
and swimming and Dick drew a long breatl
on the opposite bank.
The road from Rattlesnake creek to Rec
mountain was tolerably level. Either thu
plunge in Rattlesnake creek had dampene.
her baleful fire, or the art which led to it hat
shown her the superior wickedness Of bel
rider, for Jovita $40 longer wasted her sur
plus energy in wanton conceits Once sht
bucked, but it was from force Of habit; oncs
she SHE'D, but 1t was from Q new, freshly
painted meeting house at the crossing Of th.
country road. Hollows, bitches, gravel,
deposits. patches Of freshly springing grasses
flew from beneath her rattling hoofs. Sht
began to smell unpleasantly, once or twic,
she coughed slightly, but there was no abate
ment Of her strength or speed. BY 2 o'clocl
he had passed Red mountain and begun tn,
descent to the plain. Ten minutes later tn,
driver Of the fast Pioneer coach was overtak
en- and passed by q "man on a Pinto hoss"--a,
event sufficiently notable for remark. Al
$3.50 Dick rose In bis stirrups with grea