Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-11
THE HOUSE OF THE
BI ACK RING.
BY FRED LEWIS PATTEE.
Copyright. 1905. by Henry Holt 4 Coz

Wen get 1t tomorrow" He was on his
horse and cantering after Rose. In mo-
ment- was swinging along beside her
Say, you've got a nice pony there,
haven't your" She turned in her saddle to
examine the horse. Can he go?"
We'll, I guess
''All right-good- bye"
On the tnstand the mustang shot ahead
alike polo pony. They were fairly out of
sight behind bend before Jim awoke to
on the jump
How glorously the girl rode. The great
mustang was at full stretch, smashing
through mud and waterhole. and throwing
a deluge of soft mush three rods in every
direction. She was leaning far forward, al
most to the horses neck, to break the force
of the wind. The rider behind her never
once took his eyes from her. The soft
brown of her hair, an intense fleck against
the winter white, was like the focal center
of all things. He urged the little mare to
her utmost, and in two minutes he was
right at the mustangs heels.
Then as suddenly as she had started, the
girl dropped again into a canter.
My. but he's a goer!' she burst out
Enthusiastically. Say, 1 want to ride him.
May I?'
"Why-yes-"
"All right. Whoa, Pomps" The horse
stopped instantly, and she sprang to the
ground. Jim also alighted.
Now, you hold both of 'em by the reins"
he said with business decision, land I'll
change the saddles. I'm afraid yours won't
mt very WE'LL though"
"Oh, no. l can ride a mans saddle Just
as well as l can my own"
Shall help you mount?" He came very
near her, so near indeed that 1t awed him
little. He had never been so near her
before.
Cant you get me block or stone or
something for me to climb up on?' She
looked about her as If in distress and in
voluntarily his eyes followed hers. seeking
for block. He turned to find her In the
saddle. 1t seemed like magic. But her mer-
riment was bitten short off. The gingery
little mare knew nothing of women, and she
started instantly on mad, kicking, slew
ing, bucking, breakneck rush down the
road. Jim's heart went into his mouth. No
girl in furry like that could stay in that
mans saddle without stirrups.
But she did. 1t was as if she were
strapped She anticipated every moment
and checked and reined and braced and
swung, until after a moment the scared
horse lighted out full speed on a straight
away trot, as If she We're in a sulky and
| on the home-stretch 1t was an experience
to shake the life out of one, but the girl
kept her seat 1t was as If she had always
ridden that way. In three minutes she had
the horse in a rocking canter Then Jim
loped up on the mustang. He was perched
precariously on the side saddle, and his face
was full of apprehension She looked over
at him and laughed
This is fnei" she cried. turning to him a
face fairly radiant with enjoyment.
why I'd no idea she'd do that" he be-
gan 10 apologize gu see she never
But isn't she a little wonder though?
My, can't she go! / had no idea you had
such a horse" Her hair was shaken in
curly little wisps about her face, and her
cheeks were glowing. She seemed to be
perched carelessly on the saddle, so that the
slightest movement might shake her off.
by George, thought she'd kill you sure.
Aren't you hurt? Aren't you shaken all to
pieces? Wait, let me help you down"
"Pshaw! that's nothing Tn going to ride
some more It's fun" She laughed up at
him again in way that made his finger
tips prickle.
Say he burst out, II don't believe
there's another girl in the state who could
have done it. I don't believe there's half
dozen in the whole world" There was
mistaking the tone in the young fellows
voice.
1.-The idea! I can't ride much But, say,
| this Is no saddle horse. She's a trotter."
Il know it,
Really? Then what are you riding her
for? You're spelling her."
Young Jim could have told the exact
truth, but he didn't. He preferred to keep
silent
You're too heavy in the first place. You
must weigh''-lookins him over with judg-
| ing eye-'all of one hundred and eighty
"One hundred and eighty-four exactly"
That's 1t, and the mare here goes barely
nine hundred. And she's a f1ne-boned, sem
sitive little thing. It's risky for you to be
jumping her around on these miserable
roads, and besides that you are teaching
her so she'll break every time just at the
critical minute. Has she ever trotted to
sulky?
She's got record of two:twenty-fve
"No-o-oi Why, Mr.. Farthing, l never
dreamed you had such a horse up there
When did you get herr"
i've had her ever since she was a COLT
'If had known 1t 1 should have had her
out before this time, Til tell you that"
She looked up at him archly, and then
laughed in mere girlish fullness of life.
Say l want to try her in the harness some
time? May I?'
why, yes. Certainly"
Right off? This week."
tits muddy for trotting, amt 1t? The
roads are all like this, or worse"
There's the Gum Stump pike she sug-
gested. That's fairly hard now
IAN right VIII you go with me some aft
ernoon this week and try her? Say Thurs
day. will your he asked eagerly; refining
his horse a little closer.
Yes, ] go Thursday. Say, I be-
lleve If this mares handled right she's
better than 2.25. Just see what a chest
she's got and what a neck and shoulders
and see that clean, dainty little head.
Why, her records written all over her."
We've been pretty busy up to our place,
and really haven't had time to exercise
why don't you let the witches do it"
she flashed up at him mischievously up
in the old house there? They're out, you
known"
Are they? Perhaps I can" he laughed.
Guess you'd be safer. though; when shall
| cal?''
1.-TWO. IL you can. I've got to be back
by o. Here we are" She drew up the
horse suddenly and turned him partly
[ around. Wen have to swap horses here;
I've got an errand mile down this road.
Here now. hootchie; don't you shy when
jump off. Here! here! See that? Haven't
l got her tanned? Why, in week she
be just like kitten. wouldn't she?
What's her name?" She had aIighted and
| stood fondling the horses nose
Tln1Ix 11t, Grow
Fine! Well, goodbye, Dolly Gray
| She sang the words. then laughed up into
| his face with mere JOY OF life. An instant
| later she was her own horse and Off
| down the branch road dozen bounds
| and she turned lightly in her saddle
Good bye-till Thursday she called
| Then she swung around the bend out OF
| sight.
1t was full minute before he had col
| lected himself enough to realize what he
! was about. No wonder the boys lost their
| heads Young Jim had lost his for the
! first time in his life. For him now there
| was but one thing In all the world and
| that was Thursday--but much was to hap
pen before Thursday.
fTo be continued tomorrow
-1-