Connecticut western news., 1906-08-09
On tbe Curn
 of a Dalr
By GRACE MCGOWAN COOKE
Copyright, 1906, by Ruby Douglas

Suffering Moses! Hochaska, it's heads I win. tails you lose,' playin poker with you these days. I rung iG five jacks on you that hand an you never turned hair. Whats upY'
 The cowboy pushed back and regard ed bis silent companion quizzically.
 The Indian glanced over his shoul- der, laid fine, slender hand upon the table and. leaning forward, whispered: Burnt Bear runs his spotted pony in the races next week"
 The cowboy nodded, stopping to tight en spur leather.
 Keep your long green, pard," he said, with bent head. II was just a-foolin them last three games. We'll? The old chief runs his spotted pony in the races-and the gal l. up here turnin' Hochaska's heart to water-is that the how of it?"
 Again the Indian looked over his shoulder before he nodded
 He has her up at the agency" he burst out fiercely. You know Nal lock. It was MalIock before. What
 
 ty as Ally with q father like she's got and that beast around?"
 "Hochaska," began the cowboy. you're a fool-hold on. Don't you git gay, now! They whooped you off to the effete east and pumped good learn in into you till you've got books whip ped to a standstill and you can doctor a sick hawse to beat any man between the Pecos and the Mississip-but com mon sense you're short on.''
 ''The reasons plain 'nough, pardner. The old mans out after the coin. You've got to bid up. You're sure good locker and you're plumb gen tleman, Hochaska-jest the son-in-law I'd make grab at if I was a Sioux chief with pretty daughter to marty off"
 'I have offered him all have-and d mortgage on my future. Nothing will do."
 Somebody else is biddin' higher" re- fterated the cowboy. 'Or he thinks they will"
 Ally would come to me" said tbe Indian desperately. Tt Is not as 1t was before. Mallock's wife was living then. He may hold out hopes of a marriage to Burnt Bear"
 The cowboy was up and ready to de- part now. If that there spotted pony should go lame, Chaska," he remarked, ''they hain't q man but you that could doctor it-and the race comin' on next week. If such should happen I reckon you could name your price,"
 An eager fire leaped into the Indians somber eyes. "I could," he answered. ''But no such thing will happen. Burnt Bear sleeps with the pony's stake rope to his wrist"
 Don't you be too sure," reconstructed the cowboy. i've got money up on that cayuse, an I'm mighty uneasy that he's about to get some sort O con- plaint in his right hind foot. The old man knows I'm bettin' heavy on his hawsetlesh an him an me is great pals we're thicker'n thieves. So long, ~ Chaska."
 He stepped to the front of the black smith shop, swung into the saddle and disappeared.
 All day long the young Indian served his customers and attended to his usual duties with an air of preoccupation. He guessed what simple trick his COW puncher friend had in mind. If the game went through successfully, would the father pay the price?
 Crowds were gathering for next weeks races and business was brisk, for this scientific blacksmith and vet erinarian of their own race who had learned his trade among the white men was a prime favorite.
 The forge fire had died down to a smoldering red eye and the young blacksmith sat half asleep before his door when a stealthy sound from the steep slope behind his cabin reused him. It differed not at all from q hundred other small night sounds which had preceded 1t, yet he was suddenly broad awake and listening. It came again. He sprang to his feet Once more-and he was walking rapidly to- ward the precipitous path which led up to his spring.
 Within ten paces of the bushes which concealed 1t he halted. Out of those DuSneS SOunuleSSly HONeu the Sllau owy form of q man leading a pony.
 ''How do?" said the newcomer, and Hochaska recognized the voice of Burnt Bear.
 In the tongue which was common tc them both the old chief stated, with the frankness of despair, that the spot ted pony had gone suddenly lame.
 ''I have watched him as though ht were my child" he declared. "Ant now tonight find his right hind foot is lame. Have you quick cure? care not if in the end it kills the pony so that he be not lame when the race is run, for if he does not win this race I, Burnt Bear, must walk back to oul people stripped and destitute"
 The young smith drew up and folded his arms. He saw that something melo dramatic was expected of him. H. was to play the big medicine man. | Billy had only done his part and no overdone 1t and this lameness were no